new hobby

This is my new hobby, riding my new bike. My dad bought one over holy week and I've been learning to ride it well. I fell down a few times already and I wear my bruises as a badge of honor.Progress is slow and I have recently added turning as part of my biking skills.

30 minutes a day of leisure biking. That's what I've started to take on as a form of exercise. Getting fit is hard to do.
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As for my brains getting some much needed stretching, I have my books to do that for me. Currently I am in between 10 books. Hehehe! 10 books...amazing, ain't it? Goodluck to me finishing all of it!

amazing!

While writing about my latest book finds for my other site, I received something amazing. Here is the comment from my latest author find, Lewis Perdue. I found his book "The Da Vinci Legacy" at Booksale. I actually like his book and am looking for his novel, "Daughter of God."


"Lewis Perdue said...

Hope you enjoy The Da Vinci Legacy. I wrote it so long ago, that it is surely _not_ my best written one, but hope it is good enough!

FYI, my wife's aunt is from Manila."

What amazes me is he took the extra mile to address an individual fan. That made him more endearing to me and ensured me as a fan. I hope to follow his example in the future.
==

I'm in the middle of these books right now:

1. Deathport ed. Ramsey Campbell
2. On Writing by Stephen King
3. Writers of the Future vol VI ed. L. Ron Hubbard
4. Do androids dream of electric sheep by Philip K. Dick
5. Conjure Wife & Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber
6. Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present ed. by Karen Haber
7. The Best of Frederick Pohl
8. Citadels of Mystery by de camp and de Camp
9. Dracula by Bram Stoker

Now, when I say "in the middle" it means I've already finished a substantial number of pages in the book and my attention was caught by another paperback thereby taking my focus off the said book and have started to pick up something else. I know it's a bad habit but I just can't help it. The worse part is my book addiction is spiraling out of control. I've bought so many books but have so little time to read them.

Do I see any cure for my affliction? Not in the near future.
Ahh! The woes of a bookworm...

i'm famous!

This is the picture of me plastered on the lifestyle section of The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), March 27, 2007. Yes, my face on print newspaper. My friend got me as an interviewee on her article. It was nice to see how my family fussed over my 24-hour celebrity status. What more if they saw my name as a contributor!

With that being said, that’s my goal for this year–to be published online or print again. I miss having my name posted on websites.

Speaking about pictures, I am also in the HSBC calender front cover and on the wallpaper in the entrance of the office. Pretty cool, huh!

==

Splurged again on my book budget. I'm guilty of buying three new books, including "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. National Bookstore had a sale and naturally, I had to buy a new book. Not to mention my purchase of "The Best of Frederick Pohl", "Vampire Papers" and a mag for Photoshop editors.

Now if only I could find the time to read them all. Sigh!

finally!

Ask and you shall receive..and what the universe gave me was so much more than I could have imagined. I was able to go to one of the beautiful beaches in the Philippines—Puerto Galera, Mindoro.

The white sandy beach was wonderfully warm, the sun smiled down on us and the clear blue water was cool and divine.

This is paradise.

I am definitely looking forward to more out-of-town trips and perhaps, if I get lucky, go on an out-of-the-country adventure.

the old days

See that lone, frail guitarist on the right? Yup, that's me back in second year in college. Hehe! Talk about being a nerd.. I looked like one of the super nerds!

This is the only picture I have of our gigs. Actually, this is our first gig at a friend's birthday party. I can't believe how different I look now, considering the time that has elapsed. Here, I look like a highschool kid and now I look like a college student. I'd like to thank my mom for my genes that makes me look younger than my real age.
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As for my writing, I deserve to be whipped 1,000 times for procrastinating. But I have been joining a lot of writing groups online and somehow my interest is piqued once more. I have been writing in my journal but mostly it's emotional writing. I plan to join a writing contest by year end and hopefully win. If not, at least have my name splashed across the web space again.

Must work harder than before. With tons of responsibilities at work, web projects and self-studying to do, it's a wonder I still have time for my king and family.

a day in the life

If you recorded the day in a life of a writer you would be disappointed. He makes coffee, he looks out the window, he does everything but write. But despite these everyday failures, something still comes out of it.
-- Imre Kertesz

And I also do lists. For me, it's a thrill being able to cross out each accomplished item off that list.
==

Why is it that when I am out, the urge of writing suddenly hits me. And I am determined to set down on paper my musings and story ideas. But as soon as I arrive home, the will is gone and I am left feeling abandoned by my muse.

To be honest, I find it annoying not being able to write something wonderful on command. Yeah sure, I am a mediocre writer. As of yet, I do not possess the discipline professional writers brag about. I write when inspiration hits me. And from what I am experiencing, I badly need to place myself in an inspiring environment to be able to finally finish my half-baked stories and unmade novel ideas.

If only Starbucks is open 24/7. Hmm..not a bad business idea.
A writer's cafe! :)

fond memories

Just reminiscing...Hay! I wonder when he will be back.

on vampires and more

I've been reading books on vampires lately. I'm still within the pages of "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, a fictional story working on the premise that Vlad Dracul is still alive in this century. Next I'll be re-reading Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and then finish up with an anthology entitled, "Bite" with writers like Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, etc.

Why the interest in blood? Nothing really. Just feel like I wanted to read something sinister to blow off steam from all the pressure at work.

losing books

I lost two books recently. And it pains me to never see those books again. It's like saying goodbye to a dear friend. The first book is the "Sandman: Book of Dreams ", a signed copy from Neil Gaiman himself. I lent it to my friend and she never returned it. Huhuhu!

The second book is one of my Alfred Hitchcock collections. It's actually one of my favorite books. Same thing happened. I lent it to my friend and he left work so I don't think I'll be seeing my book again. I'm shy asking him to return it.

But then again, stories are meant to be shared. So I'm doing my best to let go of these personal treasures. Things happen for a reason and maybe these books have so much more to share to the world.
==
Wanna see how fast I can read given the flame of interest? In one month, I finished off four anthology books. It was such a thrill reading a book. I feel like I'm having an affair, grabbing any free time I can get to sneak a peak in the pages of my books. It's crazy!

Hahaha! I'm such a nerd!

that's what I want...

Yup. I want one too. Call it vanity or insanity. It's probably both. But I really, really want one.
==
Going through my reading list, I am proud to say I've read more than 12 books in a span of five months. I know it's still slow for a bookworm but at least I find time to sneak in my books.
==
It's funny when you think about it. I took a break from writing because I experienced severe mental block. I couldn't write anything creative. Couldn't think straight. I hated the sight of words. I took refuge in a new job and new environment. And for a while I liked the change.

But being a writer seems to be engraved in my destiny. Weeks after quitting the writing world, I received quite a few offers for gigs. More recently I was invited to write for two online magazines. And my publisher also came back from Chicago to check up on the progress of my novel. Now, I'm also associate editor for our office newsletter.

Should I be scared? No, not really. I guess what I should be is grateful and more hardworking especially since a lot of people expect great things from me. And so for my New Year's resolution I vow to read more and write more.

Happy New Year everyone and may all your dreams come true (like mine did!)!!

it's been a while

Hi all! Sorry been out of circulation lately. Was busy with my other blogs and writing in my journal. Anyway, how's my writing? Suffice to say that I haven't finished my story for the Nanowrimo entry. Ahh!!! What am I going to do now?

But I do love typing on my laptop. Hopefully, I love it so much to start free"writing" and actually finish a story.

I wonder what really is hindering me from writing a story. Sometimes I think it's because my imagination is slowly being eaten up by television or movies. There's something to be said of "a story repeated again." But I guess it all depends on the treatment and the way it is presented to its audience.

Take for example themes in movies. Although they are all about the same things - love, revenge, conflict, horror, etc. - we never run out of directors making films, writers penning screenplays or producers exploring other mediums in ways to make the old theme seem new. I suppose all I need to do is find the drive to learn more on how to write a good, satisfying story.

Can't wait for my inspiration to come! :)

book meme

One book that changed your life:
Introduction to Philosophy

One book that made you laugh:
ANBKKBSNPL ako by Bob Ong

One book you have read more than once:
Cyrano De Bergerac

One book you would want on a desert island:
The Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman

One book that made you cry:
Cyrano de Bergerac

One book you wish had been written:
The missing years of Jesus Christ

One book you wish had never been written:
If I'm so great, why am I still single? (I'm not too fond of self-help books. They tend to be preachy.)

One book you are currently reading:
I'm rotating books right now. The one I always bring along is Frankenstein. The others are DeathPort, The Writers of the Future vol.5, On writing, Do androids dream of electric sheep?

One book you have been meaning to read:
Einstein's Dreams (I don't have the book yet)
==
I really get excited whenever I go to Booksale, Diplomat or those booksales at National Bookstore, Powerbooks or Goodwill bookstore. Just the thought that I could find a good book at a low price gives me the jitters!

I'm currently looking for classics. I bought Lord of the Flies and Dr. Jekyll and Hyde for 15 pesos at Booksale. I can't wait to build my private library! Now all I need is time to devour my books.

a bit of practice...

In a place where the biting cold can freeze a mosquito in mid-flight, in the heart of the building where footsteps rarely leave their tracks, in a room where all you can hear is the rustling of paper against soft fingers...there lies our heroine. Surrounded by stacks upon stacks of books - hard and soft bound, paperbacks and first editions. Looking around the room we see her bookshelves, bent in the middle from the weight of knowledge and fantasy. She rests inside this crowded room, alone and seemingly forgotten by the world. There we see her sitting comfortably in a reading chair, foot resting on a stool, engrossed in yet another book with the only light coming from the lamp near her armrest.

As she turns the page, she hears a familiar sound outside the door. Our heroine smiles, welcoming the interruption. Lazily she puts down the book and moves towards the door. "Coming Dexter," she sighs. Three years in this place and her feline companion still insists on scratching the door to let her in. She wonders why her pet doesn't mewl like ordinary cats. Then she repeats to herself that Dexter is no ordinary cat and it is she who is slave rather than master. And as she turns the knob, expecting to see those emerald green eyes looking up at her, she gasps at the surprise greeting her on the doormat. Dexter, standing outside the door, orange fur covered in blood. And a man lying next to him, bloodied as well, unconscious but breathing.

And she thinks, "What a mess!"
(to be continued...)
==
I was finally able to finish the "Shadows" book. I'm now reading Ray Bradbury. Actually, I have tons and tons of books at home that hungers for my attention. But lately I have noticed that I've been reading the same subject again and again. It's always horror, sci-fi or fantasy. I need a new dish. I need variety.

Any book that you can recommend?

out for a treat

Been really busy lately. Life in a call center has its ups and down and for a writer like myself, all I've been able to do is just read other books and dream about my future book signings, book tours, fame and all that jazz.

So to treat my weary and exhausted brain, I went to my usual hang out. Starbucks welcomed me with open arms and I was able to sample their "Heaven on Earth" cake. Honestly, this cake falls short of my expectation. I still like the chocolate mousse from Red Ribbon.
==
How now is my writing? Ziltch. The best I have written are my blogs and journal writing. Even my novel has taken a backseat ever since my creativity decided to take a leave of absence. I do hope I get the confidence and inspiration to sit down and write a great, funny and moving story.

As of the moment, my bookshelves are very, very happy. I have tons of new books. Now all I need is the time to read them. And that's in between my web designing. Ahh! So little time, so much to do...

Oopps...excuse me. I hear the alarm clock ringing. It's time to write again. See you soon...

what did you say?

Any violent reaction, people

So you want to be a writer?
--Charles Bukowski

if it doesn't come bursting out of you in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen or hunched over your typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.

if you're doing it for money or fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody else,
forget about it.

if you have to wait for it to roar out of you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and pretentious,
don't be consumed with self-love.
the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.

unless it comes out of your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would drive you to madness
or suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by itself
and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.
and there never was.

goodluck!

Word Count Update
I need to write:

7,200 words - just to fill my quota TODAY for the Cre-W Nanowrimo event
25,000 words - just for the rewrites on my novel
1,500 words - for the short story I have in mind
800 words - for my journal entry

goodluck to me!

the typing monster strikes!

The rainy season is a great weather to start writing stories to. I suppose it's the gloomy atmosphere and the biting cold that nips ever so slightly inside the marrow of your bones that gives me the extra kick to grab my keyboards and start typing away. Nothing solid yet. I'm still typing and making up my story as I go along.

Tomorrow the "Nanowrimo" exercise of my writing group Cre-W will begin. I don't have a story plotline yet but I'm sure I'll think of something. That's 800+ words a day or a total of 25,000 by the end of the month. I sure hope I reach that!

The good thing about this exercise is I can hone my skills enough to join this November's Nanowrimo event, the Speculative Fiction contest in December and apply it on my ongoing novel. Not to mention the deep impact this will have on my vocabulary skills.

As exciting as all this sounds, I do hope I have enough money to sustain my lifestyle, enough strength for eveything and everyone I love and enough time to fit it all into my schedule.

tag! you're it!

IF YOU COMMENT ON THIS PAGE YOU WILL BE TAGGED
THE RULES: If you comment on this post, I will..

1. Respond with something random about you
.2. Challenge you to try something.
3. Pick a color that I associate with you.
4. Tell you something I like about you.
5. Tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. Tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. Ask you something I've always wanted to ask you.
8. Pick a song that reminds me of you.You then must post the same meme and my response in your blog.
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Here's what jigs has to say about me:

RANDOM
I have the sniffles too!
--i guess there's a bug going around.

CHALLENGE
Go to blogthings.com, answer some surveys and post them!
--i would, if i had the time... :(

COLOR
Blue, the first thing on my mind.
--okaayy... well, i do have a few things in blue.

LIKE
I like your laptop! hehe! Seriously, I like your simple honesty.
-- ohh, shucks! :)

FIRST MEMORY
Same as your first memory. My first ever comment to your blog!
--hehe! :)

ANIMAL
An ostrich. I also dont know why. That was my first thought! LOL!
-- hmm...weird. i thought you'd say cat.

QUESTION
Can insanity really be cured?
--lobotomy is your next bet.

SONG
High by The Speaks. I love this song, hope you like it too!
--i like it too! :)

I quit

I quit. Sounds unprofessional, right? But my brain wasn't functioning anymore no matter how hard I pushed myself. I wrote poor quality articles and just kept repeating the basic idea over and over. My creative juices were all dried up. So I had to let it go and quit the copywriting gig. Yes, I am learning something new everytime but I was being redundant.

I have a terminal case of niceness in me. When I know a person depends on me or I can see that they really need my help, I just can't say no at the cost of wearing myself thin. And that's what happened. I overestimated my body's capabilities and I ended up with an unfinished contract, lost income and possibly, a broken friendship.

I really have to work on my assertiveness skills. I must be able to say a statement and stick by it. No excuses.

Sheez! Why does it sound better on print?

what I need...

I needed to awaken my writer's spirit so I went browsing through one of my favorite bookstores. I wanted to see what kind of stories make it to the shelves. So far, I've seen "Confessions of--", Memoirs, Chick Lit, Self-help books, Inspirational books and Humor. There are a lot of historical mystery and romance stories out there too. But as to their marketability, I think the demand is slow. Maybe a fictional story that's controversial enough about our own history might be an interesting plot to explore.

I like going to bookstores. I enjoy seeing the books on sale. I feel inspired to write my own book as well. Problem is when I get home and sit down in front of the computer, my mind goes blank. Everything I was thinking of writing down while inside the bookstore suddenly escapes me everytime I try to solidify it through paper and pen. How will I be able to write my novel and stories this way?

I could use a voice recorder. I've heard other authors use this device to conveniently store ideas or finish chapters at a time. Unfortunately, I feel weird talking to a machine in the middle of a crowd. But it's worth a shot. I will tell you what happens when I actually do this writer trick.

Right now, I feel sorry for my ideas. They are like seeds waiting to be planted. I feel them burning in my hands. They are just itching to be enveloped with rich soil, to grow up and become full-blown flowers. And here I am, closing my fist and putting them back in my pocket. I am ashamed because I don't think I can nurture them to bloom properly.

Someone said, "When you do something, do it right." And that's what I follow through with my writing habits. If I know I can't do the idea justice, I keep it in my notebook until I feel that I am ready to write the story. But then I read somewhere that, "If you don't try, how will you know that you won't succeed?" So I am torn between these two perspectives.

Eventually, I will have to write the stories down. I understand that they choose me to tell their tales and share it with others. I must not disappoint them and my future fans.