A passion to let go or to pursue?

dear_cadyL wrote:

Yay. Super na-nosebleed ako ng nabasa ko ang post na ito. Puro kasi ingles. Hahaha. Anyway, hindi pa man ako nagtatrabaho (kasi student pa lang ako) pero minsan, gusto ko rin mag-quit mag-aral para magsulat. Pero hindi! Hindi puwede. Lalo na sa akin na tsambahan lang naman na magka-approved. Passion ko ang writing pero nakikita kong hindi ako nito mabubuhay forever. Ahehe. Kaya I suggest, time management lang yan. Hindi lahat ng writers ngayon, full time. Marami ang mga part time lang pero nagkakaroon din naman sila ng mga novels. Saka mahirap maging full time lalo na kapag inaatake ng katamadan. Nakuuuu!! Kapag wala kang approved ay baka sa Ilog Pasig ka mapunta. LOL. Ayon, tama si Yara King. Time management lang yan. Part time writer lang ako kasi estudyante pa lamang ako pero nagkakaroon din naman ako ng oras sa pagsusulat. Kung gusto mo talaga, may paraan

BUTI NAMAN AT NAGAWI KA ULI DITO CADY

Yay. Super na-nosebleed ako ng nabasa ko ang post na ito. Puro kasi ingles. Hahaha. Anyway, hindi pa man ako nagtatrabaho (kasi student pa lang ako) pero minsan, gusto ko rin mag-quit mag-aral para magsulat. Pero hindi! Hindi puwede. Lalo na sa akin na tsambahan lang naman na magka-approved. Passion ko ang writing pero nakikita kong hindi ako nito mabubuhay forever. Ahehe. Kaya I suggest, time management lang yan. Hindi lahat ng writers ngayon, full time. Marami ang mga part time lang pero nagkakaroon din naman sila ng mga novels. Saka mahirap maging full time lalo na kapag inaatake ng katamadan. Nakuuuu!! Kapag wala kang approved ay baka sa Ilog Pasig ka mapunta. LOL. Ayon, tama si Yara King. Time management lang yan. Part time writer lang ako kasi estudyante pa lamang ako pero nagkakaroon din naman ako ng oras sa pagsusulat. Kung gusto mo talaga, may paraan

lexi_levina wrote:

@trigger_elf: Iyong May 13 ay para sa mga meron ng approved manuscript. 'Yun ang sked ko. Although honestly, gusto ko sanang ma-experience 'yung May 11 and 12. You know, baka kasi iba pala pinag-uusapan sa first two days na 'yon. First time ko rin kasing attend ng workshop. So, I don't really know what to expect.

Ang biak-na-bato ay nasa kabila lang ng kalye lapit sa PHR office. Try ko mag-upload ng map dito.

goodluck sa inyo na dadalo sa workshop... subukan ko makadalo next year share nyo nalang notes nyo ha?

@trigger_elf: Iyong May 13 ay para sa mga meron ng approved manuscript. 'Yun ang sked ko. Although honestly, gusto ko sanang ma-experience 'yung May 11 and 12. You know, baka kasi iba pala pinag-uusapan sa first two days na 'yon. First time ko rin kasing attend ng workshop. So, I don't really know what to expect.

Ang biak-na-bato ay nasa kabila lang ng kalye lapit sa PHR office. Try ko mag-upload ng map dito.

@trigger

Malapit lang 'yong Biak na Bato. I-Google map mo yung Dexterton sa SFDM. Iyon yung bldg. na katabi ng office ng Precious. Sa kabilang kalsada yung Biak na Bato. Puwede na lakarin kung galing ka sa office, tanong mo lang sa guard. Yung Dexterton ang palatandaan ko kapag nagta-tricycle ako from LRT 5th Avenue. Pabalik, hintay na lang ulit ng tricycle.

Good luck sa inyo and enjoy.

@lexi they informed me that it will be from 9am-5pm from May 11-12th. Im just wondering, akala ko ba until 13th ung workshop? Also, mahirap ba pagpunta sa Biak na Bato? When I went there for screening, nahirapan ako paghahanap ng office kasi industrial site pala ung area. Buti mabait si Manong taxi driver

@Alejandro for sure marami pang workshop na darating at makakaaattend ka din Humingi kasi ako ng sign kay Lord. Kung ayaw niya kong magsulat, ibig sabihin di ako papasa sa screening. Although I was confident (days before I went to the office) that I could do what they would ask me during the screening, I started having doubts hours before I started. Kayo ba naman, I worked the night before from 8pm-7am then from Quezon province I travelled all the way to QC. Sa traffic I arrived at 2:30pm in Manila then I had to find the place pa. Then lumampas ako sa lugar na dapat babaan ko to join my friend at quick lunch then she would accompany me to the place since kabisado niya QC. But since short na ko sa oras, I just told the taxi driver to bring me straight to Sgt. Rivera, nasabi ko pa Esguerra and instead of SFDM, nasabi ko pa San Jose Del Monte. Muntik pa kong madala sa Bulacan lol. Puyat, pagod at gutom (last meal I had was at 6am) at ung feeling na ang baho baho mo sa init then hindi pa ko nakaligo sa place ng kaibigan ko, andun ung feeling na hindi gagana ang creative juices ko. I arrived in the office at 3:30 half na lang before sila mag close. Buti naman despite my circumtances, nakasagot pa naman ng maayos so mahaba- haba man ang prusisyon, for sure makakaaattend ka din

kung malapit lang ako makakadalo sana ako kaso nasa Mindanao ako eh

congrats trigger_elf!

Im gonna be there but I don't think we have the same sked.

Thank you both ngayon ko na lang ulit nabuksan tong forum na to. By the way, I just passed the screening. Attend ako ng workshop on the 11th. Me pupunta ba sa inyo?

good luck sayo, trigger elf

You can do it trigger_elf.. balitaan mo kami kapag nakapagsubmit ka na sa PHR

Hi guys, thanks for the additional input. Hellionist and Gabrieve, I agree on what you guys said especially in the financial aspect. Been preparing for that since last year. Im planning to put up my own business para lang maaccomodate tong pangarap ko na to. Although I know malaki pa din ang risk at kailangan pa din ng masinsinang pagplano. I can't just follow my dreams and be broke LOL. I discovered my creative juices flow more when Im in unfamiliar territory. It happened to me a couple of times, the need to get away and write at the same time to a place that I've never been. I don't know if there's a psychological reason somewhere but I will need a money in handy for sure  

In the emotional side, honestly I didn't think of that. Im in a dirty business (Im not saying what I do is illegal). This is the dog eats dog in the flesh. I saw all of our rivals from US, to Europe, to Middle East, Caribbean and South America fell down because of the stiff competition. If you don't know how to bite and protect yourself, others will bite you. What Im saying is, I've been through a lot of emotional and psychological distress brought by my job. I think I can handle what people will say. They can say what they want to say, it's their prerogative. But in the end it is also my life  

I don't have a problem with my parents. I always forgot that they do have their own source of income, I just don't let them spend a cent right now because I believe I owe it to them. 

Thank you guys, I have never been more decisive to write in my life  Reese, it is so true, a writer will always be a writer.

By the way, do you have any idea how the screening goes? Is it an interview or something? 

err! same dillema.. yan an nakakapagpastressed skin dis fast few wiks.. >< mi mga times na tntmad na kun bumangon ng maaga dhil gs2 q ng magquit sa job q.. hnd na ko masaya kc mas gusto q na lan magsulat.. peu naiicp q aman un parents q. sayang un pinagpaaral nla skin. mi kapatid din aq na umaasa cla na aq un magpapaaral sknila.. so its rily frustating! >< lalo na kun ind mu aman sur qng laat ba ng isusulat mun novel maaproved.

so i was saying Trigger_elf .. kun love mu aman un job mu ders no rison pra magquit qa, atleast not for now. ienjoy mu muna un work mu en un pagsusulat at the same time.. all you need to do is to manage your time. ) mamaya kc magquit qa nga sa work mu peu bka pagsisiham mu din sa bandang huli. i know u can do it. makakaya mun magwork en magsulat at the same time i believe na pag writer qa, khit anung gngwa mu o nasan qa man ind na mawawala un pggng isang writer sa katauhan mu.

I agree with hellionist. I came from the Corporate World as well. And I tell you, mahirap harapin hindi lang ang mga magulang o mga kasama sa bahay kundi pati sarili mo lalo na kapag and0n ka sa point na wala kang maisulat. Siyempre, pag walang maisulat, walang income. When I resigned from my job, I wasn't THAT prepared of the held back I got. So an advice from a fellow newbie, be prepared. Mentally, emotionally, and FINANCIALLY.

Hello!

Writing for a living requires hard work and commitment, too. I suggest you try writing on your free time and sending it to PHR first, so you'll know your strengths and weaknesses in writing for the genre. Doon mo masusukat ang sarili mo kung gaano ka ka-seryoso na gawing bread-and-butter ang romance writing.

DON"T RESIGN from your job, unless may iba kang source of income and unless you're emotionally ready (sa pagiging unemployed at sa sasabihin ng mga tao, especially your loved ones). Kung susuportahan ka naman ng parents mo o kung sino mang kasama mo sa bahay, then maybe you can discuss it with them. It's a way din to motivate yourself to achieve your deadline (halimbawa, 1 or two mannuscripts a month).

PLAN IT. Be sure may ipon ka, something that will support you for a couple of months if ever you resign. Baka naman puwede kang mag-vacation leave na lang sa work ng ilang months instead of resigning, just to test the waters. Or maybe you're confident na you can find another job, say, after half a year from resigning. Cover all angles especially if you don't know yet how productive you are in writing romance.

Ako, I resigned from my job just before I attended the PHR workshop last year. Pero may online writing job akong nahanap, so kahit paano I earn something. It took a year after that bago finally ma-approve ang ms ko.

ATTEND THE WORKSHOP. Trust the writers here. It helps.

Passion is not enough to become a good writer. You need to READ, STUDY, and IMPROVE your writing techniques. Kailangan mong bumalik sa basics ng writing. Ano ba ang mga magagandang plots? Paano i-build up ang mga characters? Ano ang target readers mo? These are essential if you want to make writing your living.

Kadalasan, kailangan mo ring baguhin ang lifestyle mo, cause let's admit it, you might not earn the same as before. Maraming madidisappoint at hindi maniniwala sa'yo. Galing ka sa professional world (tulad ko) kaya kahit paano may pride tayo. We'll be waging a war with our selves and facing a lot of insecurities. Darating ka sa puntong magsisisi ka. Makikita mo ang sarili mo na nakatulala sa kawalan o kaya'y pagulong-gulong sa kama dahil wala kang maisip na malupit na plot. Parang gusto mong pigain yung utak mo para lumabas yung mga ideas na akala mo dati sobrang dami na, pero kulang pala. Fantasy mo lang pala at hindi siya magiging readable kapag isinulat.

You have to challenge yourself to find out if you can be a romance writer. If you have the talent, good for you. Kaunting hardwork na lang. But if you don't, but you really want this, if you have answered the question "why do you write romance?", then be prepared to be serious in your craft. Nakakatuwang basahin ang romance, pero ang dugo't pawis sa likod noon ay hindi biro (at least, in my experience).

I hope this ranting helped. Hehe. Ano man ang desisyon mo, responsable ka dyan. So, good luck.

P.S.
Look at my motto, below.

pasingit.

trigger_elf, pwede ka po um-attend ng workshop kahit wala ka pang published book or kahit hindi ka pa nakakapagpasa ng manuscript sa PHR. Dadaan ka po sa screening and registration. Punta ka po sa NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENT. may info po doon sa mga interesado. aattend rin ako sa May. Wala pa akong published book pero nakapagpasa na ako dati sa kanila so qualified na ako sa workshop. Sana po nakatulong ako. See you there!

Haven't attended any, too. But I'm attending this May. I was invited because of my approved manuscript. I'm not sure if you could. Anyway, in case you can't, just go write that first manuscript. If you are unsure on the kind of plot that gets published, read PHR books. You'll get ideas. But don't copy. I'm sure you would want to be original anyway. Some similarities are fine but add your own unique twist. Experiment on the kind of romance you'll have - funny, dramatic, etc - and see where you are comfortable. If you need more help, just post here. People here are willing to throw support to each other.

trigger_elf wrote:

Hi thanks Alejandro and Lexi for your advice and kind words. Im planning to attend the work shop this coming May. I just wanna ask kung meron na sa inyong naka attend ng work shop? What are the things to expect and prepare?

If you want to attend the workshop... Nakapagsubmit ka na ba ng manuscript sa PHR? Isa kasi 'yan sa mga requirements nila para makasali ka. Hindi pa ako nakaattend ng kahit na anong workshop kasi malayo 'yung amin eh... Nasa Mindanao ako.

Hi thanks Alejandro and Lexi for your advice and kind words. Im planning to attend the work shop this coming May. I just wanna ask kung meron na sa inyong naka attend ng work shop? What are the things to expect and prepare?

I'm a newly approved writer and still without a pen name but I would like to give some sound advice (hopefully). Anyway, I'm also a 26-year-old lady and I kind of could relate to you. Working, supporting the family, helping my sibling (sister, in my case) raise her kids, etc.

Anyway, my take on your problem is...WRITE PASSIONATELY BUT DON'T QUIT YOUR JOB. Sounds difficult. Yeah, it is. Complexities in your job might hinder you from becoming creative and the plot running inside your head might distract you from being efficient at work. But once you get the hang of it, things will run pretty smoothly. Well, not always. Complications could still arise but you do sound like you're up for anything.

I also would like to agree with Yara King. It's going to be a matter of time management. Throw in some self-discipline, dedication, patience and respect for your writing and you'll be good to become a romance novelist.

And...yeah...I would like to add...be prepared to stand up for your passion. Some people might find writing romance novels corny and shallow and that could discourage you. Don't listen to them. Better yet, tell them to mind their own business!

@trigger_elf:

Grabe dumugo ang ilong ko sa'yo... Btw.. I'm YARA KING (iyon ang bigay na pen name ng PHR sa akin).... new writer here... baka next month release na rin ang dalawa kong PB with PHR... Ok... passion mo talaga ang pagsusulat... I'll tell you, nasasayangan talaga ako kung bibitawan mo work mo ngayon... Pwede mo naman silang pagsabayin.. Time management lang 'yan... You can find time naman if talagang gusto mo... Kagaya ko, nagtatrabaho ako sa umaga bilang Admin Officer ng Tourism Office, sa gabi naman nag-aaral ako sa 2nd course at nagsusulat ako after my class around 9pm to 12MN... You don't need to sacrifice your job now... all you need to do is to manage your time... Kahit ako hindi ko rin maisip na maging manunulat ako... 29 years old na ako hija... Kung ano man ang magiging desisyon mo... masaya ako para sa'yo... Naalala ko tuloy ang isa kong kaibigan sa'yo... Isa na rin siyang writer ngayon... Nurse siya in profession at talagang tumigil siya sa pagiging nurse niya dahil sa sinunod niya pangarap niya bilang manunulat na talagang tinutulan ng mga magulang niya noon... Pero ngayon bumalik na rin siya sa pagna-nurse at nagsusulat na lang siya paminsan-minsan....

Hi, Im a newbie here though I've been hearing about this forum for a long time now. I've been reading PHR since I was 10-11 (yeah my parents are kinda cool allowing me to read adult's lit ;P) and it's the only local brand of pocketbook that I read. Needless to say my passion in writing was awaken at an early age (kahon kahon po kasing pocketbooks ang pinapadala ng Tita ko saken at 10 books a day ang binabasa ko kaya po umikot na lang ang mundo ko sa pagbabasa LOL) I never had any formal training in writing although at the age of 10, I used to have my own "publishing company" and I wrote and drew things for my own "comics". In high school, I wrote several piece for my creative writing classes. And when I was in college, I had my first "book" as part of my project in my Filipino creative class. That is the project that helped me passed my Filipino class and my terror prof reckoned she cried for hours with the book. I am not sure if that is enough encouragement for me to pursue what I really want. I have a friend in PHR and she encouraged me to pursue my dream. But really I just don't know how to start. I am a 26-year old lady and I work in a rather stressful environment. To give you a clue of what I am doing, I work as an operation manager in a call center. I am the youngest, the only female and the only Filipino in the management pool. I work my a** out every time to prove myself to my Americans and Europeans colleagues. I usually work 12-16 hours a day just to cope with the demand of my hectic job. It is simply a world where "dreams" do not exist. And I simply need to conform myself with these realistic means of living. My mind was kinda set from the last four years to forget my passion for writing - but last January when I was in Bohol, taking a break from my work, I suddenly felt this yearning to write again while reading the books that I bought in Cebu. Now, every time I go out of town, somewhere I can rest and think, the passion becomes much stronger. And now here are my problems: a. Is writing worth the sacrifice to give up my job at the moment? Not everyone has been given the same opportunity that was given to me with having a nice job. You see my parents are not rich. I was raised in a simple way and my job at the moment helped me to achieve things that I did not even dream of. My job pays my bills, I solely support my parents and help my older brother in raising his kids and it does help me to go to places here and abroad. Don't get me wrong. I love my job, but I am starting to feel that there's something lacking in me. And b. Is my passion enough to become a good writer? I am a go-getter but if there's something I'm insecure about, that is my ability to convey a message to people through my writings. What if I'm the only who believes that I can do this?

Now, I'm really confused. Should I just forget this passion and move on with my life or take a risk?