Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Of course we can, thought Juho . Mr . Moon looked straight into his eyes . Juho Woo . Yes, Juho answered . What do you think makes for a good story? It was a rather difficult question . What made for a good story? In the end, what the person believed would be the answer . Juho thought about the stories that moved him from deep within . Suspenseful stories, persistent spirits, skillful writings, characters with personality . Those novels might have left a deep impression, but could that be all? If an author had all of those characteristics, would they be able to write a good book? Juho thought of the opposite case . There were times when I was touched by a story written in loose and awkward sentences . Those stories tended to be sincere . He believed that those compositions had been just as good . The desires for perfection and sincerity had always coexisted . They were both right . So, in the end, Juhos answer was: What I think is good . Mr . Moon nodded his head . Thats right . Im sure everyone has their own answers . Perfect sentences, easy to read, tight storyline, theyre all right answers . If you think a story is good, than it becomes a good story . Heres what I think . A good story is one that shakes its readers . No matter how polished it is, if it doesnt move me, Ill just stop reading, he said, looking at the club members . If you have have differing opinions from mine, then all you have to do is go after whats good in your mind . Im not trying to convert anybody here . Everyone listened quietly . Everyone here is capable of writing a good book, said Mr . Moon . Having been listening quietly, Bom raised her hand and asked, So, how do we write sincerely? Thats your guys job . Huh? Theres no equation to it . Its colorless and odorless . It has no shape, so you wont be able to touch it either . You cant just pull it out and show it . Find your own way . Sun Hwas face twisted into a scowl . Looking in her direction, If I were to give you a tip, he added as he spread his index finger, try not to be greedy . It wasnt anything new . He had said the same in the past . Greed had been one of the biggest things to avoid in writing . Excitement, fear, desires, it all had to be left behind . Only then, writing something became possible . The fact that Mr . Moon had said the same thing several times proved its importance . Greed leads to pretense . You wont find sincerity in a pretentious story . Avoid being greedy at all times . Understand where youre . Youre still beginners . Youre babies, incapable of feeding themselves . Babies… Bom echoed his a.n.a.logy . Unfortunately, he was being accurate . After all, it would be their first time writing a novel . A baby shouldnt be left in charge of grilling a steak when they cant even feed themselves . Theyll just leave a mess, or worse, burn themselves . Experiencing pain before the joy of creation will instantly kill your drive . But arent we all animals born of greed? Its natural that we want to write well, complained Seo Kw.a.n.g . Mr . Moon gave him an exaggerated nod . Thats right . Listen, you animals of greed . Im not telling you to get rid of your greed . Im not trying to make you all into deities . Im simply asking you all to be discerning of when to be and when not to be greedy . As greedy as you are, you can also be just as rational . You have to know how to control your desires . Thats true… she said timidly . So… what if it comes out bad? Fear . It was a natural emotion, especially for beginners . Mr . Moon said without hesitation, None of you will be able to write well . Everyones expressions grew darker, and Juho chuckled quietly, covering his mouth . Egh… Thats… Thats hurtful Mr . Moon . Yeah, thats harsh, added Juho . You guys are unskilled and still learning . Thats what it means to be a beginner . Its natural that you cant write well . So, prepare yourselves so that you dont fall into depression from reading your own writing, Mr . Moon explained . Beginners . That was what Mr . Moon had called the club members . Greedy, rational, and now, beginners . There was a variety of names . Theres an expiration date to the word beginner . Youre given little time to be confident of your lack of experience as beginners . Youll have to, at least, pretend to know how to write in front of the incoming freshmen, right? Mr . Moon said as he placed his hand on top of the pile of papers . So, while you can, write to your hearts content . Juho nodded quietly . A beginner had the right to be confident about their inexperience . After all, they were beginners for a reason . It would take time to learn . The club members were about to write their first novel . It was natural for them to be unskilled and inexperienced . n.o.body in the room would criticize Mr . Moon for what he had said . Even the club members wouldnt do that to themselves . Freshmen… That sounds like its far into the future . Youd be surprised, said Mr . Moon . He seemed to have understood Bom . The anxiety on her face slowly faded into a smile . Enjoy it . Embrace being a beginner . It doesnt matter what anybody says . Its your story, so write it however the h.e.l.l you want . Writing is freedom . Since there is no right answer, there is no wrong answer either . Write away . Yes, Mr . Moon . So, now that were have a proper posture, lets learn to write, shall we? he said to the excited club members . But first, theories . Cant we just get right to it? Cant wait for that steak, can we? Steaks are delicious! Know yourselves . You guys dont even have the teeth to chew it with . Now, focus . Despite Sun Hwas grumbling, Mr . Moon picked up a piece of chalk . Though it was apparent that she had much to complain about, her eyes sparkled as soon as Mr . Moon started his lesson . She wasnt an exemplary student for no reason . Juho, too, took the time to brush up on the theories his body had learned up to that point . It was quite fun . Toward the end of the lesson, Mr . Moon brought something to the room that he had never before . Creation means something new, he said . With his desk pushed against the wall, Juho quietly watched the club members standing in the middle of the room . Baron, too, was watching from his seat as usual, but his eyes were on neither Mr . Moon nor the club members, but on the floor . But, creation comes from imitation, said Mr . Moon . New things tended to come from something that already existed . Juho looked at the object between himself and Mr . Moon . His eyes were fixated on it even as Mr . Moon kept talking . At that moment, Mr . Moons voice sounded from above his head, Today, were going to spend some time developing our senses when creating . Well learn the kinds of senses were going to need when creating . Why are these plaster figures here? Juho asked as he raised his hand . There were four busts made of plaster that matched the number of the club members standing in the middle of the room . Juho looked in Barons direction . They seemed like something that would suit an artist more . Mr . Moon smiled as if he had been expecting the question, Four plaster figures . They all have the same face . I bought them myself . That explains the size, muttered Seo Kw.a.n.g . Who dares to interrupt the teacher? Juho had been thinking the same thing, but it was something to be grateful for, considering that Mr . Moon had spent his own money . You will each take this Agrippa figure with you . Again, were going to learn how to develop your senses for creating . Creation is new . New comes from what already exists . In order to capture that, theres a need to observe . Observe . Juho looked at the plaster figures before his eyes . There were four of the same . Every bust of Agrippa in the country would be wearing the same face . Observe it until you get something unique of your own . Make your own Agrippa . So, now would be the time to be greedy . Mr . Moon nodded with a satisfied smile . But how do we observe? Bom asked, raising her hand . Weve already gone over that . Huh? Juho Woo, Mr . Moon called for him suddenly . Yes . Instead of an answer, Mr . Moon nodded . Chuckling, Juho understood the meaning of that nod . We listen, read, and think . It was one of the things Mr . Moon taught at the very beginning . Damoon-dadok-dasangryang . It meant that that one had to listen a lot, read a lot, and think a lot in order to be a better writer . Thats right . You wont get much from just sitting there and looking around . Talk to it . Pull whats inside of it out . Try salting it or cooking it over fire . Then, whatever flavor you end up with, youll see something that you havent seen in that pale, lifeless figure . They had to make the plaster figure spill all its secrets . Whether it meant feeding it with sugar or salt, they had to make it happy or miserable . After asking it questions and sharing their stories with it, they would gain something they could write about . That was the essence of creation . All right then . Everyone take a bust, and go . With those words, Mr . Moon left the room . Confusion fell over everyones faces as they approached the figures . After examining one in her hands, Sun Hwa grumbled, frowning, I dont get it . Hes telling us to create . Without pen or paper? Your hands are probably better suited for it, said Juho . She turned her eyes in the figures direction, finally realizing that it wasnt about writing . Mr . Moon was teaching them what had to happen before they started writing - their subjects, what they were going to write about . Juho picked up one of the Agrippa busts . It was quite hefty . He looked around it for characteristics . Hard . Plaster figure . Inanimate . Bust sculpture . Thick nose . Hollow eyes . Ivory skin . Commonly found in art studios . Always standing . Hm . He started to get a feel for it .