My body is starting to get used to waking up early. Since a week ago, I have been rising up from bed an hour before my alarm rings. I like it. I like the silence and chill of early morning; it's conducive to creativity. It also helps me do more writing. 'Rest' has been at... Continue Reading →
Six writing teachers who found time to ‘write for themselves’
It's been a while. I didn't intentionally take a sabbatical from blogging, so imagine the pang of guilt I'd get every time I visited my site and left it with only an unfinished entry in the drafts folder. I just couldn't have the right mind for it. I wanted to treat blogging differently than any... Continue Reading →
Seven stories that are worthy of your addiction
Addictionnoun: a kind of coping mechanism: a subconscious way of filling a space or hollow in one's life or heart: an unusually strong desire or fancy for something Have you ever been addicted to something? Ever since I have observed how bad my addiction to something can get, I make sure to be careful with... Continue Reading →
Four things you need to do before foraying into writing as a career
It's an enticing idea. I had the whole scene playing in my head: I walk into a coffee shop with my laptop - or notebook and pen - queue at the counter for a cup of tea or coffee, and take a seat by the glass window. Then I earn a good sum of money... Continue Reading →
Five lessons I caught from humans’ shedding time
This Holy Week, I can’t help but ponder the shortness of life. After losing some of our loved ones (and dogs) during pandemic, the concept of 'shortness of life’ began to feel very real to me. The truth of it is a hard pill to swallow, but it’s inescapable—someday, you and I will also go.... Continue Reading →
Four things I learned from being Zoom bombed
March 19, Saturday. Our first book reading event was Zoom bombed. It was supposed to be a two-hour literary program with an atmosphere dramatically tuned by stories and cadences. The idea was this: five authors had to choose a portion or chapter of their published memoir and read it aloud while we were aired live... Continue Reading →
Five reasons you should persevere today
It must be the Christmas air, the ever-mutating virus, the hubbub about next year's election, the quotidian monotony, and all else personal that are making you feel burdened and demotivated to work today. But the good news is, you're not alone. Recently, I asked my writing community, Scribblory Writers Group, the used-to-be casual "how are... Continue Reading →
Four causes of writer’s block and how to conquer them
Being hit by the so-called "writer's block" is the worst. It tends to paralyze my writing fingers, followed by the fear that I may not be able to craft words anymore. Not ever. I realized that writing has unpredictable rhythms - muse comes and leaves as it pleases while the block often falls like a... Continue Reading →
Three things I keep in mind while grieving
We lost our dog to an accident days ago. Since then, I feel like a heavy cloud hangs over my head. Every time the scene plays back in my mind, that cloud bursts with rain, and water streams from my eyes. It's not an easy life. It's also short. Somehow, after we lost Mama late... Continue Reading →
Three things you can share through writing
I sit at my writing desk now, pondering on generosity in writing. Recently, my time's been tight with work and I noticed that my head's becoming difficult to set right for writing. I struggle. Specifically, it takes me innumerable deep breaths, several walks to the water dispenser, and looking nowhere and around before I can... Continue Reading →