On Outlining A Novel

Tingin ko nagsimula akong mag-outline noong fourth published book ko na. At hindi pa pormal. Parang notes lang sa ilang piraso ng papel. 

Madalas ginagamit ko yun kapag mag-e-edit na. Para mai-set yung flow ng story at makita ang loopholes (pero kulang pa rin kaya sa kasalukuyan ay ipinapabasa ko ang ms ko sa isang subok ko na ang pagiging kritiko pagdating sa PHR novels). 

Lagi ding sa kalagitnaan ng kuwento ko ginagawa ang outline kuno na ito. Pero ngayon, naglaan na ako ng isang notebook para sa outline ng manuscript na tinatrabaho ko. It can be a summary of a scene, or detailed dialogues itself. From beginning to end. And it can always change for what I think is better. 

Sa gitna ng notebook ko ito isinusulat (feel ko lang), tapos may arrow pababa indicating lang na next thought or scene na. It's really helpful.

Akala ko dati ay mai-spoiler ako kapag nag-outline at tatamaring magsulat pero hindi naman. You actually gain more control of the story that way. You have the power to choose or delete scenes.

Sa outlining, mas madali ring sundan ang kuwento sakaling naiwan mo nang matagal dahil may guide ka pa rin. Outlining saves you the time spent staring into space, thinking about what happens next.

There are different ways to outline. You can even invent yours. Try whatever works. Be open to whatever can make your writing better, or more tolerable, or what can make you keep writing. 

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Ang pagkakaiba lang ng isang writer na sa isang nangangarap na maging writer ay isang FINISHED STORY. Finishing a working draft is half the battle. I consider writing as a battle. May times na ayaw mo na, may times na gusto mo ng blood and gore. Pero isa lang ang goal mo: TAPUSIN ANG KUWENTO. Then you can edit and find your publisher.

If what we took with us when we started to write didn't work, it's time to find other strategies. We entered writing with certain egos, comfort zones, or expectations. We'll lose some, keep some, or learn some. Find what works for you. ;)

Btw, I'm the type who gets bored with one single habit or quirk so I shift gears from time to time, find another blackmail or threat that works to keep the word production on quota and to wrap up a manuscript. More than talent, writing is the effort to keep doing it because you just can't not do it. `Wag kang masyadong mag-isip kung destined ka bang maging writer o hindi. Kung may talent ka ba o wala. Bawat isa ay may unique na imahinasyon. Ilabas mo lang. Enjoy mo lang. 

What's Up with O?

I have 4 novels this year:

1) an approved one, not sure when it's going to be published

2) a manuscript for revision, to be overhauled this week

3) a finished manuscript for editing

4) a new manuscript currently on chapter two


Kung tutuusin, malayo na ito sa word production ko from past years. Heck, I just surpassed my record of finishing 1 novel a year! That's something to be grateful for, right?

Also, I learned to move on fast from revisions. Like 10 minutes fast. How?

Business as usual. Nothing personal.

I'm beginning to see writing as work. Before, that's a scary thing. Kapag kasi naging trabaho na sa `yo ang bagay na nae-enjoy mo, may posibilidad na mawala na ang mahika n'on sa `yo. But that's not true. It's just about avoiding BURN OUT.

True, na may mga tunay na ermitanyo at ermitanya na walang ginawa kung` di magsulat araw-araw, gabi-gabi. Saludo ako sa kanila. Pero nakita ko sa sarili ko na hindi uubra sa `kin `yon. And I think I'm a multipotentialite anyway. Baka kaya kahit anong pilit kong pumili lang ng isang trabaho at manatili roon hanggang mag-retire ay hindi ko magawa. So I'm trying to sort out my abilities and my passion to see if I can use them to be my bread and butter and pasta and cheesecake and iced coffee.

Financially speaking, I accepted the fact that writing won't be able to provide a stable income for me. I still want to do it, regardless, because I like it. It's also less stressful for my body. But I learned to take sidelines, drafting jobs and even doing errands for other people. So far, I'm surviving and acceptance that any kind of job that is honorable is worth doing lessens the stress I subject myself to. It's like I stepped outside the narrow, comfy, society-labeled box.

But the highlight still is my word production. I can say that I'm getting the hang of writing as fast as I can. Mabilisan, dahil iyon ang paraan para maka-survive sa PHR. Mas marami kang librong mailabas, mas makakayanan mong buhayin ang sarili sa pagsusulat. Iyon din ang advantage at security ng sistema nila versus the usual royalty system. 

And I'm starting to have goals again. Writing them up, using them to motivate me.

But actually, someONE else motivates me right now.

I know, I know. Sanay na akong nguyain ang mga dati kong salita. I said before that I won't be bothered with a love life unless I attain success and stability. Pero kapag nakakilala ka pala ng taong naiintindihan ang individuality mo, ang need mong makagawa ng bagay para sa sarili mo at maging successful, mas may purpose pala talaga ang bawat gawin mo, bawat pangrap mo sa buhay. Hihi. Puwera usog.

So, iyon lang muna ang update sa buhay ni Olivette. 

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata...

Love Ba `To?

Naalala ko ang komento ko dati tungkol sa pagsasabi ng 'AlDub you' ‘I love you’. 

Sa totoong buhay, marami pang kailangang patunayan ang sino mang magbibitiw ng mga salitang ito. 

Paulit-ulit, sa bawat pagkakataon, at madalas ay hanggang kamatayan. 

Walang silbi ang mga ito kung walang kalakip na gawa, kung hindi mo ramdam.

Parehas din sa nobelang romance.

Kailangang maipakita kung paano naganap ang pagmamahalan, kailangang madama ng mambabasa.

Dahil kung hindi, ang salitang 'AlDub you' 'I love you' at ang iba pang anyo nito, ay walang silbi. 

Mababaon lang.

Malilimutan.

#Olivetteinthenow

So sorry for the late replies.

Been busy being a writer again.

I'm trying to produce a manuscript within a month and I'm kinda getting the hang of it. Kailangan lang mag-ipon ng kilig.

I currently have a manuscript for evaluation at PHR. I don't like the waiting game, but it can't be helped. Sulat na lang ng susunod na manuscript.

Frankly, I have nowhere to go now. My previous dream of becoming-an-architect-and-then teaching-at-a-university-so-I'd-have-some-time-to-write FAILED BIG TIME. Humahadlang ang katawang-lupa ko. And it was a pathetic plan from the start. 

If I want to be a writer, why not be a writer today rather than five years from now?

So here I am, taking this as seriously as I can. But realistically, I could probably finish only one more manuscript before the year ends. I'm putting my hopes for next year again.

Sigh.

You see why I can't be bothered with a love life? No? Oh, well. I want to have a source of income before I even think about hooking up with someone. To be financially okay. Independent girl problems, yeah.

So to my readers, please bear with me.

To the people who love me, thank you.

Babangon ako nang paulit-ulit at magsusulat. Itaga n'yo sa something. Haha.

Birthday Post: Twenty Eight Things I learned In Life

1. Not all medical operations use anesthetic. Don't depend on it.
2. Coffee is best black. Hot or cold.
3. You can’t live your life alone, even when you live alone. People should be involved with people.
4. Enough sleep, at the right time, prevents future illnesses. It's the body's healing time. Make time for it.
5. You can be productive the whole day, but still have doubts the same night. #writinglife
6. Acceptance makes life easier. Some fights are not worth the time and effort.
7. What true love is:

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music…
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

—Kahlil Gibran

8. Be happy without a lover and you’ll be even happier when you find one. 
9. Family is forever. Blood-related or not.
10. Change is inevitable. Take advantage of it. Use it to be better.
11. Have a facial regimen even if you suck at routines. Take care of your skin not for vanity but for health.
12. Love doesn’t give a shit who you love. Repeat.
13. The world becomes a little better with a 'thank you'. 'Sorry' works, too, if said ASAP.
14. Delicious food is delicious even when cold. Yes, you're desperately lazy.
15. Grades are not everything, but they are something. For job hunting, mostly.
16. List things. Just so you can reduce mind stress.
17. Everything starts with imitation. While you slowly find your own.
18. Have at least one person you can count on. Take care of that person.
19. Life is a gamble.
    
20. Don't sell yourself cheap. Value your hard-earned skills.
    
21. Ask for help. Just don't abuse it.
22. Not all praises are sincere. Not all criticisms are hate.
23. Water is life. Have more of it.
24. Experience is the best teacher. Try everything at least once.
25. Sometimes, peace of mind is better than justice. Life is precious. Live it to the fullest.
26. Do not trust easily. Even yourself.
27. Things happen for a reason and there’s always something in it to be grateful for.
28. Focus is better than multi-tasking.

TO PRO OR NOT TO PRO?

Before anything else, let's define these terms:

amateur
: a person who does something (such as a sport or hobby) for pleasure and not as a job

professional
: paid to participate in a sport or activity

(source: merriam-webster.com)

I'll use these definitions since they're more appropriate for this post. Sa madaling salita, kung binabayaran ka sa isang propesyon, PROFESSIONAL ka. Kung hindi naman at hobby mo lang, AMATEUR ka.

So if you're a writer, you can either be an AMATEUR WRITER or a PROFESSIONAL WRITER.

That's right. But don't be mistaken. These terms don't define if you're GOOD OR NOT, BUT it will give you an idea on how far you'll go as a writer. And we all want to go at it until our last breath, yes?

So... this is for the AMATEUR writers who deep inside wanted so bad to get published.

Yes. I know you want it. And there's nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

I heard you say you don't want money so you're fine not being published. Okay. For now, maybe. But is money the only reason?

Can't it be EXPERIENCE?  

Iba yung pressure kapag magsusulat ka na may layuning mailathala ang iyong akda. Nagkukumahog ka, pinipiga ang iyong isip.

Kapag lagi mo `yong ginagawa, nahahasa ang imahinasyon mo. Sinasanay na makapag-isip ng mas masustansiyang kuwento.

When you face greater expectations, it will push you to strive to reach your potential. To surpass it even.

When you're good, people will urge you to go pro. Or you will feel that urge yourself.

But since writers are walking lumps of insecurities and uncertainties, you might not do it. 

Scary nga naman. You'll just write what you want and when readers don't like it you'll conveniently shout 'mind your own business' or 'then die so you can't read anymore'.

Malakas maka-bitter. Sayang ang buhay kung gugugulin sa ganong damdamin.

So my advice to amateur writers who think they're good enough to be published but are too afraid to try:


GET YOURSELVES PUBLISHED NOW!  
 

Cause if not now, WHEN?


I dare you to step out of your comfortable throne and try the next level. If you're good enough, BE EVEN BETTER. Take the plunge!

But wait, why am I saying this? I must be stupid for recruiting 'competition'.

But writing has never been a competition for me. It shouldn't be for all of us. Unless talagang writing competition siya at may premyo.

So why?

Simple:



BECAUSE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TAGALOG ROMANCE TO READ!!!



+1,000 LOLs
Seriously. I've been plagued by this desperation for a while now.

Cause I'm a reader first. Reading is one of the things that fuels my soul.

And the tank barely fills halfway these days. 

But I'm always hopeful. May mga Tagalog romance writers akong sinusubaybayan sa ngayon. I just want more. (demanding much)

:)

Does that sound arrogant to you? Unbelievable? Well, I don't know if that's egoistic. All I know is that I want to read. 

To be swept away. 

To feel excitement. 

Nagkaton lang na writer din ako. 

And don't bother telling me to write the novel I want to read, ha. I CAN'T READ my own work. It's just impossible not to be biased. I can't read just to flatter my ego anyway.

When I read, I want to completely immerse myself in the stories. I can't do that with my own books.

Reading books written by others is still a different high.

So... why not read online works, you might ask.

Well... I just feel it's UNFAIR for the writers. 

I mean, why write for free?

IF YOU'RE GOOD AT IT, I WANT YOU TO GET PAID FOR IT.

You deserve that. 

Even artists need patrons to take care of their survival needs. So they can focus on their art. 

You deserve to be paid for your works.

When a writer gets published, I always know that THERE'S SOMETHING IN IT. Cause I trust the editors' and publishers' judgements (especially PHR's). Anyway, you can always get better. You can even self-publish. Though iba pa rin ang makuha ng isang publisher.

So go on, AMATEURS. (masakit ba sa pandinig? see the definition again)

Take what's for you. Write to be published. Explore deep waters. Who knows what you'll find in there.


Challenge yourself.

We're waiting. :D

The Olivette Affair

I can't believe rainy days have the power to ignite my deeper emotions. To think I'm not comfortable with rain... But I guess, that's the reason why. Rain makes me pour words out, too. 

(warning: unedited: watch out for grammar bumps)

On Writing the Hero's First Appearance

When you ask writers for writing advice, most of them will tell you to "read a lot". Back then, I thought it's only for research or wisdom, or for inspiration. But lately, I realized that reading is one of the best ways for you to gain insight into your own writing.

So after closing another romance book, I thought about this topic: the romantic hero. When do I insert him? How do I usually make him meet the heroine for the first time?

"Happy Ending"

No matter how lively the scenes are or how breathtaking the climax feels, for me, a novel's worth is ultimately decided by its ENDING. 

Novel 4

Miss You In A Heartbeat
By Olivette

“Abot-kamay na kita. And I couldn’t stop myself from planning and plotting about how to keep you beside me. Because the moment I touched you, the moment I felt how real you are… I decided that I want to keep you next to me. Always.”

Kung si Simone ang tatanungin, wala nang masarap na karanasan na hihigit pa kaysa pag-ibig. Kaya naman ang una niyang ginawa nang mahinto sa pagtugtog ang kanyang banda ay ang makipag-date. Pero sa halip na makaramdam ng excitement, lalo siyang nabagot.
Hanggang sa muling magtagpo ang mga landas nila ni Jethro Castillo, ang tanging lalaking nagbigay ng hustisya sa kahulugan ng “love at first sight” sa diksiyonaryo ng dalaga. She fell for him faster than she could blink. Iyon nga lang, hindi rin nagtagal dahil napagtanto ni Simone na kasinlawak ng Pacific Ocean ang mga pagkakaiba nila. Mas incompatible pa yata sa gatas at isang lactose-intolerant.
Pero nang humingi si Jethro ng tulong ay pinagbigyan ni Simone. After all, his family helped her family some years ago. Subalit hindi niya inaasahan ang epekto ng binata sa kanya. Dahil habang tumatagal na magkasama nilang hinaharap ang bawat hamon sa kanila, napapagtanto niya na may mga ipinagkakapareho at pinagkakasunduan pala sila. And if opposite poles get attracted to each other, so were they…