Wattpad Filipino Block Party

QUESTIONS / MGA TANONG

1. How did you adjust your writing in your stories, may naapektuhan ba because of work/acads and life? 

Since the pandemic started, I had more time to write pero dahil sa acads, hindi ko pa rin nagagawang maging productive ng todo kasi hati ang atensyon. Things are tough also when it comes to life in general, kasi sa panahon ngayon hirap ang lahat. Some are struggling with their mental health, finances, physical health, academics, and even time management—myself included.

I decided to work on things that I could control. I started managing my time efficiently—knowing my priorities and working on my goals one by one. I actually got to finish an 80k words novel last May which I started writing at the start of 2021. It took me five months to finish it offline but I must say that I found the balance between acads and writing with this project. Ngayong nagka-pandemic, I don't pressure myself to finish my stories immediately. I am taking my time. I view this time as a moment to reflect also and I do it while writing. At this point, I could say that it's still a feat because I am not missing out with acads and writing. Despite the struggle and distress that this time has brought to us, I realized it's possible to still keep doing what you love if you dedicate time to it because now, we already have time to do so.

2. What do you prefer to write: Series or Standalone stories? Why?

I don't usually get to decide if I am writing a series or standalone stories at the start of the writing process. I mean, madalang lang akong magdecide na sadya talagang gumawa ng series. I already finished writing almost 5 stories and I observed that I only get to know whether to make it a series or a standalone one if the stories/characters call for it. As of the moment, I think I would prefer writing standalone stories yet I am not closing doors for writing a spin-off of the standalone stories that I already finished writing. Hindi ko pa nasusubukan magsulat ng series na nakumpleto ko talaga kaya medyo mahirap para sa 'kin. Maybe because things should be planned ahead for a series to work because each story included in the series could be a reference for another.

Baka in the future I would really commit to writing a series. But for now, I prefer writing standalone stories since hindi naman buong oras ko ang nakalaan sa pagsusulat kasi may ibang bagay pa na kailangan atupagin. Kapag standalone stories muna ang magiging focus ko, I'm sure I could finish it and put the effort and attention the story needed at this point in time.

3. How do you motivate yourself to keep writing? 

As writers, I think we already know that inspiration and motivation don't always come our way. Hindi naman palaging nagpaparamdam ang muse, minsan pa madalas tayong ma-stuck sa sinusulat natin. I recognize this fact and acknowledge it. Sa totoo lang, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na magsulat na motivated and inspired pero aminin, hindi ito nangyayari always, kaya hindi ako nag-aantay ng motivation. During these moments, I rely on discipline. I always have reasons why I write. Each story that I've written means something to me. Kaya nagagawa kong magsulat at ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulat kahit minsan walang motivation o inspiration.

I think, by having a reason why I started writing in the first place, by holding onto it and allowing that meaning and reason to grow inside of me, I am motivating myself to continue to write. S'yempre kasama na rin ang displina, dedication, commitment, at persistence. Ang pagsusulat kasi ay journey of hard work and enjoyment. Kailangan may gawin tayo upang magpatuloy at hindi maisipang sumuko na lang. Minsan rin pala binabasa ko ang mga stories na naisulat ko na. I would visualize how things have been since the first day when I started to write. Marami nang nagbago, may iilang achievements na rin ako at readers din. I would be reminded to be grateful. I will read some comments in my stories and allow these things to fuel me with hope and motivation that I am writing stories that means something to other people—that I am doing something right. Then, I should probably continue!

4. Among your stories, what particular scene is difficult for you to write? 

I remember, I started writing seriously a year after I started to write. So parang may trial year ako sa pagsusulat noong unang year ko pa lang. I wasn't really mindful of the technicalities and such, kaya rin siguro hindi ako nakapaghanda pero paunti-unti ay natututo ako, hanggang ngayon. Tbh, sa mga stories ko sobrang daming scenes na nahirapan akong isulat. But the very first time which I struggled the most in writing a particular scene was when I wrote my story Drops of Rainfall—my first story that won The Wattys.

Few chapters kasi before the ending of Drops of Rainfall, nagsink-in sa akin kung gaano ka-seryoso ang story na isinulat ko. Ang hirap nang i-solve ng mga problema na ako lang din naman ang gumawa. Napapa-facepalm na ako that time but I was very determined to finish the story. This was the scene when Raine found out the truth about what really happened to her mother. Sobrang nasasaktan ako habang unti-unting isinusulat ang parte kung saan sinasabi ng mga taong involved kung ano talaga ang nangyari. It was like Raine's wound which was starting to heal is cut deep once again. Bukod sa kailangan kong gawing kapani-paniwala ang scene, kailangan din ang emosyon. I think, naitawid ko naman. Yeyy! Ayon, this story is currently part of Wattpad Paid Stories Program, if you want to read it po, you can unlock the chapters for only 86 coins. Thank youu!

5. Saan kayo mas nacha-challenge sa pagbuo ng first chapter o sa epilogue? 

Sa epilogue talaga. Kasi, sa first chapter you can start with a bang and if ever hindi man iyon ganoon ka-boom pwede ka pang makabawi in the next few chapters. Sa Epilogue kasi... nakakakaba kasi ending na; it would make or break your story. Kung hindi maayos ang ending, puwedeng maramdaman ng readers na nagsayang lang sila ng oras at emosyon sa iginugulol sa pagbabasa sa story. Ayon, as for me, mabilis lang sa akin makaisip kung ano'ng nasa first chapter. Sa epilogue or ending part... medyo may challenge at hirap factor na.

6. If you can bring one of your characters to life, who will it be and why? 

My female lead in Drops of Rainfall, Lorraine 'Raine' Reyes. She's the type of character kasi whom I could find strength in. She's not a perfect character which makes it the more reason why I wanted to bring her to life. Her strength, courage, and compassion are things that I would want to mirror in reality. Hindi siya iyong typical na malakas na character na kayang suungin lahat. But she would if deemed necessary. She endures and shows her vulnerabilities yet she also fights for what she thinks she deserves—the truth. She will do everything for her mother and has empathy for people. She has a heart to help and wisdom to understand. These attributes, I believe, are the things that would show what humanity really is like: capable to feel... often hurt, oftentimes we struggle but we also overcome. Thus, if I can, I want to bring her to life.

7. Among your characters, who's the closest to you? Why? 

Among my characters—I don't have any favorites—but I think I am closest to Rosette Resuelo, the female lead in my story A Lover's Rose. I just finished writing her story last year and I was really in a bad state at that time and writing her story helped me cope. I was dealing with issues in myself. Sa pagsusulat ko naihihinga lahat ng bigat na nararamdaman ko sa mga panahong iyon. Si Rose kasi ang character na susubukan ayusin ang mga bagay, makuha ang mga bagay, at paghirapan ang mga bagay. She's so real and vulnerable to me that when I was writing her story I was crying most of the time. Sobrang nakakastress noong simula ng pandemic, hindi ko alam kung ano'ng gagawin ko. Matutulala na lang ba sa kwarto o magsusulat? And I chose to write because it's the only way I could let my heart breathe. Si Rose ang kasama ko during those days... sa kanya ko inilabas ang iilang frustrations ko. Her character is very reflecting too, habang sinusulat ko ang story niya minsan nagugulat na lang ako sa mga salita at realizations na dumarating. I really felt connected to her.

8. If you could collaborate with any author (local man or international), who would it be and why? 

If given a chance, I want to collaborate with Ate Aly (alyloony). I really admire her stories. Many of my favorite stories are written by her... Her story "Lucid Dream" was really the reason why I realized that I want to write stories that would touch the hearts and emotions of the readers; that I want to write something realistic yet magical and even dwell on the imagination, possibilities, and truths. Sobrang cute din ng vibes ng mga stories ni Ate Aly and I really admire her so much!

9. Anong famous story (be it classic or contemporary Literature) ang hinihiling mong ikaw ang nakapagsulat? Bakit? 

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland. This was the last story that I've read this year before I got caught up with stuff to do and I couldn't help but admire how the author was able to write the novel beautifully, achingly, and realistically. It's a young adult novel that would surely capture anyone's heart. Talagang medyo matagal bago ko natapos basahin ang novel na 'to kasi ilang beses akong natitigilan. I would gaze at the words and then read them again, and again. Her writing style is indeed ethereal and realistic. Dama ko ang emotions ng characters, the realizations, the inner monologue will hit you hard and deep and, of course, the characters—shiz, the characters are so real I even dream of them at night! I wish I could also write like that. I wish I could also make characters as real as hers. I wish I wrote that story. But yeah, I can only be myself. Reading that novel motivated me to become better at writing. Because it is possible.

10. What are your future plans in your writing career?

I plan to write more stories for sure. I also plan to never cease improving my crafts and my skills. Maybe I will also get active on social media too. I am really investing in my growth as a writer. The path towards the future seems unclear yet I know I shall continue what I have started. No one knows what will happen next, I think I'll just enjoy the ride. The process itself is as rewarding as the outcome. My plan is to continue to write—to continue sharing stories with people who care. I know that I am not alone in this journey; that the characters of the stories I am meant to write awaits, and the readers whom I'll always be grateful for shall all be part of it. Padayon lang gihapon ko sa pagsulat. I will still continue to write!

BONUS: Please leave a message for your readers.

Hello! I just wanna say thank you for giving my stories a chance. Thank you for appreciating them. Your comments—even simple ones already meant a lot to me. The path of being a writer becomes extra colorful because of you, guys! Thank you! I will continue writing stories and I hope those will still touch, inspire, and motivate you like how the previous stories that I've written did. I will continue what I have started. And we will grow and improve together. Knowing that there are people who appreciate something that we truly love doing impacts us profoundly, for that, I'm really grateful. Thank you so much! May you continue to be a blessing and an inspiration to all writers like me out there!