10 Writing Habits

I was tagged by @Maria Feda Davies (yep, our very own Jade Anne Franco) on Facebook. I'm not on FB, so dito ko na lang ilagay. :) 

I-tag ko si Dior Madrigal, Alexie Aragon, xxakanexx, saka si pajama_addict. 

1.   Di ko kaya yung putol-putol na pagsusulat. Mas productive ako (sa tingin ko) kung tipong isang araw na walang pasok na dere-derecho akong magsusulat, kaysa araw-araw tig-dadalawang oras.

2.   I choose visual pegs for my characters para madaling mag-describe ng hitsura nila. Tapos naka-wallpaper yun sa laptop ko para inspiration, hehe.

3.     Gusto may background music. Gumagawa pa ‘ko ng OST-like playlist tapos ‘yun ang pinapakinggan ko habang nagsusulat ako. Habang gumagawa ako ng ibang bagay (nagtatrabaho, nagbibiyahe, o anuman), pinakikinggan ko yung playlist para ma-motivate ako. Kaya ayun, forever nang may earphones sa tainga ko.

  

4.   Di ako puwedeng magsulat sa kama, makakatulog ako.

5.  Ayoko nang may istorbo kapag writing time ko.

6.  Nag-a-outline ako pero di rin nasusunod. :/

7.  I keep a notebook (notebooks, actually, dahil ang dami ko nun), sulatan ng ideas. Pag tamad akong mag-take notes, vino-voice record ko.

8.   I research. Di ko siya masyadong feel pero ginagawa ko yun, kasi kakahiya naman sa babasa ng sinulat ko kung mali-mali ilalagay kong info sa MS ko, di ba?

9.   Mahilig akong mag-edit at mag-revise ng MS. Kahit halfway pa lang, binabasa ko na siya at pinapalitan yung mga names, yung scenes, nag-chop-chop ng scenes, etcetera. Makulit ako, as in. Baka sa isang nobela, mahina na yung 3 times ko siyang irerebisa.

10. Matagal akong magsulat. Ang pinakamabilis kong natapos ay inabot ng 1 buwan. Yung pinakamatagal… ahm, sinimulan ko nung 2008, ayun di pa rin tapos ngayon. :/

Sicknesses and Styles

Every writer has a 'sickness' (sorry for the word, but that's how I call it) -- a weakness. An evidence that they're not perfect. A room for improvement.
Some weaknesses are curable --and with varied levels of curability, while some aren't.
   
Some writers are more creative; others are more gifted technically. Some are better with descriptions, others with dialogues. Some are experts when it comes to touching the reader's emotions.

Some appeared better when they are writing a specific genre (or subgenre of romance), some can excel in anything.

No writer is perfect; just as no style is better than the other.

Style is SUBJECTIVE. There is no productivity in comparing one writer's style to that of another writer, unless it's a constructive, honest-to-goodness criticism.

Create your own and though you cant please everyone with it, be proud.
Be authentic. Be you. :)

Cant Stand Sitting Down

At the height of super typhoon Haiyan's aftermath, I cant help being grateful.

I am really inspired to see a lot of foreign countries, NGOs, businesses, celebrities, even private citizens extending help for the victims of the super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) in Visayas. 

There's this album by one of my favorite Christian bands, Stellar Kart, entitled 'We Cant Stand Sitting Down.' Maybe that is what everyone feels these days. Pagod na silang tumunganga lang sa harap ng computer or TV at maawa sa mga taong nabiktima ng bagyo. They just had to do something--regardless of their social status, religion, nationality, race--to be of help. 

It's Bayanihan at its finest.

It brings tears in my eyes, a tug in my heart, hope and yes, restoration of faith in humanity. 

Thank you, Lord. :)

Tungkol sa mga Bayani at Masasayang Wakas

Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ngayong Agosto kaya naisip kong ito ang tamang panahon para magsulat ako ng tala sa Filipino. Sa tingin ko, mas akma ito lalo pa't Tagalog Romance naman talaga ang sinusulat natin at Tagalog ang salita ng karaniwang nagpupunta sa blog na ito. 

Isa pa, ubos na rin kasi ang baon kong English.

Dahil diyan, asahan ninyo na po na Tagalog ang mga tala ko sa blag (ideya ko dahil antagal ni Google Translate mag-isip) na ito sa buong buwan ng Agosto--

Kung may maisulat ako bago mag-Setyembre.*ngisi*

Makibaka! Wag Matakot!

Today marks our patria adorada's 115th Independence Day. In connection to this, you will hear/read news/articles about real independence within the day: like 'Are We Really Free?' or something like that. 

And because I'm a gaya-gaya puto maya, thus, this entry. *smile*

Believe it or not, some (or maybe most) of us aren't free. We are hostages of these horrible beasts and I'd like to declare revolt against these things that enslave some (or maybe most) of us. 

Brothers and sisters, let's all break free from these chains. Utang na loob.

1. FEAR.

• Let's face it, there are a lot of things we ought to be afraid of; some real, some maybe irrational. 
• To me, it is a chain that holds us from doing what we should do. 
• It is the lack of courage; but courage is not parallel to absence of fear. Therefore, you can be afraid and still find the courage to do what you have to do. 
• If I will remain afraid of making a small step, how will I be able to reach my destination? 
• The road to success is never easy. And along the way, there are many roadblocks, hazards, and perhaps, you may have to take a few detours. Expect it. I don't--and can't--ask you to be unafraid, because fear is normal. But opt to focus more on your goal. It will drive you to be where you want to be.
• You want to be a writer? Have the courage to submit your work. 
• Break this chain that's controlling you for the longest time!

2. INDOLENCE.

• Sometimes fear isn't the reason why we don't act on our goals. We may have this disease called 'katam' and we want to do things the easiest way possible. Puwede namang mag-shortcut, why take the long and hard way? Uubra namang mag-plagiarize, bakit ka pa mag-iisip ng sariling kuwento? *insert cuss words* 
• But, you know, the sweetest fruit sprouts from the bitterest trees. (Whatever, I just made that up. Ehehe. ) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that, there is no success sweeter than a success well earned. You so deserved it that even your competitors/detractors/critics agree (beyond reasonable doubt) that you do deserve to win/succeed. Even you yourself agree that you deserve it. And that only happens when you know you work you @ss off to be there. You had sacrificed sleeping and/or eating on time just to make this possible. You cried buckets of tears to pursue this. You did what others deem impossible. You dared to do everything. You are a victor. Ikaw na, Ate!  *cue 'We Are The Champions'*
• But none of this will happen, if you'll stay under a tree ala-Juan Tamad and wait for success to fall down from the sky straight into your hands. I tell you that's impossible. Because God doesn't like lazy people and even forbids them to succeed. (read the book of Proverbs if you have doubts)
• You need information? Research. You want to learn? Study. You want to be great? Practice. You failed? Try harder. 
• Slay indolence! Kill this beast! 

3. MEDIOCRITY. 

• I think, mediocrity is the brother of indolence and the son of fear. (Akalain mo, magkakamag-anak pala sila! I-genocide na yan!) 
• It is the choice to remain within your zone because it's safe and comfortable there. You know, no risks, no pain, no hurdles, etc. 
• But a great leader once mentioned that there is no status quo. That you are either going up or going down. If you aren't improving (up), then, you are going the opposite way (down).
• You may or may not be the best compared to your contemporaries, but you can be the best that you can be. I think that's a LOT better. 
• Our greatest rival is ourselves. Challenge him every now and then. 

I am waging war against these three--Fear, Indolence and Mediocrity. Break the bondage! Break free from your chains!  

If you're with me, I ask you to throw your right fist in the air and shout 'Freedom!' wherever you are. Makibaka! Huwag matakot! Tama na! Buwagin na! Ayoko na! Ayawan na!

Mga utu-uto. *sticks tongue out* 

Have a stress-worry-and-frustration-free Independence Day, people! Peace.

ATYCHIPHOBIC NO MORE

Last Sunday, June 2, 2013, I spoke to our church's youth group about handling failures.

I was hesitant at first upon learning the topic they assigned to me. But me being me, as much as possible, I don't want to just back out from a challenge, especially one given by my pastor. 

So I accepted the challenge, while inside my head, worry and light atychiphobia (fear of failing) is bugging me. Do I have 'k' (as in karapatan) to talk about handling failures when I myself have made a lot of misjudgments and mistakes--and I haven't completely forgiven my self for doing all those.

But God is good. And He is omniscient. I believe He had planned for this topic to be given to me so He could speak to me while I was doing my research. 

Anyways, I just want to share these things I learned from my research (mostly from Ptr. Ed Lapiz's book and Nick Vujicic's testimony). 

I know as writers--whether you're a newbie or pro--you may have failed, too. Is it a rejection of a manuscript? Is it a negative comment from a critic? Whatever it is about, don't let your failure discourage you.  

Here are the steps on how, according to Pastor Ed, we should handle a failure.

1. ASSESS THE FAILURE.

More often than not, failure is nothing but a negative outlook in life. We lose sight of what's more important because we focus too much on what our eyes can see, rather than wondering about the truth beneath the surface. But the only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is perspective.

What's beneath the surface has more weight.

2.  REPAIR AND LIMIT THE DAMAGES.

• Forgive those who have failed you. It is possible that you are the source of other people's failures, so ask for their forgiveness. Restore relationships. Your family, your friends, the relationships you have with other people---these are more important than any material thing--than any success you could ever have.

3. STUDY, PRACTICE AND IMPROVE. 

Make use of your failure to be a better person. Turn  obstacle into opportunity. "Failure is education," according to Nick Vujicic. The more you fail, the more you will learn. 

3. TRY AGAIN. 

Quitters never win so don't just give up. Here are some quotes I've collected about trying again.

• "It is hard to fail, bit it is worse to never have tried to succeed." - Theodore Roosevelt
• "Why do we fall? So we can pick ourselves up?" - Thomas Wayne (Batman Begins)
• "I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan
• "Never say die." - Ginebra Kings

-  Journey :)

• "Never say nev---

Okay, that's enough. I think you got my point already.

4. BE POSITIVE.

Be thankful of the things you have and stop complaining about the things you don't have. Concentrate on the things that you can change or improve. Stop comparing yourself to other people.

Nick Vujicic said, "Life is not about what is happening to you, but how you react to it." It all depends on you. 

I pray you'll find encouragement in this entry. Let me end this with a quote that my brain cells were able to conjure a few hours before my talk last Sunday: 

                                  "Failure may be inevitable, but it is never invincible." 

Good day, everyone! 

UPGRADING...

Back in the day, when I was in elementary and signing slum books was popular, I would always write this line on the space next to the question, 'What is Your Motto in Life?':

"Knowledge is the key to success."

I can't recall where I got it, and I'm not sure if my study habits behavior grades lifestyle then showed that it is indeed the guiding principle of my life, but it sounds 'intellectual' to me then. (Yep, me=poser.)

Today, many years later, as I type this entry, I realize one thing. My 'motto' kuno then is okay, but it's enough. In my opinion, it should be written like this:

"CONSTANT PURSUIT OF knowledge is the REAL key to success."

This is an irrefutable truth. It is every man's greatest feat --- whatever your age is, wherever you are, whatever profession you have, no matter how good/successful you are in that field.

Sure, there is no such thing as perfect. But you can strive to be a better version of your self. I mean, if you can't be perfect, at least, try be nearer to it, di ba?

At this point, I'd like to tell you this:

A newer version of YOU is available. 

Would you like to upgrade?

The Tagalog Romance Translation Theory

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion, and as you know, 'opinion of one doesn't reflect the whole'. :-)

After doing two MSV Versions releases and reading around ten translated manuscripts, I have come to these conclusions: 

A. Translating is not for everyone. One has to have a strong grasp of both the languages involved. 

B. Writing skills may be useful, but it will not cover for everything.

C. Translating is more alike to EDITING than to WRITING. Here are some of my reasons:

• It is done OBJECTIVELY. 

You have to be faithful to what is written in the original manuscript. The original tone should be intact. However, if the exact equivalent in Tagalog will make it sound different or wrong, opt for a more 'natural' approach, without drifting too far from the original.   

• Your personal WRITING STYLE doesn't count. It's the writer's work that should shine, not yours.

• There's some sort of SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. You are responsible for every word you will use / change/ crop / add.

• It's LESS FULFILLING compared to writing your own manuscript; less credit will be given to you.

• Much of the burden will come from: 

(1) choosing the accurate term in place of the original word, but a good English-Tagalog Dictionary can do the job; 
(2) deciding whether to metaphrase (literal translation) or paraphrase; which sentence should be shifted from active to passive voice; and which word is translatable and which is not; when to back-translate;   
(3) making the dialogues sound realistic and natural; 
(4) and lastly, (most important, IMO), making the ideas smooth to read and easier to comprehend. 

• If worse comes to worst, you may have to do some real serious editing while doing the translation. :/  

In conclusion to these conclusions, let me share this to you. 'Translation' comes from the Latin word translatio, which means 'to bring across'-- which I think should be ultimate goal of every translator: to bring across the original message / idea / emotion of the foreign writer to every Filipino Romance pocketbook reader.