The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

QUESTIONS / MGA TANONG

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

This question is so timely! As many of my readers know, I am a medical student and let me tell you this...ang hirap ipagsabay ng Medicine at pagsusulat! Haha! Writing is always a way for me to entertain myself and relieve my stress but, when I reached my third year, the study load was just too much, and I had a hard time finding time to write.

(or even sleep). My course requires a lot of focus since I'll be responsible for my patient's life in the future kaya nakokonsensiya ako every time I want to procrastinate and write my stories instead of reviewing haha.

That's my main reason why I took a break from Wattpad and only write offline whenever I can. Kaya ko naman sana mag update ang kaso, medyo perfectionist ako when it comes to the quality of my stories (not a grammar freak, more like a content freak), so ayokong i-publish ang mga chapters na naisulat ko during my busy days for the sake na makapag-publish lang at hindi ko naman sila nabasa ulit at na-revised.

I know mas magiging busy na ako ngayon (because of the pandemic and all) but I managed to finally make a schedule kung kailan ako magsusulat. And I already wrote down some plans for my story (I used to write spontaneously without plot guides) para madali na lang din balikan at sundan. So I hope my readers are still there because I'm planning to continue my on-goings this year!

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

Honestly, I prefer to write standalones kasi isang story lang tapos ka na, wala ka ng aalalahaning kasunod pa sa story nila at wala ng balikan kapag natapos na. However, mas prefer ng utak ko ang magsulat ng series. Ang dami pang interesting na characters sa isang story ang pwedeng isunod na i-kwento at naka-buo kana kasi ng isang imaginary universe na maaaring pagkuhanan ng kwento so I think, writing a series that will revolve around that universe will be easier than building another universe for a new story again.

3. How do you motivate yourself to keep writing?

Writing somewhat keeps me sane and grounded, and it's where I feel I'm at my happiest state (except when I'm with my dogs). So, 'yun ang mga naging motivations ko para hindi ko bitawan ang pagsusulat. Ang daming activities na ginagawa ko sa araw araw na I really find boring and tiresome, pero never ang pagsusulat. Sa pagsusulat

kasi ang dami mong nadidiskubre, at ang dami mong pwedeng mabuo out of nothing. And besides, through writing, you can inspire people! You can help them with their struggles, and you can give them hope and happiness with your stories. I think that

alone could be a motivation for writers like me to push through and continue creating stories.

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

Sa Bad Girl for a Girlfriend, nahirapan ako isulat 'yung mga intimate scenes. Bata pa lang kasi ako noon at lumaki pa ako sa isang conservative environment so super konti lang ng alam ko about that topic at tanging sa mga kinukwento lang ng friends ko sa akin ako nag babased ng isusulat (not saying may experience na ako ngayon pero ang dami ko ng nabasang novels and napanood na movies/series na pwede kong pagbasehan ngayon). Hindi rin naman ako puwedeng mag search ng tungkol doon dahil makikita ng aking parents ang history ng aking browser ( haha!). So talagang struggle dati dahil asa lang talaga sa imagination.

Sa VINCENT book one and two naman nahirapan ako magsulat ng happy scenes. I was in a very dark place and mindset noong sinulat ko 'yun so ang nasa-isip ko puro drama, angst , etc. so for me mahirap mag-isip ng something light and fun na scenes kung ang gusto ko lang isulat ay puro iyakan na ganap. Mahirap mag-imagine at bumuo ng scenario kung saan masaya ang mga characters mo pero ikaw na nagsusulat ay hindi. Again, it was a struggle but looking back now, I'm really glad na nalagpasan ko ang challenge na 'yon. And the "happy" scenes are actually fun to read!

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

Sa gitna haha! Every time I write, lagi ko nauunang matapos ang epilogue then sunod agad ang first chapter. Easy lang sa akin ang dalawang 'yun dahil automatic ng buo ang concept na gusto kong mangyari sa kanila sa hulian at paano sila nagsimula. Mas na ch-challenge ako sa pagbuo ng gitna kasi either excited akong marating agad ang dulo, or masyado naman akong maraming naiisip na pasikot-sikot sa story na sinusulat ko so ang resulta ay nakakabuo ako ng parang maze-like problems within the story na

mahirap masolusyunan. But I think, challenges like that are really exciting. Mas masarap magsulat kung mismong ikaw ay hindi alam kung anong nangyari bago marating ang finish line.

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

I can't choose between Ajax from Destroy Me and Orion from The Ugly Club of Brent University! Haha! Both of them are really scary pero masayang kausap at kasama. I want Ajax because I want a sexy devil to have fun with me whenever I'm bored at gusto ko rin makita in person kung paano siya mag blush sa mga advances ko haha! And Orion because I want to listen to his rambling about people he doesn't like, and hear him sing some love songs to me or watch him play his drums. Pwede ring namang si Kendrick from BGFAG but matagal na siyang nanahimik so papabayaan ko na. I don't like to bring any of my girls to life at baka mag-away lang kami.

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

Halos lahat ng characters ko binigyan ko ng part ng sarili ko, so halos lahat din sa kanila tinuturing kong parang paborito kong anak. So again, I can't just choose one here. For example, Belle Silva from BGFAG got my devil-may-care attitude, Karaninna (Destroy Me) have my straightforwardness and Savannah (VINCENT) is also an indecisive person like me. Even the boys have my qualities as well so ayun hindi ako makapamili at baka magtampo sila sa akin.

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

As always, ang isasagot ko rito ay si George RR. Martin (author of Game of Thrones). His series is my ultimate favourite and it'll be a dream and an honour to collaborate with him. For me his works are the best of the best! I fell in love with his world building and the complexities of his characters. Nakaka-inspire talaga!

For local naman, I think any of my friends will do. I tried to collab with my friends before (ate mhabs and trina) when we wrote Born Wicked for Pop Fiction and it was so fun that I want to experience it again. I believe, magagaling ang mga Filipino writers in and out of Wattpad so collaborating with them will be a fun experience. And at least kapag kaibigan, may alam na ako kung paano makikisalamuha sa kanila so sharing of ideas and concepts wouldn't be a problem anymore.

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

Game of Thrones! I'm really obsessed with that series. Napakaganda ng mga twists and turns and kagaya ng sinabi ko sa earlier question, na-in love ako sa mundo ng story na iyon. I love how the author played with politics, family dynamics and religion sa story na iyon and I hope someday I can write a story/series like that.

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

Since I just came back from a long hiatus, I am planning to slowly update my on going stories and published several epistolary para lang ma-exercise ulit ang aking utak. I have so many ideas during my break na gusto ko isulat at ipagpatuloy. I wanted to explore new genres too. I already started experimenting with Fantasy doon sa Destroy Me, so next, I plan to write a Mystery novel. I also plan na ipagpatuloy ang aking napakatagal na plano na i-self-published ang VINCENT. Susubukan ko na maghanap ng way ngayong bakasyon ko so sana matuloy.

Lastly, I plan on going back to my initial purpose in writing stories and that is to have fun. I will write again for myself and not because I'm pressured to publish more stories like my friends. I will write stories na makakapagpasaya sa akin ulit (na pwede ring ma-enjoy ng kung sino mang maligaw sa aking profile).

BONUS: Please leave a message for your readers.

First of all, I want to thank you for waiting and for not giving up on me and my stories. Thank you for your continuing support and love and of course salamat sa mga words of encouragement niyo sa akin (mapa-wattpad related man or sa aking pag aaral). I really treasure and appreciate all of you. Now that I'm finally back, I hope I can share with you stories that we can enjoy together. Mabagal man ang update, I will make sure to give only quality chapters every time I will post something so I hope you'll look forward to it and read them with me. I also miss talking with my readers or anyone in Wattpad, so anyone of you can visit my profile and talk to me whenever you want. I'll try to reply as soon as I have time.

Ayun lang, God bless and since we're still in a pandemic, please stay safe, follow the guidelines, and get vaccinated if you already can!

Volim te!

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