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
