K.M. Levis's Blog, page 2
March 31, 2019
HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO WRITE?
I’ve been asked this question a lot.
Like a lot.
Especially when I tell them what I’ve been doing. As of today, I’m editing my fourth book, waiting for edits on the third draft of my third book and halfway through writing my fifth book.
Don’t forget that this whole author thing isn’t just about writing books, too. There are emails that need replying, social media that needs updating, blog posts that need writing and so on.
Add to that stuff like:
Mum duties
Chores (anyone wanna volunteer to do them for me?)
Day job
Exercise
R&R (Netflix and gaming for me)
Family time
Friends catch up
It kinda looks like I have a full schedule.
So how do I actually find time to write?
I just do.
That doesn’t help, does it? There are a couple of advantages that I have that maybe others don’t, which gives me more time to write.
LIKE WHAT?
For one, I only have one kid, one I trained to be responsible and who helps me around the house when I ask her to. It was a conscious parenting decision for us to teach our daughter to do her bit around the house. Part to teach her responsibility and part to give her some life skills for when she’s on her own in the future.
Second, I work from home. There’s no traffic to sit through or packed train rides to contend with. That time that most people spend in transit, I use to tick heaps off my daily To-Do list. Having said that, if I had to sit through a train ride I would use that time to write or read or edit.
Third, I schedule things like a madwoman – a task master with a whip. I give everything on my To-Do list a time limit. Within that time, I focus on one task alone. Once the alarm beeps, I move on to the next. That way I end up accomplishing several things in one day – including writing/editing my books.
Fourth, I accept when things don’t go according to plan. There are days, of course, when the unexpected happens. Someone is sick, something unforeseen happens. I can’t predict everything, so I just accept it and then look at my schedule and move things around.
The thing I always remember is that everything that is important to me will have a place in my schedule. If it’s not, then it won’t be. That’s why I added R&R, family time and catching up with friends. If you want the writing thing to happen, then you’ll find the time. It’s just a matter of prioritising.
Like a lot.
Especially when I tell them what I’ve been doing. As of today, I’m editing my fourth book, waiting for edits on the third draft of my third book and halfway through writing my fifth book.
Don’t forget that this whole author thing isn’t just about writing books, too. There are emails that need replying, social media that needs updating, blog posts that need writing and so on.
Add to that stuff like:
Mum duties
Chores (anyone wanna volunteer to do them for me?)
Day job
Exercise
R&R (Netflix and gaming for me)
Family time
Friends catch up
It kinda looks like I have a full schedule.
So how do I actually find time to write?
I just do.
That doesn’t help, does it? There are a couple of advantages that I have that maybe others don’t, which gives me more time to write.
LIKE WHAT?
For one, I only have one kid, one I trained to be responsible and who helps me around the house when I ask her to. It was a conscious parenting decision for us to teach our daughter to do her bit around the house. Part to teach her responsibility and part to give her some life skills for when she’s on her own in the future.
Second, I work from home. There’s no traffic to sit through or packed train rides to contend with. That time that most people spend in transit, I use to tick heaps off my daily To-Do list. Having said that, if I had to sit through a train ride I would use that time to write or read or edit.
Third, I schedule things like a madwoman – a task master with a whip. I give everything on my To-Do list a time limit. Within that time, I focus on one task alone. Once the alarm beeps, I move on to the next. That way I end up accomplishing several things in one day – including writing/editing my books.
Fourth, I accept when things don’t go according to plan. There are days, of course, when the unexpected happens. Someone is sick, something unforeseen happens. I can’t predict everything, so I just accept it and then look at my schedule and move things around.
The thing I always remember is that everything that is important to me will have a place in my schedule. If it’s not, then it won’t be. That’s why I added R&R, family time and catching up with friends. If you want the writing thing to happen, then you’ll find the time. It’s just a matter of prioritising.
March 3, 2019
MY RECENT BRUSH WITH A KILLER SUPERSTITION
Apparently, I almost died during my last holiday in the Philippines and I didn’t even know it.
Let me back up a bit.
The Philippines is ripe with superstitions. But even though I grew up there it turns out I wasn’t familiar with a whole bunch of them.
One is said to be lethal.
During my last holiday, I decided to take my family to this beautiful island, Camiguin – popular for its sunken cemetery and amazing springs. It was a nice relaxing break and we really enjoyed it.
But it was the trip home that was the intriguing part.
I ended up sitting next to an old man in the van on the way home. He was nice and kind – fascinated by his trip to the big city. When I sat down, he placed his hand on my shoulder and asked really kindly if we were heading to the same city. I think he was apprehensive about traveling on his own.
I said yes and he sounded relieved, like he was assured he was in the right van.
Seconds after that short conversation, I got a text message from my younger sister who was sitting behind me.
“Make sure you pat him back before we leave. And make sure you have the last pat. I’ll explain later.”
I was going to nap during the two-hour drive back but the text really disturbed me. I turned around and gave her a look and she just said to ‘just do it’.
This is what I found later on when she was able to explain it to me. Apparently, people in certain secluded areas in the Philippines have this power to inflict death on out-of-towners – just because.
My sister, my mom, my uncle, my brother-in-law, the driver – they all said the same thing. Someone they know had been tapped – on the back, on the shoulder, on the arm – then moments later, like we’re talking within minutes of it happening – the victims fall to the ground and have a seizure of sorts.
A seizure – and then they die. Some stories include taking the victim to the hospital where tests would show that there was nothing wrong with them.
They still die. Always die.
Now, my rational, logical mind – the one that’s been living in a country with no superstitious beliefs – laugh at the idea of this ‘Pikpik’ (tapping tapping) thing being real.
But the other side of me, the one who loves life and who doesn’t like risks, who loves the ‘what ifs’, is afraid of the possibility that Pikpik might be true.
So what did I do?
When I got off the van, I waited for the old man and I gave him a tap on the shoulder and said goodbye.
I’m going to be honest here, I felt relieved. And you know what? I’m glad I did it. Turns out the cautious side of me won — hands down!
What about you? Would you leave it or tap back?
Let me back up a bit.
The Philippines is ripe with superstitions. But even though I grew up there it turns out I wasn’t familiar with a whole bunch of them.
One is said to be lethal.
During my last holiday, I decided to take my family to this beautiful island, Camiguin – popular for its sunken cemetery and amazing springs. It was a nice relaxing break and we really enjoyed it.
But it was the trip home that was the intriguing part.
I ended up sitting next to an old man in the van on the way home. He was nice and kind – fascinated by his trip to the big city. When I sat down, he placed his hand on my shoulder and asked really kindly if we were heading to the same city. I think he was apprehensive about traveling on his own.
I said yes and he sounded relieved, like he was assured he was in the right van.
Seconds after that short conversation, I got a text message from my younger sister who was sitting behind me.
“Make sure you pat him back before we leave. And make sure you have the last pat. I’ll explain later.”
I was going to nap during the two-hour drive back but the text really disturbed me. I turned around and gave her a look and she just said to ‘just do it’.
This is what I found later on when she was able to explain it to me. Apparently, people in certain secluded areas in the Philippines have this power to inflict death on out-of-towners – just because.
My sister, my mom, my uncle, my brother-in-law, the driver – they all said the same thing. Someone they know had been tapped – on the back, on the shoulder, on the arm – then moments later, like we’re talking within minutes of it happening – the victims fall to the ground and have a seizure of sorts.
A seizure – and then they die. Some stories include taking the victim to the hospital where tests would show that there was nothing wrong with them.
They still die. Always die.
Now, my rational, logical mind – the one that’s been living in a country with no superstitious beliefs – laugh at the idea of this ‘Pikpik’ (tapping tapping) thing being real.
But the other side of me, the one who loves life and who doesn’t like risks, who loves the ‘what ifs’, is afraid of the possibility that Pikpik might be true.
So what did I do?
When I got off the van, I waited for the old man and I gave him a tap on the shoulder and said goodbye.
I’m going to be honest here, I felt relieved. And you know what? I’m glad I did it. Turns out the cautious side of me won — hands down!
What about you? Would you leave it or tap back?
February 4, 2019
THE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A WRITER
Nothing.
Hah!
Wouldn’t it be great if I could say that? Like with every other profession, writing has its downsides. But each writer’s opinion is different and here I’m going to write about what I find are the hardest things about being a writer.
FINDING THE TIME
I’ve written about this in the past and I know that a lot of other writers have this same issue as well. Life gets in the way, so we all say. For me personally, I juggle a day job, mother duties, chores and so on and so forth. But if I only think about the time I don’t have, I’ll cry. Like my day job, I treat my book writing with the same respect. It has to be a priority.
The problem with me is that if I set aside more than an hour a day I feel like I’m taking time away from my day job – my “real job”, the job that pays the bills. So I just keep my writing time to under an hour everyday. It’s a good balance between continuing my project and keeping my guilt in check.
COMPARING MYSELF WITH OTHERS
Stop. Just stop.
It’s easy to say but harder to do. For a long time I used to hate writers who are better in every single way – writing style, reader following, profile picture (LOL), marketing campaign etc etc etc. It was exhausting because envy takes up mind space – space that I should be using to create my own projects.
So I stopped.
I put on blinders and focused on my own work. Is it their fault that I can’t write as well? No. They worked just as hard, if not harder, on their craft. Who was it who said “Their success is not your failure”.
So true. I felt liberated after I stopped comparing myself and instead just enjoyed other authors’ works.
QUASHING THE INSECURITY/COCKINESS
You’d think the third one would be ‘getting published’ but your insecurity or cockiness has something to do with that, too. No matter how well you write, if you stop believing in your own skills then it’ll stop you from pitching your work to publishers effectively.
On the other hand, if you’re also super cocky about your work, then that’ll stop you from learning, too. I know that for a fact because I thought my first draft ever was the bomb. Oh dear god, how wrong I was! Also publishers don’t like arrogant writers.
WHAT ABOUT FINDING A PUBLISHER?
That’s hard, too. You don’t know how many rejection letters I got before my book got picked up. I had to toughen up to keep going. Remember though, there are so many reasons why your manuscript was rejected. Be professional and don’t take it personally. Perfect your pitch and learn from others. It does help.
Hah!
Wouldn’t it be great if I could say that? Like with every other profession, writing has its downsides. But each writer’s opinion is different and here I’m going to write about what I find are the hardest things about being a writer.
FINDING THE TIME
I’ve written about this in the past and I know that a lot of other writers have this same issue as well. Life gets in the way, so we all say. For me personally, I juggle a day job, mother duties, chores and so on and so forth. But if I only think about the time I don’t have, I’ll cry. Like my day job, I treat my book writing with the same respect. It has to be a priority.
The problem with me is that if I set aside more than an hour a day I feel like I’m taking time away from my day job – my “real job”, the job that pays the bills. So I just keep my writing time to under an hour everyday. It’s a good balance between continuing my project and keeping my guilt in check.
COMPARING MYSELF WITH OTHERS
Stop. Just stop.
It’s easy to say but harder to do. For a long time I used to hate writers who are better in every single way – writing style, reader following, profile picture (LOL), marketing campaign etc etc etc. It was exhausting because envy takes up mind space – space that I should be using to create my own projects.
So I stopped.
I put on blinders and focused on my own work. Is it their fault that I can’t write as well? No. They worked just as hard, if not harder, on their craft. Who was it who said “Their success is not your failure”.
So true. I felt liberated after I stopped comparing myself and instead just enjoyed other authors’ works.
QUASHING THE INSECURITY/COCKINESS
You’d think the third one would be ‘getting published’ but your insecurity or cockiness has something to do with that, too. No matter how well you write, if you stop believing in your own skills then it’ll stop you from pitching your work to publishers effectively.
On the other hand, if you’re also super cocky about your work, then that’ll stop you from learning, too. I know that for a fact because I thought my first draft ever was the bomb. Oh dear god, how wrong I was! Also publishers don’t like arrogant writers.
WHAT ABOUT FINDING A PUBLISHER?
That’s hard, too. You don’t know how many rejection letters I got before my book got picked up. I had to toughen up to keep going. Remember though, there are so many reasons why your manuscript was rejected. Be professional and don’t take it personally. Perfect your pitch and learn from others. It does help.
January 12, 2019
WHAT I LEARNED FROM NOT WRITING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
It’s the start of the year and, like everyone else, I’m still going through the post holiday blues. It was quite refreshing not to have to do anything for three weeks. No work. No chores. Just a semi-lazy holiday with the family. I didn’t even write a single thing.
Not. A. Single. Word.
For those who write every single day, this is probably a bit of a shock. How could I not write at all for three weeks? I had my laptop with me. I had nothing to do. Why not write?
The short answer is that I didn’t want to. Yes, I could have. It wasn’t like my fingers weren’t working. But I decided to take a break – just for a couple of weeks. Still, it wasn’t for nothing. Here, I’m going to tell you the three biggest lessons I learned from my hiatus.
IT’S OKAY NOT TO WRITE
I didn’t explode in rashes or had nightmares. I didn’t feel guilty. It was really okay not to be writing and I was surprised by that. I thought I was going to go on a full on panic mode. I’ve never not written during the holidays before. But even though I wasn’t writing, I was still pretty much in the world of books. I finished almost four books while on a break, which for me is a big miracle. I love reading but finding the time to read is quite difficult with a full schedule. It was a nice feeling to be reading again during the day, while sipping mango smoothie by the pool.
EVERYTHING OLD IS EXCITING AGAIN
I have to admit, the current book I’m writing is taking a toll on me. It’s my fault, really (and I’ve mentioned this during a recent writing workshop). I made my life difficult by not deciding beforehand whether or not the series was going to be just two books or three or four. Because I decided at the last minute, there were more things I had to look out for to close the final book in the series. Again, it was my fault. Plan your series. Plan it way ahead of time. Don’t do what I did. Because the last book was a lot of work, I dragged my feet finishing it. But now that I left it to stew for a while, I am excited to get back into it and finish the last four chapters.
I SAW THE END
I may have not written anything but it doesn’t mean my characters left me alone. My mind basically plotted how the book would end while I was falling asleep each night. And the surprising thing was it was a good ending. I didn’t write it down, of course. I was drifting off to sleep and didn’t have the strength to pick up my phone to take down notes. But I think I remember most of it. I hope. If not, I may have to get hypnotized to remember it. I wish I could just plug in my brain to my computer sometimes. Saves me a lot of typing.
I’m back now, touching my keyboard again (I think my laptop felt unwanted). I am looking forward to finishing this project this month (eek!). Let’s do this! Happy new year everyone!
Not. A. Single. Word.
For those who write every single day, this is probably a bit of a shock. How could I not write at all for three weeks? I had my laptop with me. I had nothing to do. Why not write?
The short answer is that I didn’t want to. Yes, I could have. It wasn’t like my fingers weren’t working. But I decided to take a break – just for a couple of weeks. Still, it wasn’t for nothing. Here, I’m going to tell you the three biggest lessons I learned from my hiatus.
IT’S OKAY NOT TO WRITE
I didn’t explode in rashes or had nightmares. I didn’t feel guilty. It was really okay not to be writing and I was surprised by that. I thought I was going to go on a full on panic mode. I’ve never not written during the holidays before. But even though I wasn’t writing, I was still pretty much in the world of books. I finished almost four books while on a break, which for me is a big miracle. I love reading but finding the time to read is quite difficult with a full schedule. It was a nice feeling to be reading again during the day, while sipping mango smoothie by the pool.
EVERYTHING OLD IS EXCITING AGAIN
I have to admit, the current book I’m writing is taking a toll on me. It’s my fault, really (and I’ve mentioned this during a recent writing workshop). I made my life difficult by not deciding beforehand whether or not the series was going to be just two books or three or four. Because I decided at the last minute, there were more things I had to look out for to close the final book in the series. Again, it was my fault. Plan your series. Plan it way ahead of time. Don’t do what I did. Because the last book was a lot of work, I dragged my feet finishing it. But now that I left it to stew for a while, I am excited to get back into it and finish the last four chapters.
I SAW THE END
I may have not written anything but it doesn’t mean my characters left me alone. My mind basically plotted how the book would end while I was falling asleep each night. And the surprising thing was it was a good ending. I didn’t write it down, of course. I was drifting off to sleep and didn’t have the strength to pick up my phone to take down notes. But I think I remember most of it. I hope. If not, I may have to get hypnotized to remember it. I wish I could just plug in my brain to my computer sometimes. Saves me a lot of typing.
I’m back now, touching my keyboard again (I think my laptop felt unwanted). I am looking forward to finishing this project this month (eek!). Let’s do this! Happy new year everyone!
December 2, 2018
2018: LESSONS AND HIGHLIGHTS
This year has been, for lack of a better word, amazing – not just professionally but personally as well. But since we’re not here to gossip about my personal life (just read about it in my autobiography – my fictionalised autobiography, that is), let me list the highlights and lessons I’ve learned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
Publishing my second book, The Girl Between Light and Dark, and getting such an amazing reception for it
Getting the third book picked up for publishing (it’s still a scream-worthy moment for me and it’ll never change)
Speaking in two sessions at the Philippine Readers and Writers Festival in Manila
Meeting readers and authors during PRWF
Being able to go to meetings with certain people in certain industries that I can’t talk about because…well…nothing is certain, but at least my name is out there now
Ghostwriting for the first time to a huge international client (that I can’t talk about because I signed an NDA)
Launching an awesome platform for my day job
And finally, working on another project and possible collaboration with other authors.
LESSONS
Hard work pays off. It may not seem so sometimes but really, what else can you do? It’s not like you want a mediocre book or outcome. But it’s a bonus if the work you’re doing is something you actually like doing.
Don’t be afraid to meet new people. I’m not a social butterfly – far from it, but this year, I was lucky enough to meet amazing people in the industry. These connections had ended up fruitful both professionally and personally. Sometimes, it’s good to just swallow your fear of social interactions and go for it.
Never stop believing. I’ve always been one to dream, ever since I was a child. I figured fantasies couldn’t hurt, right? But this year gave me opportunities I didn’t think would happen this soon and this fast.
My take for next year is to just keep going. As Dory said, just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Should be easy enough.
Have a great holiday season you guys!
HIGHLIGHTS
Publishing my second book, The Girl Between Light and Dark, and getting such an amazing reception for it
Getting the third book picked up for publishing (it’s still a scream-worthy moment for me and it’ll never change)
Speaking in two sessions at the Philippine Readers and Writers Festival in Manila
Meeting readers and authors during PRWF
Being able to go to meetings with certain people in certain industries that I can’t talk about because…well…nothing is certain, but at least my name is out there now
Ghostwriting for the first time to a huge international client (that I can’t talk about because I signed an NDA)
Launching an awesome platform for my day job
And finally, working on another project and possible collaboration with other authors.
LESSONS
Hard work pays off. It may not seem so sometimes but really, what else can you do? It’s not like you want a mediocre book or outcome. But it’s a bonus if the work you’re doing is something you actually like doing.
Don’t be afraid to meet new people. I’m not a social butterfly – far from it, but this year, I was lucky enough to meet amazing people in the industry. These connections had ended up fruitful both professionally and personally. Sometimes, it’s good to just swallow your fear of social interactions and go for it.
Never stop believing. I’ve always been one to dream, ever since I was a child. I figured fantasies couldn’t hurt, right? But this year gave me opportunities I didn’t think would happen this soon and this fast.
My take for next year is to just keep going. As Dory said, just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Should be easy enough.
Have a great holiday season you guys!
November 1, 2018
RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT LIFE AND WRITING
I wanted to write a decent blog post this time but it’s like my mind is just a stream of dot points. I have so much to do it’s a bit overwhelming so for now, peeps, let me give you the dot points.
I’ve created a hole too deep for me to climb out of in book 4. It’s a challenge writing something that needs complicated timelines and has more than one protagonist. Why I did this to myself I have no idea. I could have stopped at book 2, really. Got no one to blame but myself.
I am itching to start a book that’s half finished. Had to set it aside because of book 4. I’m starting to think I should just not write a fourth book. What do you think?
Excited to hear the word ‘Aswangs’ in Legends of Tomorrow!
November is already upon us. I don’t have enough time to do everything I need to do. Sometimes, I end up in this state where I don’t do any of the things I need to do because it’s too overwhelming. Time to slice things up into bite-sized pieces.
I am happy to still be receiving all the wonderful messages from readers about my books. Keep them coming! I love sharing your pictures on social media. It is because of you guys that I’m still chugging along. I love writing and you guys make it so much more enjoyable.
I’ve opted not to do Nanowrimo this year again. The first and last time I did it, I ended up with book 3, which was good. But the pressure is too much.
It’s going to be my birthday next month (Christmas Day!) and I’m turning 40. It should terrify me – because isn’t that what women are expected to do when they’re getting older? Not me though. I’ve done so much – sooo much, before turning 40. I am excited for what lies ahead.
Lastly, if you want to write, don’t wait till it’s the start of the year to do it. Just start now. Like right this moment. You won’t regret it.
I’ve created a hole too deep for me to climb out of in book 4. It’s a challenge writing something that needs complicated timelines and has more than one protagonist. Why I did this to myself I have no idea. I could have stopped at book 2, really. Got no one to blame but myself.
I am itching to start a book that’s half finished. Had to set it aside because of book 4. I’m starting to think I should just not write a fourth book. What do you think?
Excited to hear the word ‘Aswangs’ in Legends of Tomorrow!
November is already upon us. I don’t have enough time to do everything I need to do. Sometimes, I end up in this state where I don’t do any of the things I need to do because it’s too overwhelming. Time to slice things up into bite-sized pieces.
I am happy to still be receiving all the wonderful messages from readers about my books. Keep them coming! I love sharing your pictures on social media. It is because of you guys that I’m still chugging along. I love writing and you guys make it so much more enjoyable.
I’ve opted not to do Nanowrimo this year again. The first and last time I did it, I ended up with book 3, which was good. But the pressure is too much.
It’s going to be my birthday next month (Christmas Day!) and I’m turning 40. It should terrify me – because isn’t that what women are expected to do when they’re getting older? Not me though. I’ve done so much – sooo much, before turning 40. I am excited for what lies ahead.
Lastly, if you want to write, don’t wait till it’s the start of the year to do it. Just start now. Like right this moment. You won’t regret it.
October 1, 2018
WHY I NEVER GIVE BAD BOOK REVIEWS
I have written reviews in my line of work for almost two decades now. I’ve reviewed video games, gadgets, baby products, software, food, places, feminine stuff, household items and tons and tons of books. Over the years, I have learned a thing or two about reviewing. But it’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve started reviewing books more. I guess it comes with being a writer as well. You read more so you tend to review more books.
One of the discussions that I constantly hear when I go to conferences is the effect of reviews on sites like Goodreads and Amazon on book sales. Does it help? Does it affect book buying? How do authors feel about negative reviews that are quickly (and sometimes harshly) provided on these sites?
Many authors I’ve listened to provided different views on this book-reviewing thing. For instance, Erin Entrada Kelly says she is “impervious” to book reviews, while Veronica Roth says she’s accepted the fact that once the book leaves her hands, readers will interpret it the way they want to, and that’s beyond her control.
For me, personally, I have yet to find a stable reaction to bad reviews. I am currently flying between extremes of not caring at all and screaming to the heavens (and the reviewers) ‘why don’t you like me?!’. I’ll let you know when I get to ‘impervious’ level.
But why did I say on the title that I don’t give bad book reviews? Well, for several reasons.
I KNOW THE AUTHOR JOURNEY FIRSTHAND
I know what it’s like to bleed on the page (figuratively and literally – because papercuts suck). I know the difficulty of finishing a book. I know the constant battle of questioning ‘is it good enough?’. I know the feeling of just wanting to keep the manuscript in the drawer because there are evil people in the world who just wants to shit all over your work.
I PREFER CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
Karma is a bitch. I’d rather be constructive than hurtful. Since my days at school, I’ve been told that constructive criticisms are the best criticisms to give. Not to say it’s been like that since then. I have had old bosses that never learned the value of constructive criticisms. But I can only control my own actions so I continue to dish out criticisms that will hopefully help someone improve themselves and/or their work.
I DON’T READ BOOKS I DON’T LIKE
This is the most important reason on my list, actually. I know that when we’re in school we need to read books that our teachers picked for us. It’s their job to educate us so we don’t have a choice but to follow.
Having said that, I am super grateful to have been forced to read stuff like the Canterbury Tales, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, The Cask of Amontillado, and A Rose for Emily, among other stories. Having grown up poor, with no spare money to buy books, I would never have been able to discover such works on my own. It set the journey towards discovering other authors once I was able to afford to buy books.
Nowadays, however, I put books through the ‘first two chapters test’. Unless I like the first two chapters, I don’t continue reading the book – and I won’t write a review for it either. Why? Life is too freaking short to be reading books I don’t like and to be spending my precious time writing a scathing review about it.
Also, people have different tastes and a popular book (even one considered as a classic) that someone else likes might not be my cup of tea. I know what I like and I will spend my money the way I want to spend it.
So I guess the crux of this whole thing is that, while I do have visions in my head of giving the finger to reviewers who bag books just for the heck of it, or of screaming in their faces things like ‘so, how many books have YOU written exactly?’, I’ve decided to focus on the writing process instead. Because writing is fun and arguing with people behind keyboards isn’t.
One of the discussions that I constantly hear when I go to conferences is the effect of reviews on sites like Goodreads and Amazon on book sales. Does it help? Does it affect book buying? How do authors feel about negative reviews that are quickly (and sometimes harshly) provided on these sites?
Many authors I’ve listened to provided different views on this book-reviewing thing. For instance, Erin Entrada Kelly says she is “impervious” to book reviews, while Veronica Roth says she’s accepted the fact that once the book leaves her hands, readers will interpret it the way they want to, and that’s beyond her control.
For me, personally, I have yet to find a stable reaction to bad reviews. I am currently flying between extremes of not caring at all and screaming to the heavens (and the reviewers) ‘why don’t you like me?!’. I’ll let you know when I get to ‘impervious’ level.
But why did I say on the title that I don’t give bad book reviews? Well, for several reasons.
I KNOW THE AUTHOR JOURNEY FIRSTHAND
I know what it’s like to bleed on the page (figuratively and literally – because papercuts suck). I know the difficulty of finishing a book. I know the constant battle of questioning ‘is it good enough?’. I know the feeling of just wanting to keep the manuscript in the drawer because there are evil people in the world who just wants to shit all over your work.
I PREFER CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
Karma is a bitch. I’d rather be constructive than hurtful. Since my days at school, I’ve been told that constructive criticisms are the best criticisms to give. Not to say it’s been like that since then. I have had old bosses that never learned the value of constructive criticisms. But I can only control my own actions so I continue to dish out criticisms that will hopefully help someone improve themselves and/or their work.
I DON’T READ BOOKS I DON’T LIKE
This is the most important reason on my list, actually. I know that when we’re in school we need to read books that our teachers picked for us. It’s their job to educate us so we don’t have a choice but to follow.
Having said that, I am super grateful to have been forced to read stuff like the Canterbury Tales, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, The Cask of Amontillado, and A Rose for Emily, among other stories. Having grown up poor, with no spare money to buy books, I would never have been able to discover such works on my own. It set the journey towards discovering other authors once I was able to afford to buy books.
Nowadays, however, I put books through the ‘first two chapters test’. Unless I like the first two chapters, I don’t continue reading the book – and I won’t write a review for it either. Why? Life is too freaking short to be reading books I don’t like and to be spending my precious time writing a scathing review about it.
Also, people have different tastes and a popular book (even one considered as a classic) that someone else likes might not be my cup of tea. I know what I like and I will spend my money the way I want to spend it.
So I guess the crux of this whole thing is that, while I do have visions in my head of giving the finger to reviewers who bag books just for the heck of it, or of screaming in their faces things like ‘so, how many books have YOU written exactly?’, I’ve decided to focus on the writing process instead. Because writing is fun and arguing with people behind keyboards isn’t.
September 9, 2018
FESTIVALS ROCK: PRWF 2018 WRAP UP
I’m still going through post Philippine Readers and Writers Festival blues so bear with me, okay?
When Anvil Publishing told me I’d be speaking in two sessions I was honestly shocked. I mean, one session yes, but two? And on my own? Who would want to listen?
But ohmygod, was I surprised when I saw the room fill up for both sessions. Thank you everyone who attended the festival. It was an amazing event! There were a couple of things I learned during the festival. Here’s some of them:
THE ANVIL PUBLISHING TEAM IS AMAZING
For the first time since this whole publishing thing happened, I met the team behind my books. And I was not disappointed. They are a cool bunch of people from different generations bound together because of their love for books. They were funny, intelligent and beautiful, inside and out. And I was so happy to know that we were all on the same page – to do our best to create a good book for all the book lovers out there. It felt like I was with my tribe, and that’s always a good thing.
YOU CAN FANGIRL AND STILL BE RESPECTABLE
The line up for this year’s festival was fantastic. If I didn’t have my own schedule to follow I would have gone to as many sessions as I possibly could. It was amazing to get the chance to meet and chat with authors I’ve only read about, like the award winning author Dean Francis Alfar. I also had my Archie Comics signed by co CEO Nancy Silberkleit. I mean, when do you get the chance to have your Archie Comics signed? Seriously? Then, of course, this happened.
I went to award winning New York Times best selling author Erin Entrada Kelly’s author talk and got my books signed. Told her about my books and after her talk, she went ahead and bought a copy! I almost died of happiness! So yes, I fangirled like cray cray!
MY READERS ARE AH-MAZING
Thank you to all the readers who went to my talks and who came up to me for a chat! It was surreal. I am telling you now, I was just as excited as you were. I was probably more excited, actually. Thank you for asking your questions. For telling me how much you love my books. For being excited about my future projects. Meeting you guys made the whole experience even more mind blowing. I hope I get to see more of you the next time I’m at the festival (I hope it doesn’t rain that hard next time!).
THANK YOU AGAIN AND SEE YOU ALL NEXT PHILIPPINE READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL!
When Anvil Publishing told me I’d be speaking in two sessions I was honestly shocked. I mean, one session yes, but two? And on my own? Who would want to listen?
But ohmygod, was I surprised when I saw the room fill up for both sessions. Thank you everyone who attended the festival. It was an amazing event! There were a couple of things I learned during the festival. Here’s some of them:
THE ANVIL PUBLISHING TEAM IS AMAZING
For the first time since this whole publishing thing happened, I met the team behind my books. And I was not disappointed. They are a cool bunch of people from different generations bound together because of their love for books. They were funny, intelligent and beautiful, inside and out. And I was so happy to know that we were all on the same page – to do our best to create a good book for all the book lovers out there. It felt like I was with my tribe, and that’s always a good thing.
YOU CAN FANGIRL AND STILL BE RESPECTABLE
The line up for this year’s festival was fantastic. If I didn’t have my own schedule to follow I would have gone to as many sessions as I possibly could. It was amazing to get the chance to meet and chat with authors I’ve only read about, like the award winning author Dean Francis Alfar. I also had my Archie Comics signed by co CEO Nancy Silberkleit. I mean, when do you get the chance to have your Archie Comics signed? Seriously? Then, of course, this happened.
I went to award winning New York Times best selling author Erin Entrada Kelly’s author talk and got my books signed. Told her about my books and after her talk, she went ahead and bought a copy! I almost died of happiness! So yes, I fangirled like cray cray!
MY READERS ARE AH-MAZING
Thank you to all the readers who went to my talks and who came up to me for a chat! It was surreal. I am telling you now, I was just as excited as you were. I was probably more excited, actually. Thank you for asking your questions. For telling me how much you love my books. For being excited about my future projects. Meeting you guys made the whole experience even more mind blowing. I hope I get to see more of you the next time I’m at the festival (I hope it doesn’t rain that hard next time!).
THANK YOU AGAIN AND SEE YOU ALL NEXT PHILIPPINE READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL!
September 1, 2018
WHAT I DO WHEN I’M NOT WRITING
I’m just going to put it out there – I don’t write all the time. It’s a great daydream – to be able to write when you wake up until you go to bed. Every now and then I have a whole weekend to myself and during those rare moments, I do write a lot. But those moments aren’t that many. In this post, I will tell you the main things I do when I’m not writing – aside from mothering, that is, because that never stops.
DAY JOB
My day job as creative director of a social media and digital marketing agency takes most of my day. I don’t have any issues with that because it’s a role I absolutely love. So when I switch between writing and my day job, it’s doing one thing I love for another thing I love. Also, when you run a small business you put a lot of passion into it. Same goes for writing.
READING
The pile of TBR books on my bedside table is ridiculous. And that’s excluding what’s on my ereader’s list! I keep saying, I need two lifetimes before I finish my TBR. Reading, however, is such a pleasurable thing to do that I so don’t mind adding to my list. Also, if you want to write, reading is the first thing you need to do – and read a lot! Read in different genres, by different authors and different articles.
EDITING
This is one side of the book writing territory that takes far longer than people think. Do you know how many times I read my manuscript before it gets printed? I have lost count! So when I’m not writing, I’m editing my next books – and articles, and blog posts and social media posts. And so on and so forth.
PLAYING GAMES
You didn’t guess this did you? I love playing games. Ever since I was a child I’ve been playing computer games. Now it’s on my mobile phone – mainly because it’s the handiest thing I have. There are around five games I play all the time, and they’re not related to word games. Some of them are games that you find most YouTubers talk about on their channels. My daughter loves it when I scream in frustration when I lose.
That’s it for my list! Click below for more free stuff!
DAY JOB
My day job as creative director of a social media and digital marketing agency takes most of my day. I don’t have any issues with that because it’s a role I absolutely love. So when I switch between writing and my day job, it’s doing one thing I love for another thing I love. Also, when you run a small business you put a lot of passion into it. Same goes for writing.
READING
The pile of TBR books on my bedside table is ridiculous. And that’s excluding what’s on my ereader’s list! I keep saying, I need two lifetimes before I finish my TBR. Reading, however, is such a pleasurable thing to do that I so don’t mind adding to my list. Also, if you want to write, reading is the first thing you need to do – and read a lot! Read in different genres, by different authors and different articles.
EDITING
This is one side of the book writing territory that takes far longer than people think. Do you know how many times I read my manuscript before it gets printed? I have lost count! So when I’m not writing, I’m editing my next books – and articles, and blog posts and social media posts. And so on and so forth.
PLAYING GAMES
You didn’t guess this did you? I love playing games. Ever since I was a child I’ve been playing computer games. Now it’s on my mobile phone – mainly because it’s the handiest thing I have. There are around five games I play all the time, and they’re not related to word games. Some of them are games that you find most YouTubers talk about on their channels. My daughter loves it when I scream in frustration when I lose.
That’s it for my list! Click below for more free stuff!
August 25, 2018
HOW TO KEEP WRITING WHEN YOU CAN’T
Writing isn’t an easy process – ask any author. It’s not all sitting around ruminating in our pyjamas, tea in hand, Enya in the background. Most days I barely have 10 minutes to spend finishing my novel. Life gets in the way. That’s just the reality of it. But we write anyway because it is what we love to do. In this post, I list three ways that I keep writing even when the muse isn’t around.
I PLOT (ISH)
I only discovered plotting a year and a half ago and I’ve sort of stuck to it. I still don’t plot chapter by chapter but I create an outline of sorts. I have an idea of the start, middle and end, the characters, the setting, the struggles, the ending. I write down as much details as I can before I start to write. It helps keep the flow going during those days when writing is like pulling teeth. When there is some sort of direction, and I’ve formed the characters beforehand, I end up with an idea on how these characters are going to deal with a certain situation.
I FORCE THAT MUSE OUT
After years of being a journalist and constantly being on deadline, you get used to working under pressure. Need a 1,500-word article in 24 hours? No problem. Want two 1,500-word articles in 24 hours? Sure can do! Because of that training, I can push through when things get difficult. I force that creativity out. I find that if I take out all distractions (bye Netflix) and put on some inspiring music (Josh Groban, not Enya), and just start typing, I can force a couple of hundred words out. It’s not easy but it works for me.
I WRITE IN SHORT BURSTS
I’m not sure how other authors do it but for me, I write in short bursts. What works for me is 30 minutes each day – sometimes even just 15 minutes if my day job is really demanding. Writing is a marathon, right? Whatever small thing you can put in each day goes a long way. I’ve written three novels with the 30-minute burst method. Other authors can’t function that way but I can and I find that it works for me. And I think my muse can only work in short bursts, too. So win, win!
I PLOT (ISH)
I only discovered plotting a year and a half ago and I’ve sort of stuck to it. I still don’t plot chapter by chapter but I create an outline of sorts. I have an idea of the start, middle and end, the characters, the setting, the struggles, the ending. I write down as much details as I can before I start to write. It helps keep the flow going during those days when writing is like pulling teeth. When there is some sort of direction, and I’ve formed the characters beforehand, I end up with an idea on how these characters are going to deal with a certain situation.
I FORCE THAT MUSE OUT
After years of being a journalist and constantly being on deadline, you get used to working under pressure. Need a 1,500-word article in 24 hours? No problem. Want two 1,500-word articles in 24 hours? Sure can do! Because of that training, I can push through when things get difficult. I force that creativity out. I find that if I take out all distractions (bye Netflix) and put on some inspiring music (Josh Groban, not Enya), and just start typing, I can force a couple of hundred words out. It’s not easy but it works for me.
I WRITE IN SHORT BURSTS
I’m not sure how other authors do it but for me, I write in short bursts. What works for me is 30 minutes each day – sometimes even just 15 minutes if my day job is really demanding. Writing is a marathon, right? Whatever small thing you can put in each day goes a long way. I’ve written three novels with the 30-minute burst method. Other authors can’t function that way but I can and I find that it works for me. And I think my muse can only work in short bursts, too. So win, win!
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