Young writer Nia spins a fine romance for our times
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
"When you're 18 years old, no matter how mature you are, you still know nothing about life," was singer Anggun's reflection about marrying her first husband at that tender age and their subsequent divorce.
Living proof of that statement is writer Rachmania "Nia" Arunita, 18, who knows little beyond her private domain of school and home, with overprotective parents who keep tabs on her comings and goings.
"My daily activity is going to school and going back home. I'm rarely allowed to hang out with my friends, let alone going out of town with them," she said as we sat in the living room of her family's home in an upmarket housing complex in South Jakarta.
Writers write best about the things they know, and Eiffel... I'm in Love is a modern Cinderella tale about a perfect girl being matched with a perfect boy, overcoming their initial love/hate relationship.
It goes back and forth between a metropolitan elite high school and also France, the place where Nia spent several years of her childhood as her naval doctor father took his doctorate.
The book has so far sold 3,000 copies since it was launched last month, more than respectable in the local market, and now is in its fourth print.
The story is light and harmless, no great shakes in that department, yet the plot flows smoothly. Teenager will relate to its slang and youth, although Nia said many adults bought the novel as well.
It also must be acknowledged that Nia completed the book when she was just 15.
Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, talented teenage writers were nothing unusual, with standouts like Hilman Hariwijaya with his famed serial Lupus, Arini Suryokusumo, Gola Gong, Katyusha and several others.
Nowadays, teen writing prodigies are a rarity, which makes Nia something of a cause celebre.
She credited her education in France, where she was drilled to write, starting with children's tales and short stories, with influencing her writing.
"And then when I was in the first grade of senior high school, I wrote several pages of a story and asked my friends to read it. Turned out they liked it very much and always asked for the continuation. I finally finished it, and the draft went around, even to another school," said Nia, in her first year at the University of Indonesia's diploma course on French literature.
The sale of 200 photocopied versions of the novel led Nia's father to finance a professional printing.
"I put it in two Gramedia bookstores near here, and it sold like hot cakes. They asked for more books to be sold in all Gramedia stores but I didn't have time to arrange it because I have to go to school," Nia said.
A film company requested permission to adapt the story and asked Nia to write the script. The film, starring teen model Sammy, is due for release on Nov. 21.
Aside from the fact that the main character has overprotective parents and one of the settings is in her onetime residence of France, Nia said the rest of the book was pure fiction.
"Noo, I've never dated up to now. I've yet to find out what first love is like," she groaned.
Of course, the latter has something to do with parental disapproval, which Nia has no intention of rebelling against.
"I think there is some truth in it. My parents always put education above everything. I think if we're well-educated, people won't underestimate us," Nia said.
Besides, she added, she is not missing out on much.
"I didn't enjoy my high school years, I was a misfit. I didn't like to hang around my girlfriends too much because all they talked about was gossip, fashion and stuff. And they like to talk behind our backs. So, my friends are mostly boys because they're more straightforward and unpretentious," she said.
Nia said she ws often left aghast by her peers who were "consumptive and fashion victims."
It's a statement that comes across as a tad judgmental, especially when she herself admits to disliking reading.
"But I do like to collect books! I love to go to bookstores and buy the books. I don't know when I read them cause it takes me months to read. I prefer light and fun books, something that I want my books to be."
She does read magazines like Cosmogirl, Seventeen and Kosmopolitan, the latter providing pointers for her next, more "grown-up" work.
Isn't the magazine little more than a glossy sex guide?
"Well, yeah, but I want to aim my next novel at an older audience. But it won't be about sex, don't worry," she giggled.
Nia admitted she barely reads newspapers ("the fonts are so small") and does not like to watch the news, admitting to being in the dark about current events.
"I didn't know there was an Iraq war until several days later. Well, I hate politics. And the more I think about all the problems and conflicts, I get more headaches. What can I do anyway? There's still the president (to do the job)."
Perhaps it's a sign of the times, but Nia does not believe prospective writers should read to improve their craft. For her, it's all about going out and meeting people.
We will see about that. Hopefully, she will manage to fulfill her potential and not end up writing cheesy soap operas like so many onetime teen writers.