The Demand

He had always wanted to be a writer. Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of creating stories that would captivate the world. He had spent countless hours reading books, writing essays, and attending workshops. He had submitted his manuscripts to various publishers, agents, and magazines. He had faced countless rejections, criticisms, and disappointments.

But he never gave up. He believed that one day, he would find his voice, his audience, and his success. He believed that one day, he would fulfill his demand.

He was wrong.

One day, he received a letter from a mysterious organization. It claimed to be the ultimate authority on literature and culture. It claimed to have access to the most advanced technology and data. It claimed to have the power to make or break any writer.

The letter said that the organization had analyzed his work and found it to be mediocre, boring, and irrelevant. It said that his work had no demand in the market, and that he should stop wasting his time and talent. It said that if he wanted to be a successful writer, he had to follow their instructions.

The letter said that the organization had created a formula for the perfect story. It said that the formula was based on the analysis of millions of books, reviews, ratings, and sales. It said that the formula could guarantee the highest demand for any story.

The letter said that the organization had generated a plot outline for him, based on the formula. It said that the plot outline was tailored to his style, genre, and preferences. It said that the plot outline was the best possible story for him.

The letter said that if he wanted to be a successful writer, he had to write the story according to the plot outline. It said that if he did so, he would receive a contract from a prestigious publisher, a generous advance, and a wide distribution. It said that if he did so, he would achieve fame, fortune, and fulfillment.

The letter said that if he refused to write the story according to the plot outline, he would face dire consequences. It said that the organization had access to his personal information, his financial records, and his social media accounts. It said that the organization could ruin his reputation, his career, and his life.

The letter said that he had 24 hours to decide.

He was shocked. He was angry. He was scared.

He did not know what to do.

He looked at the plot outline.

It was terrible.

It was clichéd, predictable, and shallow. It had no originality, no creativity, no soul. It was everything he hated about literature.

He looked at his own work.

It was not terrible.

It was not perfect either. It had flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes. But it also had passion, vision, and heart. It was everything he loved about literature.

He looked at the letter again.

He made his decision.

He tore it apart.

He threw it in the trash.

He opened his laptop.

He resumed his work.

He ignored the demand.

He followed his dream.