Have you ever heard of the young writer with the name Lim May Zhee? Not only she published her own book at the age of fifteen but also being a publisher through Peer Publishing, a publishing company for Malaysian teen writers to help the other young writers to fulfill their dream. Pretty cool, huh?
Lim May Zhee is not your average self-published author, let’s find out more about this now 20-year-old talented, resourceful, resilient and mature. When ask what’s her inspiration, she simply answer that her book is nothing in particular but revolving around her whole life. Teen’s life with a mixture of fantasy, optimism and mistakes. Thus, everything in life, the books that she read and the movies that she watched inspire her. Sound just like a normal teenager to me. But before she being what she is now, there is always obstacles. For once, she was in school when she starts writing and published her book which was once written at her blogspot. She said that it was easy to actually write a book especially when you are so passionate about something, it would come naturally, but the hardest part was convincing you parent and getting a support from them. Typical!
Lim May Zhee inThe Star, October 1, 2006
“I understand my parents’ fears – they were just worried I would sideline my studies for this. But I knew I was capable of balancing this and school, and in the end I did it myself because there was no other way."
And yes, she keeps her word. She scores straight As for her PMR and 11As in her SPM which she sat while competing with her writing and editing the book. Impressive!
She is now writing her third book after her two books ‘Vanity Bee’ and ‘Sweetheart from Hell’ become the bestseller in Malaysia. She also decides to make writing as her job after her first letter was published at the The Star’s Youth 4 years ago.
The first and second books written by her.
Lim May Zhee give a talk at MPH, promoting her second book, Sweetheart from Hell.
Seventeen Malaysia reviews on her second book.
However, she aims to further her study in Political Science in America and opens her own school. But she would never stop writing.
“Writing is a worthy trade. I know you may not earn much, but it doesn’t matter that much. At least I’d be doing something I love.”Lim May Zhee in The Star, October 1, 2006
Have a passion for writing? It would be a long way. But remind yourself that be patience and put a lot of effort into it. If you have a problem in developing impressive vocabulary, maybe you can learn her learning style: writing her own blog and create her own thesaurus. She actually wrote down every new words and sentences that she comes across so that she can use them in the future.
“Someone said success happens when opportunity meets preparation, and I was just preparing myself for that window of opportunity.”
Lee May Zhee in The Star, October 1, 2006
So teens, maybe your window of opportunity will also come, by that time, ensure that you are already prepared yourself. Just like Lim May Zhee, she never expect to become what she is today, but she aims for it and works hard to get what she wants. She is even awarded Young Achiever’s Award by Cleo magazine. If you want further information about her or just to peek into her lifestyle, visit her blog at http://www.mayzhee.blogspot.com/.
In Cleo as Young Achiever's Award.
In Women's Weekly: Tips from other Generation
You'll never expected an ordinary girl like her is actually a famous writer. Looks like any other typical girl for me. If she can do it, so are you!
i did interview her once..she's humble and when she talks, she sounds more mature than her age...she's really cool...
ReplyDeleteI wish I can meet her! Writing a novel at such a young age and being the editor herself really makes me want to be like her. She learns to write, builds up her own vocabulary, starts improving her writing through blog. This is actually something everyone can do to sharpen our writing skills. Plus, she's doing great at school. It means, with a good management, writing would not affect our study.
ReplyDeleteTime management is very important. If you have the desire to do something and if you have good organising skills, you will surely succeed. It is values like this that we should foster into the yound minds of our students.
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