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?

Time management and patience. I always apply these two in every aspect of my life. Being a writer on wattpad. It's tough and demanding. Haha! It's true, some readers act like they own your time; dropping your stories for updating late. May kasamang bash pa. Package deal! Nakakawalangana 'yon. It's a toxic trait. We have our personal work and responsibilities when we're not intimately collaborating ideas with our laptop for our next updates. As much as I or We want to quench your thirst for update, priorities must always come first, unless, I or we're writing full time.

Know your priorities, writers. Follow your own timeline and schedule and inform your readers with your update schedules. Do not ghost them. Masakit 'yan! Pangit kayo ka bonding kapag ganoon. Haha! Give and take lang tayo always. Inform them na buhay ka pa at mag-a-update ka sa weekend, sa holiday, or next year! Sila mag-adjust. Char! Basta, hear them out, and I promise you, they will listen to you when it's time for you to speak. :D

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

Series!

Trivia, I started with standalone because it's easy – it's a one-time fictional universe to write. Cons: Sepanx siya for me. It's heartbreaking to move on to another story. Meanwhile, Series is too complex for me that time. It requires commitment and well-organized plots and timeline for a seamless transition for the next book. Takot ako sa commitment dati and ayoko nga ma stress sa buhay that's the reason why readers knew me with my light stories.

But when I started His Beautiful Series (Book 1 of 4), I just couldn't get enough! It's honestly addicting. So gumawa pa ako ng isa pang series, Faro de Amore (Book 1 of 13) para lang ma stress ulit. Writing a book series is an endless journey of possibilities and thrill. I like the challenges attached to it. It's like a world where you can continue the lives of your characters kahit tapos na kwento nila. The continuity and the chance to write updates about the lives of your previous characters are too satisfying.

The First Series revolves in the friendship of four broken and lost men finding the beauty of life. The second ongoing series are inspired by the names of the disciples and their flaws as FARO BOYS (landowners in different professions), led by the mysterious landlord of Faro de Amore, Iesus Cloudio de Dios. Thirteen men finding the 12 lost items that links their past lives.

I love writing both but at present, I love doing series kasi ayoko mag-move-on sa mga characters ko. XD

3.How do you motivate yourself to keep writing?

Gusto ko magka-jowa! Since I don't have any at the moment. I'll just gonna write it in different scenarios, pain, and happiness. XD

But honestly, it's hard to motivate yourself especially at times like this. When you always feel stuck and everyone are given a lot of opportunities in writing. At some point, no matter how strong I am, I will always feel vulnerable because of my insecurities as a writer. I always feel that nobody cared and nobody wanted to read my stories. I feel ignored. I have been writing here on wattpad for 10 years now. Umalis na ang iba. Napalitan na ng bago. But hey, I'm still here! <3

You know what, a reader told me, "Ikaw ang pinakamatiyagang writer na nakilala ko." I believe madami kami but it just shows that sometimes, what you need is not the fame but genuine readers who supports your story. Stop looking for readers who doesn't appreciate you. Do not write stories that isn't you. Let readers loves your stories and not because you're trying to please the world. This is your world, own it.

My readers, they're my greatest motivation because they're the one who always says, "Madam, bashers kami, mataas standard namin sa mga stories, sa tingin mo tatagal kami sa'yo nang 5 to 10 years kung 'di ka magaling? Keep writing kung 'di iba-bash ka talaga namin.", "Madam, ipo-promote ka namin hanggang sa magsawa sila sa mukha mo!", "Madam, resbak mo kami! Kalma lang tayo, ha? Laban pa rin.", "Madam, Weirda As One tayo!", "Madam, thank you for inspiring us always. We love you. Don't give up. Nandito pa kami."

And I realized that even without fame I am appreciated and loved by my readers who become my greatest allies toward my dream.

I always live with the saying, "When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen." You will only lose if you stop trying. So, keep writing! :D

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

Love scene! Haha! You know, it's very hard to find the right emotion and words to make a perfect, if not the best, at least a justifiable love scene. Even now, I find intimacy scenes to be challenging. Madali siyang isipin pero mahirap siyang isulat. God knows, where the heaven's department was I able to find the right words to write those scenes in my stories.

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

First chapter, first impression last. Usually, when I decide to write a story, madalas may ending na agad ako. Hindi madalas, always. Haha! Sa first chapter kasi o sa prologo doon mo hahatakin ang mga prospect readers/followers mo. Kaya bonggahan mo ang first chapter. Huwag mo madaliin.

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

Nemo! He's not really a person but he's Halea's precious best friend when the world failed to hear her pain and sufferings. He's a chow chow dog. I believe most of my readers who have already read Saving Forever would want him to be alive. I want him to be real. I have trouble expressing myself and my struggles toward other people even to my closest. It would be a blessing to have an adorable dog like him in this lifetime. I'm 100% sure everyone would love him.

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

I couldn't say. I'm close with all of them. Not to be biased but yes, my characters live in my head rent free like a real person. When I write and when I don't, they would just pop out of nowhere. Giving me scenes that I might not probably include in my updates. There is this special connection with my characters that is hard to explain to other people. And I think, it's an exclusive connection – an unlimited behind the scenes with them. I wish I could share those moments with my readers. Maybe someday! <3

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

This maybe an odd answer but I'm curious what's inside Jose Rizal's mind. I think it would be great to collab with him. Haha! Let's say, we bridge past to the present. And present to the past. It's a trend story nowadays but would it be amazing to really write it together with one of the greatest writers in the past? I could learn a lot about his POV in writing. And perhaps, he could learn from me. :D

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

A Walk to Remember of Nicholas Sparks. I really love Jamie and Landon's story. It's tragically beautiful but as a sucker of happy endings. If given a chance to write an alternate ending. I would like to see them building a family of their own because they both deserve it. But I guess in Nicholas Parks' POV. Happiness is not measured in the length of years that you have spent with the person, but it's the moment that you didn't waste to make each other happy. And I think it's a beautiful assumption. We keep looking for that happiness in other things not knowing that the happiness is already in front of us. :)

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

I like to continue writing – to see what awaits at the end of the tunnel for me. I've been hoping and praying that one day, all the years of waiting would be worth the wait. Cheer me up, okay? We can do this!

BONUS: Please leave a message for your readers.

Weirdas, thank you for your patience, love, and support. I may have my darkest days as a writer but know that like my characters, I will always find the courage to keep going. We don't quit. We only rest. Let's meet up someday. That's a promise! I love you all. 143 <3

And those who haven't read any of my stories. I recommend you start with MY CROSOFT. I have a lot of stories for you in different genre. Light stories to romance comedy to paranormal romance to mysteries and many more. See you! <3