K.M. Levis's Blog, page 3
August 19, 2018
MY DAILY ROUTINE
Like many authors, writing is a solo process for me. But while others find the working situation lonely, I revel in it. I’ve always enjoyed being left alone to work on my projects with very little supervision. Having said that, I must say that creating a book isn’t a solo expedition. Once I finish writing the first draft, there’s a team of people that do their own magic to put the book into the world.
But the writing part, that part I do on my own. I try to write everyday to keep the momentum going. Sometimes, when I miraculously wake up early on a Saturday morning, I go on my laptop to write. During work days, however, my routine is different. This is what my daily life is like from Monday to Friday.
7am – I get up and put on walking clothes to take my two dogs, Cherry and Gordon, for a walk around the block. The fresh air and exercise shakes me out of my sleepy head, ready to face a new day.
7.20am – I get food ready for breakfast as well as my daughter’s lunch. I’m lucky that my daughter gets herself ready without my prompting her to do so. I feed the guinea pigs and dogs, and water the plants. While breakfast is cooking, I sneak a couple of minutes of exercise outside or around the kitchen. Some push ups here and there, a couple of squats or some yoga moves.
8.30am – School drop off time, hurray!
8.35am – I tidy up the kitchen and the house before heading for a quick shower.
8.50am – I take my laptop and head outside to start my working day. I normally have my coffee next to me, a glass of water, the dogs running around the backyard and the guinea pigs meeping along. I put on the timer for 30 minutes and start writing my latest book project. I don’t edit what I wrote the day before. I just read the last paragraph I wrote and the plot points/notes and keep typing.
9.25am – The alarm goes off telling me that I have five minutes left. And for that five minutes, I do a sprint. I write as fast as my fingers can type and just keep going until the five minutes is up. Every now and then, when there is something I need to research, I go on Google quickly to see if it’s an easy search. If not, I just put notes on the manuscript in bold so I can go back to it later.
9.30am – Sometimes when the 30 minutes is up and I still have a paragraph or so I want to finish, I just keep going. I aim to write 30 minutes each day but if my train of thought is amazing that morning, I give it another 10 minutes or so. It isn’t the case each morning, though. There are times when I can’t wait for the 30 minutes to finish so I can move on to my day job.
9.40am -3pm – The rest of the morning and afternoon is spent doing work for my company. I give myself a 30-minute lunch break and a five-minute break every now and then. Thankfully, it’s a job I love so it’s not really anything stressful. I use an app to prioritise my To Do list so that the ones that are on deadline are dealt with first.
3pm – School pick up. When we get home, I make sure my daughter has something to eat first before she tackles her homework. While she’s doing that, I do some more work again. Most of the time, my daughter does her homework next to me so if she ever needs help, I can easily talk to her.
5.30pm – End of the working day. I do my best to stop working by 5.30pm because I do want to have a life outside of work too. Plus, dinner’s not going to cook itself. I have a 30-minute break, playing games on my iPhone or reading a book before heading to the kitchen to cook dinner.
However, when I do get my manuscript back from the publisher and they give me a deadline to make the changes they need, I change my schedule around to make sure I meet that deadline. And I always do, even if it means working until midnight. My training as a journalist has helped train me to work better under pressure.
That’s it! That’s my daily routine.
It may seem boring and a lot of work, but I do find pockets of happiness here and there. Like getting something super delicious for lunch while watching an episode on Netflix. Or lying down outside for a quick rest. I know I am lucky to be doing what I love to do so I make sure I remember that each day.
But the writing part, that part I do on my own. I try to write everyday to keep the momentum going. Sometimes, when I miraculously wake up early on a Saturday morning, I go on my laptop to write. During work days, however, my routine is different. This is what my daily life is like from Monday to Friday.
7am – I get up and put on walking clothes to take my two dogs, Cherry and Gordon, for a walk around the block. The fresh air and exercise shakes me out of my sleepy head, ready to face a new day.
7.20am – I get food ready for breakfast as well as my daughter’s lunch. I’m lucky that my daughter gets herself ready without my prompting her to do so. I feed the guinea pigs and dogs, and water the plants. While breakfast is cooking, I sneak a couple of minutes of exercise outside or around the kitchen. Some push ups here and there, a couple of squats or some yoga moves.
8.30am – School drop off time, hurray!
8.35am – I tidy up the kitchen and the house before heading for a quick shower.
8.50am – I take my laptop and head outside to start my working day. I normally have my coffee next to me, a glass of water, the dogs running around the backyard and the guinea pigs meeping along. I put on the timer for 30 minutes and start writing my latest book project. I don’t edit what I wrote the day before. I just read the last paragraph I wrote and the plot points/notes and keep typing.
9.25am – The alarm goes off telling me that I have five minutes left. And for that five minutes, I do a sprint. I write as fast as my fingers can type and just keep going until the five minutes is up. Every now and then, when there is something I need to research, I go on Google quickly to see if it’s an easy search. If not, I just put notes on the manuscript in bold so I can go back to it later.
9.30am – Sometimes when the 30 minutes is up and I still have a paragraph or so I want to finish, I just keep going. I aim to write 30 minutes each day but if my train of thought is amazing that morning, I give it another 10 minutes or so. It isn’t the case each morning, though. There are times when I can’t wait for the 30 minutes to finish so I can move on to my day job.
9.40am -3pm – The rest of the morning and afternoon is spent doing work for my company. I give myself a 30-minute lunch break and a five-minute break every now and then. Thankfully, it’s a job I love so it’s not really anything stressful. I use an app to prioritise my To Do list so that the ones that are on deadline are dealt with first.
3pm – School pick up. When we get home, I make sure my daughter has something to eat first before she tackles her homework. While she’s doing that, I do some more work again. Most of the time, my daughter does her homework next to me so if she ever needs help, I can easily talk to her.
5.30pm – End of the working day. I do my best to stop working by 5.30pm because I do want to have a life outside of work too. Plus, dinner’s not going to cook itself. I have a 30-minute break, playing games on my iPhone or reading a book before heading to the kitchen to cook dinner.
However, when I do get my manuscript back from the publisher and they give me a deadline to make the changes they need, I change my schedule around to make sure I meet that deadline. And I always do, even if it means working until midnight. My training as a journalist has helped train me to work better under pressure.
That’s it! That’s my daily routine.
It may seem boring and a lot of work, but I do find pockets of happiness here and there. Like getting something super delicious for lunch while watching an episode on Netflix. Or lying down outside for a quick rest. I know I am lucky to be doing what I love to do so I make sure I remember that each day.
August 5, 2018
HOW I RESEARCH MY BOOKS
Research is such an important part of the whole book writing process. But why do any research at all? I mean, if you’re writing fiction, why not just make everything up? That’s a totally legitimate question. But think about it. You want to make your readers believe your story as much as possible. You want to immerse them into your book no matter how fantastic it is. It is because of this that you want to mix a good dose of reality into your fiction. And with this reality comes research. In this post, I will tell you three ways I do my own research for my books.
INTERWEBZ
Ah, the internet. What did we do before it came into our lives? The internet has made it so much easier to research virtually anything under the sun. The problem with the internet is knowing which websites are reliable and which ones are not. In today’s fake news proliferation, you need to be able to separate the dodgy ones from the real ones. Also, just because the internet is there doesn’t mean there are plenty of resources for your specific topic. For instance, when I did my research on Philippine mythology for The Girl Between Two Worlds, it wasn’t that easy to find a cohesive and long research on the origins of the creatures. It was good that I already knew the basic information of the creatures I used on the novel, otherwise it would have been a really hard process.
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
I was lucky that before I started writing fiction, I’ve already had a cache of amazing experiences because of my previous line of work as a broadcast journalist. I was able to visit remote places, experienced difficult, and sometimes hilarious, things and met so many different people. I used the places I’ve been to as inspiration for the settings in my book. There are also situations in my life that made it to the pages of my first novel (hint: one such experience had something to do with a cockroach inside a mosquito net). I’m writing my fourth novel already but not even half of my life experiences have made it to the pages. There’s more coming in future books because it is true what they say, art imitates life.
INTERVIEWS
Again, my previous line of work came in handy with my storytelling. I have interviewed countless people and have seen different lifestyles – from politicians, to the super rich, to the people living under a bridge. It’s all a very rich tapestry of human differences. Although I fictionalise the characters, more than half of the characters in my book are based on real life people that I either know or have met. I take things like mannerisms, pet peeves, favourite foods and other such nuances and place them in my characters. And the villains? Well, unfortunately I have met my share of corrupt people as well. Sometimes I have to create my own backstory for my villains but sometimes I can provide it quite easily, too.
I know of another writer who goes through the experiences he writes about authentically. Meaning, if the character is tasting bitter coffee, it means the writer himself has had bitter coffee. It is really up to you how far you’d go to experience what your character is experiencing. Just make sure you don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
INTERWEBZ
Ah, the internet. What did we do before it came into our lives? The internet has made it so much easier to research virtually anything under the sun. The problem with the internet is knowing which websites are reliable and which ones are not. In today’s fake news proliferation, you need to be able to separate the dodgy ones from the real ones. Also, just because the internet is there doesn’t mean there are plenty of resources for your specific topic. For instance, when I did my research on Philippine mythology for The Girl Between Two Worlds, it wasn’t that easy to find a cohesive and long research on the origins of the creatures. It was good that I already knew the basic information of the creatures I used on the novel, otherwise it would have been a really hard process.
REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE
I was lucky that before I started writing fiction, I’ve already had a cache of amazing experiences because of my previous line of work as a broadcast journalist. I was able to visit remote places, experienced difficult, and sometimes hilarious, things and met so many different people. I used the places I’ve been to as inspiration for the settings in my book. There are also situations in my life that made it to the pages of my first novel (hint: one such experience had something to do with a cockroach inside a mosquito net). I’m writing my fourth novel already but not even half of my life experiences have made it to the pages. There’s more coming in future books because it is true what they say, art imitates life.
INTERVIEWS
Again, my previous line of work came in handy with my storytelling. I have interviewed countless people and have seen different lifestyles – from politicians, to the super rich, to the people living under a bridge. It’s all a very rich tapestry of human differences. Although I fictionalise the characters, more than half of the characters in my book are based on real life people that I either know or have met. I take things like mannerisms, pet peeves, favourite foods and other such nuances and place them in my characters. And the villains? Well, unfortunately I have met my share of corrupt people as well. Sometimes I have to create my own backstory for my villains but sometimes I can provide it quite easily, too.
I know of another writer who goes through the experiences he writes about authentically. Meaning, if the character is tasting bitter coffee, it means the writer himself has had bitter coffee. It is really up to you how far you’d go to experience what your character is experiencing. Just make sure you don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
July 29, 2018
QUESTIONS FROM READERS PART 2
First of all, thank you to all the readers who sent their questions to me. I do appreciate hearing from you guys and I want to do my best to answer your queries. Keep the questions coming and I’ll keep answering them through my blog. In this post, I will answer three more questions from readers. They all revolve around writing and hopefully, you get something useful out of it.
WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BOOKS?
I hated it when other authors said ‘everywhere’ like inspiration hangs in the air and you just pluck it out. But the reality is that it is really everywhere. For me, I put things in ‘what if’ situations. Like for The Girl Between Two Worlds, I asked myself ‘what if the mythological creatures from the Philippines end up in America’. From that small concept, I built the characters and plot around it, answering questions like ‘why would they be in America?’ or ‘what would they be like when they’re overseas?’. It’s like a string of thought that you just keep pulling and pulling and pulling to see what it’s like in the end.
DESCRIBE THE PLACE WHERE YOU WRITE
I wish I could tell you that I write in my beautifully colour-coordinated poshly decorated writing room. But the reality is that my desk is in one corner of our dining room. Just one corner. And it’s not even a big corner. Even though I don’t have a whole room to myself, I make the most of my little desk. I keep it as organised as possible and make sure it’s got everything I need before I start writing. Every now and then, I take my laptop outside to write. I’ve noticed that when I change venues for writing, it keeps me motivated. Not really sure why it’s like that, it just is. I’ve never had to go away to just write though. It would be nice to be able to afford a cabin in the woods for a weekend just to focus on writing. Maybe one day I will try it out.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALISE YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
I have always dabbled in writing for a long time but as I graduated with a communications degree, I ended up being a journalist. I didn’t really think I had it in me to make fiction writing a serious thing. But you never know when you will get bitten with the writing bug. My decision to take fiction writing seriously was a super slow process. There was no big moment when it dawned on me that I am a fiction writer. Sometimes, I still catch myself referring to my job as a ‘journalist’, which isn’t really true anymore. I was a journalist but my day job (and night job) is not really journalism anymore. So now I just say I’m a writer because it encompasses many things.
WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BOOKS?
I hated it when other authors said ‘everywhere’ like inspiration hangs in the air and you just pluck it out. But the reality is that it is really everywhere. For me, I put things in ‘what if’ situations. Like for The Girl Between Two Worlds, I asked myself ‘what if the mythological creatures from the Philippines end up in America’. From that small concept, I built the characters and plot around it, answering questions like ‘why would they be in America?’ or ‘what would they be like when they’re overseas?’. It’s like a string of thought that you just keep pulling and pulling and pulling to see what it’s like in the end.
DESCRIBE THE PLACE WHERE YOU WRITE
I wish I could tell you that I write in my beautifully colour-coordinated poshly decorated writing room. But the reality is that my desk is in one corner of our dining room. Just one corner. And it’s not even a big corner. Even though I don’t have a whole room to myself, I make the most of my little desk. I keep it as organised as possible and make sure it’s got everything I need before I start writing. Every now and then, I take my laptop outside to write. I’ve noticed that when I change venues for writing, it keeps me motivated. Not really sure why it’s like that, it just is. I’ve never had to go away to just write though. It would be nice to be able to afford a cabin in the woods for a weekend just to focus on writing. Maybe one day I will try it out.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALISE YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
I have always dabbled in writing for a long time but as I graduated with a communications degree, I ended up being a journalist. I didn’t really think I had it in me to make fiction writing a serious thing. But you never know when you will get bitten with the writing bug. My decision to take fiction writing seriously was a super slow process. There was no big moment when it dawned on me that I am a fiction writer. Sometimes, I still catch myself referring to my job as a ‘journalist’, which isn’t really true anymore. I was a journalist but my day job (and night job) is not really journalism anymore. So now I just say I’m a writer because it encompasses many things.
July 22, 2018
MY TOP 3 WRITING RITUALS
Writing rituals are quite common for authors whether they are a newbie or veteran. It’s different each one and there is always a story behind that ritual. When I started writing fiction books, I never thought I would end up having a ritual of my own. But it turns out I do.
I don’t touch a rabbit’s foot, or sharpen my pencils (especially since I don’t use pencils) or anything like that. My rituals are more practical, which suits me because I’m quite a practical person.
In this post, I will tell you my top three writing rituals and why I do them.
FILLING UP THE WATER BOTTLE
I always have water next to my laptop when I’m writing. And there are two main reasons for this. One is for hydration because there are moments (not too many) when I forget to eat because I’m so immersed in the book I’m writing. Having water there to drink constantly while writing helps me stay hydrated and stave off some of the hunger. Also, because I drink a lot of water, I have to get up to use the toilet many times too. This gets me up and walking, taking a break from being on my seat a lot (which we all know isn’t good for you because apparently sitting too long is the new smoking).
GOOGLING CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS
This is a ritual but also a pre-writing habit – and something fun. This process ends up being unpredictable for me. I go into Google with an idea that’s almost set when I’m looking for a specific look of a person or a specific place for the setting. But what ends up happening is that I find new things online that might end up becoming a better location for the book, or a person’s look that might end up suiting the character’s personality more. Or maybe the look is totally opposite to societal expectations, which will give the character a different spin. I sometimes find myself being carried away that I have to steer myself again to focus on what I was supposed to be doing.
MUSIC AND NO MUSIC
This is a strange one for me but it works. During the day, I open the windows and write without any noise – no music or chatter. Things flow easily for me when I’m writing like this during the day. But at night, when everyone’s asleep and it’s dark outside, I put on my headphones and play classical music while writing. And yes, I can write that way too. It’s quite strange, I know, but I have no explanation for it. All I know is that it works for me so I keep on doing it.
What about you? What are your writing rituals?
I don’t touch a rabbit’s foot, or sharpen my pencils (especially since I don’t use pencils) or anything like that. My rituals are more practical, which suits me because I’m quite a practical person.
In this post, I will tell you my top three writing rituals and why I do them.
FILLING UP THE WATER BOTTLE
I always have water next to my laptop when I’m writing. And there are two main reasons for this. One is for hydration because there are moments (not too many) when I forget to eat because I’m so immersed in the book I’m writing. Having water there to drink constantly while writing helps me stay hydrated and stave off some of the hunger. Also, because I drink a lot of water, I have to get up to use the toilet many times too. This gets me up and walking, taking a break from being on my seat a lot (which we all know isn’t good for you because apparently sitting too long is the new smoking).
GOOGLING CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS
This is a ritual but also a pre-writing habit – and something fun. This process ends up being unpredictable for me. I go into Google with an idea that’s almost set when I’m looking for a specific look of a person or a specific place for the setting. But what ends up happening is that I find new things online that might end up becoming a better location for the book, or a person’s look that might end up suiting the character’s personality more. Or maybe the look is totally opposite to societal expectations, which will give the character a different spin. I sometimes find myself being carried away that I have to steer myself again to focus on what I was supposed to be doing.
MUSIC AND NO MUSIC
This is a strange one for me but it works. During the day, I open the windows and write without any noise – no music or chatter. Things flow easily for me when I’m writing like this during the day. But at night, when everyone’s asleep and it’s dark outside, I put on my headphones and play classical music while writing. And yes, I can write that way too. It’s quite strange, I know, but I have no explanation for it. All I know is that it works for me so I keep on doing it.
What about you? What are your writing rituals?
July 15, 2018
QUESTIONS FROM READERS
Last year, I had the opportunity to talk with students and answered some of their questions about writing. Since we ran out of time, I thought I would answer their questions on the blog.
Every month or so, I’ll post answers to your questions here. Feel free to send me your questions!
WHY DO YOU LOVE TO WRITE?
I thought I would have an easy answer prepared for this question but it’s not the case. After thinking about it long and hard, I came up with one best answer. I love to write because it’s a natural part of me. Yes, I went to school to improve my skills. Yes, I have to write for work. Yes, I too get frustrated when my writing isn’t that good. But ever since I can remember, I’ve always written stories. I made up worlds in my head and wrote them down on any surface I could find. They weren’t that good to begin with but they were fun to write. I love writing because this is part of my life – an organ I can’t cut off, otherwise I would die. Writing has always been a part of me and that will never change.
WHAT’S THE FIRST THING I SHOULD DO TO BECOME A WRITER?
Read. Every writer would tell you to read. Read a lot. Read in different formats – books, magazines, long form writing, news stories, feature stories etc. Read in different genres. Read different authors. The more you read, the more you will get the tools to be a good writer. Take your favourite book and read it again. The second time you read it, study the characters, study the settings, study the style. Then read it again and look at the plot, the conflicts, the resolution etc. We all learn from the writers that came before us. By studying their work, we learn how to improve ours.
WHAT CAN I DO TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL WRITER?
If I figure out the answer to this one based on my own experience, I’ll let you know. In all honesty (no fake humility here), I don’t consider myself a ‘successful writer’. I think I have a long way to go before I can compare myself to the other successful writers out there. What I am successful of is finishing more than one project. I am mighty proud of that given the schedule I have and the time one needs to finish a whole book. Based on what other writers say (the truly successful ones), I think it’s all about the discipline to write everyday and the willingness to learn and improve. Writing shouldn’t just be done when you feel like it. Whether your muse is next to you or having a holiday, you have to be disciplined enough to write.
Every month or so, I’ll post answers to your questions here. Feel free to send me your questions!
WHY DO YOU LOVE TO WRITE?
I thought I would have an easy answer prepared for this question but it’s not the case. After thinking about it long and hard, I came up with one best answer. I love to write because it’s a natural part of me. Yes, I went to school to improve my skills. Yes, I have to write for work. Yes, I too get frustrated when my writing isn’t that good. But ever since I can remember, I’ve always written stories. I made up worlds in my head and wrote them down on any surface I could find. They weren’t that good to begin with but they were fun to write. I love writing because this is part of my life – an organ I can’t cut off, otherwise I would die. Writing has always been a part of me and that will never change.
WHAT’S THE FIRST THING I SHOULD DO TO BECOME A WRITER?
Read. Every writer would tell you to read. Read a lot. Read in different formats – books, magazines, long form writing, news stories, feature stories etc. Read in different genres. Read different authors. The more you read, the more you will get the tools to be a good writer. Take your favourite book and read it again. The second time you read it, study the characters, study the settings, study the style. Then read it again and look at the plot, the conflicts, the resolution etc. We all learn from the writers that came before us. By studying their work, we learn how to improve ours.
WHAT CAN I DO TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL WRITER?
If I figure out the answer to this one based on my own experience, I’ll let you know. In all honesty (no fake humility here), I don’t consider myself a ‘successful writer’. I think I have a long way to go before I can compare myself to the other successful writers out there. What I am successful of is finishing more than one project. I am mighty proud of that given the schedule I have and the time one needs to finish a whole book. Based on what other writers say (the truly successful ones), I think it’s all about the discipline to write everyday and the willingness to learn and improve. Writing shouldn’t just be done when you feel like it. Whether your muse is next to you or having a holiday, you have to be disciplined enough to write.
July 8, 2018
HOW TO FACE CRITICISM
Every writer, in my belief, needs to learn how to face criticism with grace. Seriously, it is a skill you need have in order to survive in the publishing world.
I was lucky I learned to accept criticisms even before becoming an author. My training as a journalist came in handy. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting. Of course it does. But I’ve rearranged how I perceive constructive criticisms so that it helps me instead of discourage me.
Here are some tips on how to face criticisms with grace:
IT’S NOT PERSONAL
Unless you sent your manuscript to a freenemie who really hated you (and why would you?) then remember that the criticism isn’t personal. When you’re getting feedback from a professional, they are looking at your work from different perspectives – as a publisher, an editor, a marketing exec, a reader etc. If they have constructive criticisms to your manuscript, it is worth heeding. Use this time to go through your work while thinking about what feedback you got. I found that I always improved my work when I’m considering the criticism.
SWALLOW YOUR EGO
We all have egos. No matter how humble you think you are, you do have one. When receiving constructive criticisms, swallow that ego – all of it. And be like a child listening to a parent who is making it a teachable moment. Even if you don’t agree with everything you heard, there might be something that you could use to improve yourself as a writer. You know you are good but remember that there is always room for improvement. Even the great writers try and learn from others no matter how long they’ve been in the industry.
KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE
Just because you are open to criticisms doesn’t mean you just believe everyone who tells you what they think. Surround yourself with people you trust. They may be professionals in the publishing world. Or maybe an avid reader who knows a thing or two about books. Maybe a librarian. If you just nod and accept all criticisms, no matter where they come from, you’ll go nuts. Know who you can trust and stick to them. Remember, people who want you to succeed will always give you criticisms that will help you grow as a writer. For everything else, just brush the criticism off and move on.
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I was lucky I learned to accept criticisms even before becoming an author. My training as a journalist came in handy. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting. Of course it does. But I’ve rearranged how I perceive constructive criticisms so that it helps me instead of discourage me.
Here are some tips on how to face criticisms with grace:
IT’S NOT PERSONAL
Unless you sent your manuscript to a freenemie who really hated you (and why would you?) then remember that the criticism isn’t personal. When you’re getting feedback from a professional, they are looking at your work from different perspectives – as a publisher, an editor, a marketing exec, a reader etc. If they have constructive criticisms to your manuscript, it is worth heeding. Use this time to go through your work while thinking about what feedback you got. I found that I always improved my work when I’m considering the criticism.
SWALLOW YOUR EGO
We all have egos. No matter how humble you think you are, you do have one. When receiving constructive criticisms, swallow that ego – all of it. And be like a child listening to a parent who is making it a teachable moment. Even if you don’t agree with everything you heard, there might be something that you could use to improve yourself as a writer. You know you are good but remember that there is always room for improvement. Even the great writers try and learn from others no matter how long they’ve been in the industry.
KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE
Just because you are open to criticisms doesn’t mean you just believe everyone who tells you what they think. Surround yourself with people you trust. They may be professionals in the publishing world. Or maybe an avid reader who knows a thing or two about books. Maybe a librarian. If you just nod and accept all criticisms, no matter where they come from, you’ll go nuts. Know who you can trust and stick to them. Remember, people who want you to succeed will always give you criticisms that will help you grow as a writer. For everything else, just brush the criticism off and move on.
WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT WRITING? SIGN UP TO THE NEWSLETTER!
July 1, 2018
THINGS I LEARNED FROM REVIEWING BOOKS
I love reading books and writing about books. One of the things I learned is that if you want to write, you need to read a lot. Like maybe 50 books a year.
I’ve been lucky I had the opportunity to be one of the regular book reviewers for the New South Wales Writers’ Centre. And I’ve been enjoying that role a lot.
In the last couple of years that I’ve been writing book reviews, there are several things that I realised about books and authors.
THE BOOKS ARE ALL UNIQUE
I know we all say there is no original work under the sun. While that may be true, I think it is also safe to say that there are a lot of great tweaks to the ideas already out there. I’ve never read two books that are very alike. Or close to being the same. Sure they may have the same topics and issues but they’ve been treated quite differently.
AUTHORS ARE CRAZY BRILLIANT
Sometimes when I read something so brilliant I don’t want to go to sleep, I keep thinking what are these authors eating to come up with such intricate and marvellous worlds? How did they do this? Where do they get their inspiration from? Do they have a story fairy they regularly consult? This is one of the reasons why I go to author talks as much as possible – to learn from these brilliant people and hope that, one day, I can be just as imaginative as they are.
BOOKS ARE PRODUCED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE
I always read the acknowledgement page – more for my own curiosity than anything else. You’ll find how many people have supported the author to create the book. You’ll realise that authors aren’t islands. They need help, too. It takes a lot of work and a lot of people to push a book out into the world.
So my advice? Connect, network, don’t burn bridges and when someone who can help you has something to say, listen – and listen well. Also, go online to listen to authors talk. You’ll always learn something from each one.
I’ve been lucky I had the opportunity to be one of the regular book reviewers for the New South Wales Writers’ Centre. And I’ve been enjoying that role a lot.
In the last couple of years that I’ve been writing book reviews, there are several things that I realised about books and authors.
THE BOOKS ARE ALL UNIQUE
I know we all say there is no original work under the sun. While that may be true, I think it is also safe to say that there are a lot of great tweaks to the ideas already out there. I’ve never read two books that are very alike. Or close to being the same. Sure they may have the same topics and issues but they’ve been treated quite differently.
AUTHORS ARE CRAZY BRILLIANT
Sometimes when I read something so brilliant I don’t want to go to sleep, I keep thinking what are these authors eating to come up with such intricate and marvellous worlds? How did they do this? Where do they get their inspiration from? Do they have a story fairy they regularly consult? This is one of the reasons why I go to author talks as much as possible – to learn from these brilliant people and hope that, one day, I can be just as imaginative as they are.
BOOKS ARE PRODUCED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE
I always read the acknowledgement page – more for my own curiosity than anything else. You’ll find how many people have supported the author to create the book. You’ll realise that authors aren’t islands. They need help, too. It takes a lot of work and a lot of people to push a book out into the world.
So my advice? Connect, network, don’t burn bridges and when someone who can help you has something to say, listen – and listen well. Also, go online to listen to authors talk. You’ll always learn something from each one.
June 24, 2018
WHY YOUR MANUSCRIPT WAS REJECTED
There are several reasons why your manuscript was rejected by the publisher you pitched it to. None of these reasons is personal.
In my years of pitching to publishers before getting published, I’ve accumulated probably almost a hundred rejection letters. You’d think I would have given up by now, buried myself under the pile of ‘no thanks’ I’ve gotten (thankfully they are all on electronic form and cannot suffocate me in real life).
However, since I also join writing conferences and festivals, I learn from those who are in the industry and realise, it’s not all about me all the time. Here are some of the reasons publishers don’t say yes (learned from the publishers I’ve listened to over the years):
IT’S REDUNDANT
When the vampire YA genre flooded the bookshelves a couple of years ago, the same thing happened to the inboxes of the publishers. This happens every time a specific type of book becomes popular – Fifty Shades included. When the publisher decides to take on a book and your manuscript of the same flavour arrives, they will say no because they already have something similar they are preparing to release. Yes, it sucks but sometimes it is all about timing.
THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO MARKET IT
Sounds trivial right? But it does happen. If the publisher has a hard time finding an angle to market, it gets dumped in the ‘too hard’ basket. When I found out about this, the whole publishing industry thing really sunk in. We dream about the art and the craft of it all but reality sucks. Publishers need to market your book, it is as simple as that.
IT’S NOT THEIR GENRE
Every single publisher I’ve heard speak says the same thing – research the type of books they publish to make sure that you are pitching to the right publisher. If yours is non-fiction and the publisher only publishes fiction, then you will get rejected. If you are writing children’s books and the publisher doesn’t publish that genre, you are going to get rejected. Research is your friend.
YOU DIDN’T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
It sounds so stupid but you’d be surprised how many times publishers say this. When publishers ask you to submit using a certain font size, spacing, method (snail mail or electronic) and so on, there is a reason for this. They’ve polished their workflow over the years so that they can cover as many submissions as possible. They get annoyed when you don’t follow those instructions. So follow it.
YOUR MANUSCRIPT ISN’T READY
This final one is the writer’s fault. Don’t submit your first or second draft because if it’s not ready then you’ve missed your chance submitting to that publisher. Don’t submit a half-baked manuscript. Get proper beta readers, or even an editor or an assessor. Edit and edit again. Don’t rush it because you only have one chance to make a good impression.
In my years of pitching to publishers before getting published, I’ve accumulated probably almost a hundred rejection letters. You’d think I would have given up by now, buried myself under the pile of ‘no thanks’ I’ve gotten (thankfully they are all on electronic form and cannot suffocate me in real life).
However, since I also join writing conferences and festivals, I learn from those who are in the industry and realise, it’s not all about me all the time. Here are some of the reasons publishers don’t say yes (learned from the publishers I’ve listened to over the years):
IT’S REDUNDANT
When the vampire YA genre flooded the bookshelves a couple of years ago, the same thing happened to the inboxes of the publishers. This happens every time a specific type of book becomes popular – Fifty Shades included. When the publisher decides to take on a book and your manuscript of the same flavour arrives, they will say no because they already have something similar they are preparing to release. Yes, it sucks but sometimes it is all about timing.
THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO MARKET IT
Sounds trivial right? But it does happen. If the publisher has a hard time finding an angle to market, it gets dumped in the ‘too hard’ basket. When I found out about this, the whole publishing industry thing really sunk in. We dream about the art and the craft of it all but reality sucks. Publishers need to market your book, it is as simple as that.
IT’S NOT THEIR GENRE
Every single publisher I’ve heard speak says the same thing – research the type of books they publish to make sure that you are pitching to the right publisher. If yours is non-fiction and the publisher only publishes fiction, then you will get rejected. If you are writing children’s books and the publisher doesn’t publish that genre, you are going to get rejected. Research is your friend.
YOU DIDN’T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
It sounds so stupid but you’d be surprised how many times publishers say this. When publishers ask you to submit using a certain font size, spacing, method (snail mail or electronic) and so on, there is a reason for this. They’ve polished their workflow over the years so that they can cover as many submissions as possible. They get annoyed when you don’t follow those instructions. So follow it.
YOUR MANUSCRIPT ISN’T READY
This final one is the writer’s fault. Don’t submit your first or second draft because if it’s not ready then you’ve missed your chance submitting to that publisher. Don’t submit a half-baked manuscript. Get proper beta readers, or even an editor or an assessor. Edit and edit again. Don’t rush it because you only have one chance to make a good impression.
June 17, 2018
THE MEDIA CHATTER Q&A
I recently did a Q&A with The Media Chatter, a Facebook page helping students of journalism and mass communication. Here is the full post.
:::::
For our Q&A today, we have Kristyn Maslog-Levis, the founder of The Media Chatter.
Kristyn has over 14 years experience in the industry as TV, radio, print and online journalist. She was a TV reporter with ABS-CBN before finishing her Masters Degree in Communication at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore through the ASEAN scholarship.
After migrating to Australia, Kristyn became an IT journalist with CNet Australia, where several of her works were published in The New York Times. She worked as a radio broadcaster with SBS Australia and Editor with Reed Business Information.
Currently, Kristyn is a freelance journalist/writer and an author. Her first novel, The Girl Between Two Worlds, was released by Anvil Publishing July 2016.
HOW DID YOU LAND A JOB WITH ABS-CBN FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL?
I was an intern with ABS-CBN before I graduated. While doing my internship, I made sure I talked to newscasters, news manager, cameramen etc and got as much information as I could from them. I wanted to learn how things worked in the real world to prepare myself for when I graduate. I must have made an impression because I was offered a job close to graduation.
If you want to do a similar thing, make sure you do your best during your internship. Ask everyone about their work. Learn from them. Observe. Be engaged with the work. Don’t just wait around for instructions. Find something you can do to help with the office, no matter how small the role is.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH JOURNALISM TODAY AND WHEN YOU FIRST GRADUATED?
The industry today is losing credibility and integrity quickly. Because of the push for clickbait stories, most don’t even check if the sources are credible. It’s all muddled and real journalists, with their integrity still intact, are being kicked pushed out, or forced to change. I am scared what is going to happen in 10 years.
What we need is a new generation of journalists that are not scared, to tell the truth, to research properly, to be separate from the clickbait-fuelled publications going crazy. We need new people who can give journalism its credibility back.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU THINK FRESH GRADUATES NEED TO MAKE IT IN THE INDUSTRY?
The basics matter. They always matter. Integrity, knowledge and skills to write stories, research, quoting properly, finding proper sources, patience and the nose for news. Master those before extending your skills into areas like photography and design. If you’re going to record and photograph using your phone, learn the basics and apply it properly. Your equipment is nothing without skills. Learn your craft. Master it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But make sure you learn from it.
HOW DID YOU END UP AS AN AUTHOR? WAS IT DIFFICULT TO TRANSITION?
When I started freelancing after my daughter was born, I dabbled in fiction writing for kids. I ended up self-publishing two children’s picture books. But writing longer fiction was more difficult. I learned by going to writing seminars and conferences, taking courses and reading books about writing. I also spoke to other fiction writers to learn from them.
It wasn’t a difficult transition in the sense that I enjoyed the writing process. What I found hard was finishing the work. I am used to finishing articles that are around 2,000 words but novels are over 50,000. I needed to find the patience to finish it.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO JOURNALISTS WANTING TO WRITE FICTION?
Go for it. I think journalists have a lot of sources for fiction ideas because of their work. Use that. It’s a good edge. Read a lot of books, especially books that are similar to the genre you want to write. Learn from other authors. Learn from courses. Find a good editor to work with and unbiased beta readers. It can be a long process so don’t be disappointed. Enjoy the process.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS?
Be prepared for the world ahead. Your integrity will be tested. Don’t give in. The world relies on you to be better than your predecessors. Don’t succumb to the stupidity of fake news and alternative facts. You’re what’s separating a democratic society from anarchy.
:::::
For our Q&A today, we have Kristyn Maslog-Levis, the founder of The Media Chatter.
Kristyn has over 14 years experience in the industry as TV, radio, print and online journalist. She was a TV reporter with ABS-CBN before finishing her Masters Degree in Communication at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore through the ASEAN scholarship.
After migrating to Australia, Kristyn became an IT journalist with CNet Australia, where several of her works were published in The New York Times. She worked as a radio broadcaster with SBS Australia and Editor with Reed Business Information.
Currently, Kristyn is a freelance journalist/writer and an author. Her first novel, The Girl Between Two Worlds, was released by Anvil Publishing July 2016.
HOW DID YOU LAND A JOB WITH ABS-CBN FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL?
I was an intern with ABS-CBN before I graduated. While doing my internship, I made sure I talked to newscasters, news manager, cameramen etc and got as much information as I could from them. I wanted to learn how things worked in the real world to prepare myself for when I graduate. I must have made an impression because I was offered a job close to graduation.
If you want to do a similar thing, make sure you do your best during your internship. Ask everyone about their work. Learn from them. Observe. Be engaged with the work. Don’t just wait around for instructions. Find something you can do to help with the office, no matter how small the role is.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH JOURNALISM TODAY AND WHEN YOU FIRST GRADUATED?
The industry today is losing credibility and integrity quickly. Because of the push for clickbait stories, most don’t even check if the sources are credible. It’s all muddled and real journalists, with their integrity still intact, are being kicked pushed out, or forced to change. I am scared what is going to happen in 10 years.
What we need is a new generation of journalists that are not scared, to tell the truth, to research properly, to be separate from the clickbait-fuelled publications going crazy. We need new people who can give journalism its credibility back.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU THINK FRESH GRADUATES NEED TO MAKE IT IN THE INDUSTRY?
The basics matter. They always matter. Integrity, knowledge and skills to write stories, research, quoting properly, finding proper sources, patience and the nose for news. Master those before extending your skills into areas like photography and design. If you’re going to record and photograph using your phone, learn the basics and apply it properly. Your equipment is nothing without skills. Learn your craft. Master it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But make sure you learn from it.
HOW DID YOU END UP AS AN AUTHOR? WAS IT DIFFICULT TO TRANSITION?
When I started freelancing after my daughter was born, I dabbled in fiction writing for kids. I ended up self-publishing two children’s picture books. But writing longer fiction was more difficult. I learned by going to writing seminars and conferences, taking courses and reading books about writing. I also spoke to other fiction writers to learn from them.
It wasn’t a difficult transition in the sense that I enjoyed the writing process. What I found hard was finishing the work. I am used to finishing articles that are around 2,000 words but novels are over 50,000. I needed to find the patience to finish it.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO JOURNALISTS WANTING TO WRITE FICTION?
Go for it. I think journalists have a lot of sources for fiction ideas because of their work. Use that. It’s a good edge. Read a lot of books, especially books that are similar to the genre you want to write. Learn from other authors. Learn from courses. Find a good editor to work with and unbiased beta readers. It can be a long process so don’t be disappointed. Enjoy the process.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS?
Be prepared for the world ahead. Your integrity will be tested. Don’t give in. The world relies on you to be better than your predecessors. Don’t succumb to the stupidity of fake news and alternative facts. You’re what’s separating a democratic society from anarchy.
June 10, 2018
WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING FOR A PUBLISHER
Waiting for publisher feedback is exhausting and stressful. Most of the time, you don’t hear back from them, or you get that dreaded rejection letter. But waiting for feedback doesn’t have to be wasted time. Here are some things you can do while waiting:
RESEARCH
Do research for future projects. Interview people, Google things, visit museums that relate to your work, join writing groups and ask for help. Use this time to continue other projects. If you’re writing something historical then pour your energy into research rather than sitting around waiting. It’s more productive that way.
WRITE AGAIN
Move on to that next project you have in mind. Use that waiting time for something good instead of moping around being a ball of stress. It’s not helpful. Plot your next novel or maybe write a short story. Just keep writing. Even if there is nothing in your head, write a blog post or a journal entry.
DO SOMETHING CREATIVE
Doing something creative helps with pushing creative juices out. Anything will do. Crocheting, drawing, colouring, cooking, even gardening. Put on your favourite playlist and listen to music, or go dancing. Tinkering with other activities also helps relax you, open your mind to ideas. Find something you love doing and relax.
LEARN
Keep learning by attending conferences and writing events. Or if you have a writing group then go to meetings and help with other writers’ work. Take courses online or in writing centres. It doesn’t hurt finding ways to improve your writing. Try learning how to edit your own work as well. It will help you in the long run.
READ
Enjoy other people’s work. I find that reading not only helps me relax but teaches me about other people’s styles as well. Most of the time, reading a book gives me ideas about a future project. Use this time to read writing books as well. There are plenty out there. I highly recommend Stephen King’s On Writing and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
RESEARCH
Do research for future projects. Interview people, Google things, visit museums that relate to your work, join writing groups and ask for help. Use this time to continue other projects. If you’re writing something historical then pour your energy into research rather than sitting around waiting. It’s more productive that way.
WRITE AGAIN
Move on to that next project you have in mind. Use that waiting time for something good instead of moping around being a ball of stress. It’s not helpful. Plot your next novel or maybe write a short story. Just keep writing. Even if there is nothing in your head, write a blog post or a journal entry.
DO SOMETHING CREATIVE
Doing something creative helps with pushing creative juices out. Anything will do. Crocheting, drawing, colouring, cooking, even gardening. Put on your favourite playlist and listen to music, or go dancing. Tinkering with other activities also helps relax you, open your mind to ideas. Find something you love doing and relax.
LEARN
Keep learning by attending conferences and writing events. Or if you have a writing group then go to meetings and help with other writers’ work. Take courses online or in writing centres. It doesn’t hurt finding ways to improve your writing. Try learning how to edit your own work as well. It will help you in the long run.
READ
Enjoy other people’s work. I find that reading not only helps me relax but teaches me about other people’s styles as well. Most of the time, reading a book gives me ideas about a future project. Use this time to read writing books as well. There are plenty out there. I highly recommend Stephen King’s On Writing and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.
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