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…

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. :)