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. 

-----

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.

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. 

Update Privacy Settings?

You'll never realize the true importance of something until it's gone. No, I'm not referring to a loved one or tissue paper. 

I'm talking about privacy.

10 Writing Tips for the Modern Writer

If you're a writer with an innate talent for procrastination (like me), you probably realized that you need to exert MORE EFFORT to attain a certain state of focus in writing. Okay, so you push yourself harder, nag yourself more, like how any other writers do, but do you know what the difference is between us (the procrastinators) and the professional prolific writers?

DISCIPLINE.

And PROFESSIONALISM.
 

PROFESSIONAL
: engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
: having or showing the skill appropriate to a professional person; competent or skillful. 

Here's my deal: I don't write just because I love it, nor do I write just to earn money. I write for both, because I want to live by doing what I love. 

Do you?

If writing's what you love and you want to live (translation: feed yourself, get you a roof above your head, have a garden where you can plant and harvest your own tomatoes) by doing it, you've got to be serious about it.

And I mean DEAD SERIOUS.

How?

DISCIPLINE.

Big word. But since most of us are finding it hard to live up to it, with all the tempting stuff to do in this modern life, here are a few tips to burst your lazy bubble and get your hands and mind moving:

My Writing Guide for PHR Part 4: CONFLICT

Dahil medyo naging abala ako sa mga CONFLICTS ng buhay ko, ngayon ko lang maa-update ang Part 4 ng My Writing Guide for PHR series (may ganon talaga?). 

Yes. 

CONFLICT.

Maikli lang `to. Read on...

My Writing Guide for PHR Part 3: PLOT

PLOT.

We often hear this in fiction writing or movies, but newbie writers sometimes have a vague idea of what it means. 

Not anymore. 

Now you'll UNDERSTAND what plot is. (Or bite me)

Ready?

My Writing Guide for PHR Part 2: ANTAGONISTS

Maybe I should have discussed this together with CHARACTERS, but antagonists aren't always "people". Not always the evil one that exists only to mess up the protagonist's life. 

Ang kontrabida ay hindi laging isang karakter (isang goon na may hawak laging baril o isang socialite na makapal ang make-up at abot sa anit ang taas ng kilay). 

Also, as far as I know, they're not always as highlighted in romance novels as in other fictional genre so I'm not sure if I should talk about them. But in my opinion, antagonists add spice and tension to the romantic story, especially in the kind of romance I dig nowadays. They make great page-turners, more so when these villains remain mysterious from the beginning, revealing themselves only in the end.

You just gotta love 'em.

So why not try adding some to your story?

My Writing Guide for PHR Part 1: CHARACTERS

Ang post na ito ay para sa mga nakapagpasa na ng manuscript (MS) sa PHR na ibinalik "For Revision" o kaya'y "Returned" (rejected). Naranasan ko rin ang makita ang mga katagang `yan sa e-mail ko kaya alam ko rin ang panghihinang dulot nito. 

Para bang nakipaghalikan ka ng five seconds sa isang Dementor—sinipsip ng walang pakundangan ang iyong kaligayahan, pag-asa, at tiwala sa sarili. Parang ayaw mo nang humarap sa Microsoft Word ulit.

Pero kung nais mo talagang maging writer ng PHR, kung gusto mong mai-published ang kuwento mo at makita ang "pen name" mo sa pabalat ng libro, haharapin mo ng buong tapang ang karimarimarim na pakiramdam na `yon.

Alam mo ba ang kasabihang "`pag gusto may paraan, `pag ayaw maraming dahilan"? Isa `yon sa mga motto ko. It's either you want something or you don't. But never think or say that YOU CAN'T.

At least, until you tried your very, very best.

Kaya kahit kapos ang aking kaalaman, susubukan kong magbigay ng writing tips—the ones I follow. Baka sakaling makatulong sa mga nahihirapan sa mga manuscript na isinusulat nila o para magka-ideya sa kung ano ba ang hinahanap ng PHR sa isang nobela. I think.

Again, the tips here are only based on my personal experience. Hindi assurance na makakapasa sa standard ng PHR kapag ginawa ninyo. But you'll have a fighting chance and you can create and improve your own "standards" for your manuscripts. 

Just take in what you think works for you. I'll start with characters first. Sa ibang blog post na siguro ang plots, conflict, etc., so if may question kayo or gustong malaman, comment lang kayo dito or sa FB page ni Olivette PHR. :)

Novel 3

Olivette's 3rd published novel. ☺

How Deep Is Your Love
By Olivette

“Even if you can’t be with the person you love, who can stop you from loving him?”

Dahil sa pagkamatay ng mga umampon kay Georgiana at para makapagsimula muli mula sa dating masalimuot niyang mundo ay naisip niya na bumalik sa Pilipinas sa piling ng lola niya. Doon ay nakilala niya si Torque, na puno ng pagkasuklam at ang tanging lalaking hindi naaapektuhan ng kanyang manipulasyon. Iniisip kasi nito na may motibo siya sa paglapit niya rito. Para makaganti, sa halip na layuan si Torque ay lalo niyang inilalapit ang sarili rito para inisin ito. Hanggang sa magbago ang pakikitungo sa kanya ni Torque mula nang mabaril siya dahil sa isang mistaken identity. Hindi man nito sabihin ay nararamdaman niya ang pag-aalala nito. Hanggang sa unti-unti ay nahulog na rin ang loob niya rito.
Maayos na sana ang buhay niya kung hindi lang bumalik ang nakaraang pilit niyang kinakalimutan. At kasabay niyon ay natuklasan niya kung sino ang kanyang tunay na ama. Handa na sana si Georgiana na sabihin kay Torque ang kanyang nakaraan pero huli na ang lahat, alam na nito ang lihim niya at kinamumuhian na siya nito…

*** 

May punto sa buhay ko na kinamuhian ko ang pocketbooks. Nabanggit ko na yata `to somewhere, pero hindi iyon ang gusto kong talakayin dito. It's about what made me embrace pocketbooks again. 

Dalawang authors lang ang binabasa ko noong nagbalik-loob ako sa "popular Tagalog romance"—Heart Yngrid and Arielle. Si Ms. Heart kasi magaan sa dibdib ang mga nobela niya. Nakakakilig at lahat yata puwedeng maka-relate. Kung may tinatawag na "comfort book", para sa akin iyon ang mga nobela ni Heart Yngrid. They always leave a warm feeling inside me. I know I can always count on her books to ease my stress. At ngayong isa na akong manunulat, ang mga libro niya ang madalas kong hinihimay at pinag-aaralan.

Si Ms. Arielle naman ang paborito kong author pagdating sa mga nobelang may "action". Iyong palaging exciting ang mga pangyayari at hindi pangkaraniwan ang mga karakter. Iyong tipong nanginginig-nginig pa ako kapag bumibili ng libro niya kasi alam kong maganda `yong laman. Para akong nagbabasa ng Filipino counterpart ng mga tinatangkilik kong foreign romance authors. Hindi kasi ako masyadong mahilig sa ma-drama na mga nobela. Gusto ko iyong mga kakaibang conflict na maglalayo sa `kin sa realidad. At siguro kaya rin ako sumubok magsulat ng medyo—medyo pa lang naman, subok pa lang—ma-aksiyong nobela ay dahil napagtanto kong iyon ang gustong-gusto kong basahin. 

And so, this novel was born.

Medyo given na ang character ni Torque Aragon dahil buo na ang background ng pamilya niya because of his brothers' stories. I thought of giving him some deep dark secret that will lead to some action-packed stunts and love scenes, but it just wouldn't work. Kaya nag-switch na lang ako sa heroine. 

Kay Georgiana naman, inspired ang character niya kay Samantha Jellicoe, ang heroine ni Suzanne Enoch sa kanyang contemporary romance series. Medyo iba nga lang ang propesyon dito ni G, though may similarities. And G longs to touch her roots, unlike Sam who didn't really want to dwell on her past. Pero may pipigil dapat kay Georgiana para ma-achieve ang kapayapaan at ang ideal normal life niya. At matapos ang ilang buwang pagdurugo at pangangarap sa iba't ibang locations sa loob at labas ng bahay, nabuo na nga ang mga problema niya.

As usual, sumingit na naman ang Leighman International Hotel at si Mr. Perry de Vera. May mga nagtatanong kung may kuwento daw ba siya. May mga uma-angkin na rin. Bahala na kayong paghati-hatian. Pero ang sagot: Meron. Pero hindi pa ako sapat para paligayahin siya—este, para isulat siya. Higit sa lahat, takot akong ma-disappoint ang sarili ko kaya mangangalap pa ako ng experience at skills. Kaya maghintay ang kering maghintay. XD

All in all, I enjoyed *coughs* writing this story. And I think I'll do this from time to time. After all, brutal talaga akong tao. I was a fan of CSI and Criminal Minds back when I still have a TV to myself and I also love the gruesome scenes in Supernatural, so I might get their energy and transfer it to my works. 

Well, that's it. Hope you grab your copy. And for those who grabbed theirs, thank you. My undying gratitude goes to all of you. And feel free to comment anything that's bugging your mind about my novels, dito man o sa FB page ni Olivette, as posts or kahit sa PM. (Pasimple lang na hirit `yan, pero ang totoo nae-excite po kaming mga writers kapag nakakatanggap ng feedback tungkol sa mga libro namin. Maganda man o hindi. In time, may mapaggagamitan lahat nang `yan.) As for the next book... Balak kong tapusin ang kuwento ng mga napariwara—este, nag-hiatus na members ng Death Hellions. Then, dahil libre namang mag-ambisyon, isang trilogy sana. Nilagay ko na talaga rito para umusad na ako. Minsan kailangan lang talaga nababasa mo ang goals mo. Pressure, kumbaga. So far, effective naman. :D

See you sa the next blog post! ☺

Yours,

Olivette

Non-Coffee Break

Reverted to manual writing these past few weeks. Ang problema lang ay kapag encoding na, hindi ko na mabasa ang sinulat ko. :'( And as usual, binabaha na naman ako ng insecurities and frustrations. 

I'm mostly half-depressed, half-insane when I'm writing. Myself is always not cooperating. The people around me don't care what I'm doing. They don't take me seriously and they constantly encourage me to stop writing. But that's all my fault. Who'd want a bum in their house, anyway? I have to admit that sitting somewhere and scratching on paper or staring in space may seem to some as doing nothing. It makes one think of what things they could make you do just so you won't look like you're having a good time just sitting there.

Only I'm not "having a good time" just sitting there.

Well, I do enjoy thinking out what happens next to my stories. I try my best to concentrate, to capture the best scenes and dialogues for that story. And in the middle of all that noise and distraction, I'd be lucky if I can finish a scene in my mind. And then I would have to recapture those ideas on paper, which requires some more desperate scratching and intense concentration while simultaneously uttering a prayer that everyone just leave me alone when I'm not starting a conversation with them.

I'm months past the deadline I set myself. Thank goodness that at least the publisher was lenient on us and understood our circumstances. Still, I want to write faster and better. And yeah, I know blogging won't add up words on my manuscripts. I just gave myself a little break, that's all. Too bad I can't drink coffee. Mixed with stress, it'll just give me heartburn. 

Well, off to writing again. Even while wrestling tons of doubts and fears, I still go forward. It's all I can do.

Good morning. :)

Novel 2

Second novel released. ☺

A Love That Will Last
By Olivette

“I will take you as you are, Sin, fears and all.”

Ilang taon ang lumipas nang muling dumating sa buhay ni Sindy si Tanner. He was the man who saved her and gave her strength to fight her most formidable fears. Binigyan din siya nito ng lakas para hindi siya bumitiw sa larangang kinabibilangan at minahal niya—ang musika.
Ngayong kasama uli niya ito, aminado siyang nahuhulog na ang loob niya rito. Ganoon na lang ang kasiyahan niya nang sabihin nitong matagal na siyang minamahal nito.
Ngunit kailangan niyang umalis upang harapin ang nakaraang pilit niyang tinatakasan…

 ***

Hindi ko na gustong alalahanin kung paano ko naipanganak ang mga nobela ko. Basta lumabas na sila, masaya na ako.Bahala na ang mga mambabasa kung ano ang gagawin nila sa mga kuwentong nilikha ko. I'm not even getting depressed over people who didn't like what I've written. I could still write a thousand (weh?) books and one of them would definitely turn that hater into a fan (if my books hadn't grown on them already). Sabi nga sa favorite convo ko:

UKE: I'm not a homo.

SEME: Not for long.

Sh*t. Kinilig na naman ako. LOL. Same analogy for initial haters, I think. 

Anyway, nakaka-uta rin minsan na puro papuri ang maririnig tungkol sa libro mo. Hindi yata healthy `yon. Kaya sana dumami pa ang mga reviewers/critics na may blogs focusing on Tagalog romance novels. I'll also take this opportunity to thank those who reviewed my books. Hindi pa lang ako nakakakita ng review ng first book ko (nagpaparinig?).

This second book was probably the highest hurdle of my writing career (naks). Naka-tsamba lang ba ako sa una o talagang may kakayahan akong magsulat ng nobela? Ang libro na ito ang patunay ng kung ano man ang gusto kong patunayan sa sarili ko. Basta. I've left most of my fears behind because of this book. 

Na-mention ko nang ang inspirasyon sa Death Hellions ay ang banda ni Sawako-sensei sa K-ON!, ang Death Devil. Pili lang din ang metal songs na pinapakinggan ko, ang mga legend tulad ng The Trooper ng Iron Maiden ay nito ko lang napakinggan at na-appreciate. Hindi din naman ako nag-i-stick sa isang genre lang ng music. Though ang genre yata ni Justin Bieber ay hindi ko masyadong nagagawian (no worries, I've made my peace with him).

Hmm... What else can I say about this book? I really like the cover and the color and the caption—all thanks to the PHR staff. Madami akong sablay, pero helpful sila at accommodating palagi. Sana lang ang mga nagsa-submit ng manuscripts ay mag-extend ng parehong courtesy sa kanila. They are working hard (maybe harder) just like us.

Regarding the stories of the other Death Hellions members, as long as the Universe is good to me, I'll write them. I am writing them, actually. They're in bits and pieces. Kung puwede lang buksan ang bungo ko at itaktak lahat ng ideas, tapos magiging written words na agad ang katas ng utak ko sa papel, ginawa ko na. Kahit pa sabi ng PE instructor ko noong college na pang-baseball daw ang braso ko, parang bibigay na ang balikat ko sa pagsusulat pa lang. Pero wala, eh. Parang pinagsamang droga at pag-ibig ang high ng writing.

May mga pumuna sa mga kids sa mga nobela ko. Para daw silang si Ryzza Mae Dizon. Hahaha. Eh, ganoon na yata talaga kabibo ang mga bata ngayon. Mga pamangkin ko ang basehan sa mga batang characters at sa totoo lang ay ganoon talaga sila. Lalo na kapag pinag-aral mo sa private school, ay nako. Magkaka-hemorrhage ka palagi kapag may convo kayo.

So, what's next? Torque's story. Medyo ambisyosang attempt ito na paghaluin ang romance at action. Iyon talaga ang genre na target ko noon pa man. Kapag nagbabasa kasi ako, gusto ko `yong mga kontrabidang gahibla na lang ay mapapatay na ang bida. Intense, `di ba? Ironically, hindi ganoon ang first two books ko. But I'm open to all kinds of sub-genres in romance. As long as it's challenging (no, don't challenge me). 

Thank you, as always, sa mga sumusuporta sa akin. Hindi lang ako masyadong ma-chika tungkol sa mga libro ko o sa mga characters, but knowing you've read them (especially, bought them) warms my heart and keeps me going.

See you in the next book... Simone's story, perhaps? What does a lead guitarist do with her life when she isn't rocking the stage with her leads?Hmm...


Yours Truly,
Olivette

Storyteller's Box: The Evils of Storytelling Unleashed

Wherever this... this thing——writing, storytelling, or contemplating——that I do come from, from talent or plain stubbornness, it's definitely taking more from me than what I bargained for. Not that I don't have any idea of what I'm really getting into in the first place, but the longer I write, the more this job turns... insane. 

Am I really a writer? Would I still be sitting in this wooden chair if I have enough money to live everyday in comfort? (Will Internet access become free of charge and eating sweets free of guilt?)

I dread to think of how many more times I would ask myself "Am I really a writer?". How far can I go? Will my books turn into hit movies someday?

"If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death."

-Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles 

Yes, okay, I hear you, man. And thanks to this book, I've been sitting in front of the computer, every single agitation-and-depression-filled-day, writing or not (except when thunder and lightning are all over the place).

But I find myself writing more nowadays, so I guess I should stop complaining and get back to my manuscript... But, hell, NO.

Not until I rant about what writing has done to ME.

Novel 1

First novel released. ☺

Ready To Love Again

By: Olivette

“Love is when you are extremely aware of that person’s presence. You see the world through his eyes. You long to have a connection with him. You want to know almost everything about him.”

In love si Celine sa kababata niyang si Thunder pero ang lalaki ay in love naman kay Maureen na girlfriend ng kapatid nito. Nang malaman niya iyon ay nakaramdam siya ng awa rito. Pero dahil engaged na si Maureen sa kuya ni Thunder, naisip niyang tulungan na lang si Thunder na makalimutan ang nararamdaman nito sa babae. Mukha namang nagtatagumpay siya. Kaya nang isang gabing sabihin nito na mahal siya nito, hindi siya nagduda. After all, ikakasal na si Maureen sa kapatid nito.
Ngunit isang trahedya ang naganap. Naaksidente ang kapatid ni Thunder sa araw ng kasal nito at ni Maureen. Labis na nagdalamhati si Maureen at si Thunder ang dumamay rito. Hanggang namalayan niyang unti-unting nawawala si Thunder sa kanya.
Sa nakikita niya, mukhang may pag-asa na si Thunder kay Maureen. Pero paano siya at ang puso niya na nagsimula nang umasa?

***

Hindi talaga ito ang first book na pinapangarap kong ma-published ng PHR. Ito `yong sequel, eh. Kaso na-reject iyong isa dahil bordering on homosexuality `yong hero. LOL. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa nababalikan. That was supposed to be Toulouse's story, ang friend ni Thunder. Pero ginagawa ko pa lang ang nobela na `yon ay tumatak na sa isip ko ang conflict ng story ni Thunder. Isa ito sa mga stories na masasabi kong galing talaga sa isang kidlat ng inspirasyon.

Palaging may issues ang readers sa mga kakaibang pangalan ng hero o heroine. Bakit Thunder? Who the heck would name their kid that without inspiring a rally from their relatives or friends? But others did worse, so... *shrugs*

"Thunder" kasi, iyong song ni Faith Hill na Piece of My Heart (originally by Janis Joplin), noong pinakinggan ko iyong medyo slow at diva version niya, ang pagkakarinig ko sa first word ay 'thunder'. But it's actually "Didn't I...". Amazing ears, right? Hahaha. Pero pakinggan n'yo `yong version na `yon ni Faith Hill (not the one similar to Janis' version). Thunder talaga, eh. So, `yon ang kasaysayan ng pangalan ni Thunder.

Ang mga writers mahilig maglagay ng mga favorite things, people, and places sa libro nila. Ang sa akin ay ang Leighman International Hotel at ang may-ari n'on—si Perry de Vera. May kuwento na actually sa akin si Perry, pero hilaw pa. Bakit ko siya paborito? `Cause he's my oldest hero. Hahaha. There's something about older men. As they say, they're like fine wine.

This book was returned once dahil masyadong bata iyong mga bida. Nang ma-approved siya ay ito na ang basehan ko sa kung ano ba ang standards ng PHR sa pagsuri ng nobela. Parang na-enlighten ako sa kung ano mang hinahanap nila sa isang libro. Mas naging pressured tuloy dahil baka ito na ang first and last novel ko.

Tulad nang usapan namin sa FB ng isang co-writer ko, paulit-ulit ko itong binasa noong nakakuha na ako ng copy. Gusto ko kasing maramdaman iyong nararamdaman ng isang reader sa pagbasa ng isang libro. I pretended not to know what the story was about, but I was still biased until the end. That made me sad. Not being able to read your own novel the way a first time reader would, I felt off-balanced for a while. May nakuha nga ako sa pagka-published ng libro ko, pero pakiramdam ko ay may nawala rin sa akin. :(

Tungkol sa dramatic part, may mga readers daw na naiyak. Mabuti naman dahil iniyakan ko rin ang ilang bahagi nito. Hahaha. Hindi ko akalaing kailangang mag-internalize. Akala ko mga artista lang ang gumagawa n'on. Writer din pala. At proud ako na maayos ang kinalabasan ng librong ito.

Sa mga tumangkilik sa first book ko, especially to a friend who purchased 50 copies to give away to her staff, I can't thank you guys enough. If this book had brought something significant to your lives, even for just a moment, consider that as another form of my gratitude. 

I hope I get back to Toulouse someday. Kyle, Celine's brother, has a story waiting, too. ;)

Yours Truly,

Olivette

Realizations of a Soon-to-Be-Published Romance Author

Romance is a lie.

An illusion that keeps the senses alive. 

The fools of this planet equate it with real love. I am a fool who refuses to be a fool. And so I struggle to promote real love, but even I got bored and confused. Curse of my humanity. I love and hate it at the same time.

I refuse to write a lie.

But this whole life is a lie; a place where you can find truth, but couldn't experience it fully. 

Truth is death.

And the hedonistic/sadistic human nature refuses it. It wants pain, just so it can revel in the pleasure. It wants to live. It thirsts for its humanity.

I want that pain.

And I don't.

But I have.

So, romance, let me write you. Let me be mad. Let me be human.