Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

AnjSmykynyze's Author Interview

The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

Title: Chit Chat

Codename: Anj

Wattpad Username: AnjSmykynyze

How did you adjust your writing in your stories, may naapektuhan ba because of work/acads and life?

Lately, I've been juggling among work, family responsibilities and writing. To be honest, writing became the least priority in the past few months. Pero pagkatapos kong mapasali sa Wattpad star, I have been trying to make sure I write at least two hours a day to be able to cope up with the stories that I wished to finish this year.

It was not easy. Dahil may mga araw na kailangan ko ring habulin ang deadlines sa trabaho at isama pa ang deadlines ng mga dapat gagawin ng mga anak ko sa kanilang module. Siguro, masasabi ko na minsan parang pinilit ko lang ang pagsusulat. Unlike before na na-eenjoy ko ang pagsusulat. Ngayon kasi, feeling ko naging parte na rin siya ng responsibilities ko. There are times when I just simply lie on my bed, to clear all the stress at saka mag-day dreaming. Sa pag-de-daydreaming ko minsan nakukuha ang mga eksenang isusulat ko.

What do you prefer to write: Series or Standalone stories? Why?

Standalone stories are easier to write, kasi wala kang magiging problema kahit anong idadagdag mong detalye sa story. Unlike series, you need to consider the details that were written from the previous series. As for my stories, I wrote in series kasi mas nakikilala ko ng maigi ang mga characters ng kwento ko.

As of now, I am working on a standalone story; and doing it is like making a fresh new start. I enjoyed working on the details without the worry na baka may mga scenes na hindi nagkakatugma sa ibang kwento ko. But I am sometimes tempted to do cross-overs, feeling ko kasi, matutuwa ang mga readers ko kapag nababasa nila na biglang napupunta sa kwento ko ang mga pangalan ng mga characters ko sa ibang libro.

How do you motivate yourself to keep writing?

I constantly reminded myself that I have readers waiting for me to finish what I have started. At para magawa ko 'yun, I watch movies and TV series, read a lot and listen to music para magkaroon ako ng idea para sa magiging kwento ko.

Among your stories, what particular scene is difficult for you to write?

Bed scene (hahaha!) But honestly, have to set the mood para mag-flow ang ideas ko. Kasi I need to imagine the details, na dapat swabe siya pero may element of surprise o kaya something na tatatak sa isip ng readers.

Saan kayo mas nacha-challenge sa pagbuo ng first chapter o sa epilogue?

Starting the story with the first chapter is challenging dahil dito mo kino-convince ang readers mo na dapat basahin ang story mo. Dapat sa first chapter pa lang, nakukuha mo na ang atensyon nila. Dapat at the end of the chapter, napapaisip mo na sila para itutuloy nila ang pagbabasa upang masagot ang mga tanong na nabubuo sa unang chapter. Kaya kung hindi maganda ang pagka-gawa ng unang chapter, expect na maghahanap na ng ibang babasahin ang reader.

If you can bring one of your characters to life, who will it be and why?

I want Semira Ernestine to be brought to life. Pakiramdam ko magiging mas makulay ang mundo kung may isang Semira na maraming alam tungkol sa sex pero marami ding tanong tungkol sa pag-ibig.

Among your characters, who's the closest to you? Why?

Semira Ernestine. Dahil noong ginagawa ko pa ang character niya, I also handled her facebook account. Being her "Fictional Character Operator", I somehow got to live her life (superficially). During that point, naging palaban din ako, and it was also at that point that I made a lot of mistakes which I came to learn from.

If you could collaborate with any author (local man or international), who would it be and why?

I've followed and admired a lot of writers throughout my lifetime, but if given a chance to collaborate with one of them, I'd like to do it with Purplenayi. Though I did wish I could collaborate with C.C. or Race Darwin, feeling ko kasi di ko maka-level ang galing nila. I am not saying this because Purplenayi is less than them, I am just saying that if I do work with C.C. or Race Darwin, kailangan ko ng maraming baong naughty ideas (joke!). As for Purplenayi, I like how she writes her stories – tamang timpla lang pero tagos sa puso. Her characters were my bestfriends – I know them and I know how they feel. Pakiramdam ko, if I work with Purplenayi, we will be working on characters whom we both know (OMG! Ang feelingera ko. Pero kung papansinsin ni Purplenayi, I will really be on cloud 9)

Anong famous story (be it classic or contemporary Literature) ang hinihiling mong ikaw ang nakapagsulat? Bakit?

"The Giver"by Lois Lowry or "The Crazy Rich Asians" by Kevin Kwan.

"The Giver" is a dystopian novel that opened my mind on the effects of trading "Freedom of Choice" in order to avoid evil. It is from this novel that my story, "The Kiss of Poison Venus" was born. Dito ako napapatanong, paano kaya kung may isang babaeng hindi nakakaramdam ng sakit, lungkot at pagkagusto sa isang lalaki? Paano kung lumaki siyang walang ka-alam-alam tungkol sa pag-ibig, at ang tingin sa sex ay isang kakayahan lang upang manipula niya ang isang lalaki?

"The Crazy Rich Asians" is one of the stories I enjoyed reading. It brought me to the world of the rich people – the lavishness of their lives, their scandals, and their struggles. I wish I could write stories of these elite people and expose their deepest secrets. Sa mundo natin ngayon, na maraming naghihirap, writing stories about lavish things somehow will allow me and my readers to live that life.

What are your future plans in your writing career?

I plan to write more, but I also plan to try to submit some of my completed stories to producers so I can see my characters come to life. I know this is close to impossible considering the number of good stories found in Wattpad, but hey – who would have thought that three of my stories will be published on paperback while one is now part of the paid stories? Having my works published was just a dream before. Now my dream has leveled up 😊 I dream to see my characters on screen someday.

BONUS: Please leave a message for your readers.

Hey Lovely People! Thank you for reading my works, for hating and then loving my characters, and for showing your support by purchasing my works on online shops, in bookstores, and in the paid stories. I achieved this dream because I have you. You were the ones who pushed me to update (I don't mind you telling me na bitin ang update ko, o kapag sinasabi niyong ang liit lang ng update – dahil kung hindi niyo ako kinukulit na mag-update, siguro hindi ko makompleto ang mga gawa ko). Thank you for being there for me.