Gela shared a worthwhile blog tag where I learned 20 practical and mostly human things about her journey as a writer (thank you, dear!). I'm much obliged to share mine. :)
Tagging Ate Tin and Andrew ^_^
1. What type of writing do you do?
I like writing esoteric journal entries that I'm pretty sure nobody will read, much less decipher in a hundred years. I've ghost written generic content for websites since 2010 and churned out online features for European tourist directories, plastic bag companies, optical stores, bridal stores, plumbing companies, construction supply, funeral homes, etc. I’ve also abridged a children's book for a publisher. When I’m not lazy, which is pretty rare, I write about my travels and exploits as well as interesting musicians who make great music. When overcome with existential spells, I write fragments of my memory whether they’re real or imagined. I’d like to think I write about human things. I also keep trying to write poetry.
2. What genres and/or topics do you write about?
My works are mostly about isolation, love, loss, struggle, relationships (romantic and platonic), growing up and apart. I write about the world as I see it and I take it from there.
3. How long have you been writing?
I’m a late bloomer. I regret not liking books or reading when I was a lot younger. I kept a blog in high school but I didn’t really think about writing until my third year in college.
If I count from the year I wrote my first workshopped poem, I’d be looking at seven years of trying to write poetry. But then, if I count from the year I decided to go back to school to learn how to write, it’d be about 5 years.
4. Are you published?
Ghost articles not included? Yes.
5. What was the first story you ever wrote?
Believe it or not, I wrote a Final Fantasy fan fiction in grade school because I had a crush on Squall Leonhart. Come to think of it, I probably even wrote a Ghost Fighter fan fiction because I loved that anime.
6. Why do you write?
I try to write when I believe I have something to say, or at least have an idea of what I want to say. It’s a form of expression and the process is a way to understand the world I live in. It makes me focus and it keeps me still. I write with the hope of expanding my perspective. Finally, I hope such writing will widen a reader’s perspective.
Unlike other really good writers, I can’t exactly say I can make a living out of the freelancing (hack-writing) I do. And as we all know, writing poetry isn’t the most lucrative of professions. I need a day job.
7. How do you find time to write?
I can’t really stick to a schedule, but my writing usually happens in the evening before I sleep because that’s when my mind tries to de-clutter. I write down all sorts of things when I have trouble sleeping. Sometimes I’d type a few lines on my cellphone in between doing errands. However, I sometimes get lazy and stop writing anything for weeks or months at a time, except of course for anything work related.
I find it hard to concentrate on writing. It almost always feels as if I’m waiting for a mood (a miracle really). But when I do, I work straight for days. When my writing gets disrupted, I have a hard time getting back to it again. I curse the internet, I curse myself. I stop when I don’t know what to write next or when I’ve exhausted myself. Months or even years later, I’d find myself still working on the same piece. The time in between helps me assess my work a bit more objectively.
8. When and where are the best times to write?
I guess it’s when you have something brewing in your mind. The point where you just have to write something down would be the best time. You could be anywhere when this happens, but it’s always better if you’re someplace quiet with your laptop or notebook.
9. Favorite food/drinks while writing?
Earl grey or chai tea latte. I like sweets and I eat anything I can get my hands on.
10. Your writing playlist
Soothing instrumental music helps. I made a post rock playlist specifically to help get me in a better mood: I like listening to Industries of the Blind, Mogwai, and Riceboy Sleeps. When it’s quiet enough, I prefer silence.
11. What do family/friends/loved ones think of you writing?
My folks have been supportive, although I can tell they worry about me from time to time. Freelancing isn’t stable and I haven’t decided on working full-time (but I most probably will soon). I’m very grateful my mom paid for half of my graduate school tuition. She told me to do what I wanted to do.
As for my friends, they were supportive of the idea. I just think few people are fond of poetry here.
My significant other is very supportive of my writing. I sometimes think he's more enthusiastic about it than I am.
12. Parts of writing you enjoy the most?
It’s good when I find a way to articulate something hard to understand in a simple manner. The process is slow and painful, almost obsessive. While I’m at it, I appreciate discovering things about myself and the world around me. I imagine I’d enjoy finally finishing a poem or a collection, but that’s yet to happen.
13. Parts of writing you find challenging?
Everything from motivating myself, fighting laziness, wrestling with my thoughts, choosing the right words, arranging words, struggling to make sense, revising, and revising again, and did I say revising? aiming for relatability, consistency, avoiding clichés, finding time to write, articulating complex emotions or ideas into simple writing, staying patient and focusing on work, etc. You know. The work never seems to end.
14. What do you use to write with and on?
I like big notebooks or discarded bond papers when I’m too lazy to work on my laptop. Any decent pen or pencil will do.
15. How do you overcome writer’s block?
Tough question. When it comes to writing, I’m not sure I’ve overcome dry spells. Writing for work is different; I get my ass going because there’s a deadline and the assignments aren’t as difficult. When I get dry spells it’s a sign I have to step back and simply live. I guess not writing is part of the writing process. I’ve tried forcing work before and it’s just not the same.
16. How do you motivate yourself to write?
There are certain films, songs, and books that get me in a writing mood. I sometimes pace around especially when I’m writing at home. I don’t know why, but I guess the motion helps keep my mind going.
17. Authors who inspire you as a writer?
Carl Dennis, J.D. Salinger, Italo Calvino, Wislawa Szymborska, Mark Strand, Mary Oliver, Marie Howe, Haruki Murakami, Jeanette Winterson, Philip Levine, Robert Hass, etc.
18. Books that inspire you as a writer?
3 from the top of my head:
Practical Gods, Carl Dennis
The Continuous Life, Mark Strand
The Simple Truth, Philip Levine
19. Best advice you’ve gotten as a writer?
Another writer once told me:
“If you want to be a good writer, you’ve got to be willing to suck for a long time.”
While scanning my Twitter feed, I came across a post on Brain Pickings:
“Don’t romanticise your ‘vocation’. You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no ‘writer’s lifestyle’. All that matters is what you leave on the page.” –Zadie Smith
Finally, this advice from Ira Glass about "closing the creative gap":
Ira Glass on Storytelling from
David Shiyang Liu on
Vimeo.
When we read a poem for five minutes or devour a novel in a span of days, we have no clue how much hard work goes into actual writing. While I think there are people born with talent, nothing comes into fruition without doing all the dirty work yourself. So I just keep going.
20. Writing goals this year?
Come up with a 30-40 poem collection for my thesis. And perhaps get down to writing that nonfiction story I’ve been thinking of since 2012? It’s a long shot, I know. :)
Truth: I am a better reader/critic than I am a writer.
As much as I’d like to claim I am a writer, I’m not sure I’ll ever be good enough to become one. I've always had to remind myself that writing poetry is all just part of it. The goal has always been to live.
