Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

Chealsea_13's Author Interview

The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

QUESTIONS / MGA TANONG

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

This question is so timely! As many of my readers know, I am a medical student and let me tell you this...ang hirap ipagsabay ng Medicine at pagsusulat! Haha! Writing is always a way for me to entertain myself and relieve my stress but, when I reached my third year, the study load was just too much, and I had a hard time finding time to write.

(or even sleep). My course requires a lot of focus since I'll be responsible for my patient's life in the future kaya nakokonsensiya ako every time I want to procrastinate and write my stories instead of reviewing haha.

That's my main reason why I took a break from Wattpad and only write offline whenever I can. Kaya ko naman sana mag update ang kaso, medyo perfectionist ako when it comes to the quality of my stories (not a grammar freak, more like a content freak), so ayokong i-publish ang mga chapters na naisulat ko during my busy days for the sake na makapag-publish lang at hindi ko naman sila nabasa ulit at na-revised.

I know mas magiging busy na ako ngayon (because of the pandemic and all) but I managed to finally make a schedule kung kailan ako magsusulat. And I already wrote down some plans for my story (I used to write spontaneously without plot guides) para madali na lang din balikan at sundan. So I hope my readers are still there because I'm planning to continue my on-goings this year!

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

Honestly, I prefer to write standalones kasi isang story lang tapos ka na, wala ka ng aalalahaning kasunod pa sa story nila at wala ng balikan kapag natapos na. However, mas prefer ng utak ko ang magsulat ng series. Ang dami pang interesting na characters sa isang story ang pwedeng isunod na i-kwento at naka-buo kana kasi ng isang imaginary universe na maaaring pagkuhanan ng kwento so I think, writing a series that will revolve around that universe will be easier than building another universe for a new story again.

3. How do you motivate yourself to keep writing?

Writing somewhat keeps me sane and grounded, and it's where I feel I'm at my happiest state (except when I'm with my dogs). So, 'yun ang mga naging motivations ko para hindi ko bitawan ang pagsusulat. Ang daming activities na ginagawa ko sa araw araw na I really find boring and tiresome, pero never ang pagsusulat. Sa pagsusulat

kasi ang dami mong nadidiskubre, at ang dami mong pwedeng mabuo out of nothing. And besides, through writing, you can inspire people! You can help them with their struggles, and you can give them hope and happiness with your stories. I think that

alone could be a motivation for writers like me to push through and continue creating stories.

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

Sa Bad Girl for a Girlfriend, nahirapan ako isulat 'yung mga intimate scenes. Bata pa lang kasi ako noon at lumaki pa ako sa isang conservative environment so super konti lang ng alam ko about that topic at tanging sa mga kinukwento lang ng friends ko sa akin ako nag babased ng isusulat (not saying may experience na ako ngayon pero ang dami ko ng nabasang novels and napanood na movies/series na pwede kong pagbasehan ngayon). Hindi rin naman ako puwedeng mag search ng tungkol doon dahil makikita ng aking parents ang history ng aking browser ( haha!). So talagang struggle dati dahil asa lang talaga sa imagination.