Writer's Guide 101 (Wattpad Edition)

XC. TCOTRB: A 12-Year-Old's (Cringey) Masterpiece

Now, a quick disclaimer! This is neither made as a direct jab nor to stir up drama but rather a retrospective lesson to all young writers out there.  
   This chapter was actually inspired by Audra Winter, the author of "The Age of Scorpius," who became viral on TikTok for being able to sell her first book at a remarkably young age of 22.
   I know she isn't exactly the best but as someone who was able to caught wind of this fiasco from the sidelines, I can't help but feel bad for her, especially when she has been working on her book for a long time.

To anyone who's been following me for long, you would think that "BIOMETRICS" was my first book. However, you'd be wrong as "TCOTRB: The Case of The Red Bubble" was technically the first!
    TCOTRB may not exactly be the best but still holds a special place in my heart. Just like Audra, I came up with this enigmatic story when I was around twelve.
   I remember spending hours typing away on my ol' tablet, taking inspiration from my own experiences growing up. I used to dream of becoming a bestselling author.
    Back then, it didn't have any official title. The characters had totally different names and personalities, with the premise being about a sheltered, awkward kid navigating the chaotic streets of Manila as he befriended a bunch of local street kids. 
    There was no crazy futuristic world building or government conspiracy subplot at all. However, at the same time, I was afraid too afraid to ever show it to anyone in fear that nobody would like it. It was simply too boring and vague so I've abandoned it altogether after three chapters.
    Fast forward to 2022 when I was inspired to join the annual Wattys and thought about reviving it, but only this time it's something much different and personal.
    It was one of those stories that I've always wanted to see growing up. I thought it'd be cool to acknowledge my roots by writing a book that's inspired by those fun and unhinged ideas I've had as a kid.
    In hindsight, it felt like I could've done a lot better especially when most of it felt rushed and unrefined. This is why I later decided to republish it so many people can actually get into it.
    One of the most important things is you'll be doing a lot of reading and research. You not only get to expand your vocabulary and be exposed to different ideas but also inspire you to be a good storyteller.
Even though I mostly read sci-fi and mystery genres, there were rare instances where I would be willing to give other genres a chance if they seem to have a pretty interesting premise, book cover or title.
For example, I didn't just want to repeat the same words so I would look for the right word. Oh, you have a Muslim character? There are tons of online resources and books to help you portray them in a respectable manner.
   Your dialogue is as dry and bland as Popeye's biscuits? Read more books and also try observing real-life dialogue from people around you. Go watch movies. Read those dialogue out loud.
I know there's still room to learn hence why in the sequel "AMANDI," I got to apply everything I later learned and make it an improvement of the first book.
Second, it pays to have a solid premise. Let me tell you that I used to be uncertain if I wanted it to be a sci-fi manga, drama or semi-autobiographical story. I like to draw a lot so I thought maybe it could be a Light Novel??
    This was how TCOTRB became an illustrated sci-fi novel with a blend of horror, crime solving and social commentary on modern Filipino society. While it can be based on real life, it still remains fiction.
If you think the writing reads like a millennial boomer's fanfic, that's because the book is inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Martin Mystery and maybe a bit of "Archie's Weird Mysteries." My main thought was "write as if you're twelve but with a modern twist."
    Another thing many young modern writers struggle with is having an identity crisis.
I don't like it when a writer tries to present themselves as serious and mature but suddenly turn into comedy or attempt to write something that's supposed to be inspired by the 90's yet they have routers and say words like "clout."
    Third, make your story accessible to your audience. They should be able to know what's going on, understand the themes and also connect with your story. There should be room to breathe, get to know the characters and immerse in the world around them.
   This is why my writing is inspired by some children's books where they are able to lend a guiding hand and provide notes or clues for your readers to keep track off.
   From what I recall, Milo here was much of an outcast due to him struggling to speak Filipino. He and his newfound friends later found themselves caught in a fight with some street gangs. Even as a kid, I know it's not gonna resonate with global audiences.
   This would later inspire me to create Kaira Faez, an outgoing young girl who gets along well with everyone; her overprotective older brother Malik, who entrusted Milo to be his sister's personal bodyguard; the hotheaded athlete Leo Juegos, his bratty little sister Tammy and their uncle a.k.a. Tio Hector; and the street smart Irene Ferrari.
    Don't assume everyone knows everything that's in your head. You should be able to convey how you want them to perceive it.
    Most importantly, just because you're writing a YA novel that's aimed at kids, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the quality of your writing. Always respect your audience's intelligence.
Now, the fourth one is something that many writers struggle with and that is: CRITICISM. Listen! I get it's frustrating to see others not seeing and appreciating a story that you've worked so damn hard on the same way as you do.
I can understand the pain of dealing with harsh feedback and misunderstandings on the reader's part despite trying your best to make the story digestible.
    However, it not only pays to be humble but also develop a thicker skin. Criticism can also help offer unique perspectives and improve on your work.
    Out of all the criticisms I've gotten so far, only 5% prove to be helpful to me. Why, you may ask?
   It's not because I am biased or anything, but rather due to how that small percentage included people who at least understood my vision and got to provide reasonable feedback.
    As someone who can be pretty stubborn and defensive, it would often take me a while to reflect and understand where some of those criticisms are coming from even the harsher ones.
I doubt teenage me would even have the same level of wisdom I have now as an adult and handle criticisms a bit better.
If you were to tell me TCOTRB is a confusing pile of garbage and try to cancel me because of it, I would just laugh and assume you're on the wrong platform. Side note: Seriously, kids! Please don't go around harassing, insulting and trying to cancel somebody just because you dislike them. It is just damn petty and uncalled for.
You also gotta learn the art of "killing your darlings." Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should. Having too many characters, plot points and lore dumps tend to ruin a good story.
   Forgive me for sounding a little mean but I don't care if this random side character is special to you especially when they don't add much to the plot. Imagine if in TCOTRB, instead of focusing on Milo and his friends, it's mostly Kaira's brothers. It wouldn't make sense.
   Some scenes could've been cut off especially when they aren't that important to the story. Like I said a while ago, you've gotta be willing to make that change and accept the fact that some ideas just aren't gonna work.
   The sixth one is popularity does not always equate to quality. Whether you think TCOTRB is good or bad, it's gonna be subjective.
   While I would be happy to be featured on Wattpad's home page and get actual publishing deals, I also know that it'd be nearly impossible as TCOTRB doesn't fit any standard mold that publishers are looking for. They want something which they think would sell.
I remember reading books written by popular authors on Wattpad just to see how good they are and all I can say is they can be a hit or miss.
    They tend to be repetitive or in other words, feel like I've already seen it before. Now, I'm not saying incorporating similar tropes is bad but rather they don't seem to add anything new.
    You already know who the character is going to end up with and conflict arises due to miscommunication. The others are even poorly written and seem to be ripped straight out of a high school weaboo's fanfic written at 3AM.
There are many popular books out there on Wattpad which are often recommended on the site despite not being that good. Maybe something like TCOTRB won't ever be a hit now, but maybe in a few years or so it might turn heads.
   The next one is somehow related to the previous point and that is numbers does not equal success.
   I am talking about hitting a certain word count within six months, rushing to write what's trending and having a huge following.
There are also authors out here on Wattpad with over a thousand followers yet remain underrated. There are just so many of them that it'd be impossible to know every single one of them.
I somehow blame TikTok for the dying trend of taking years to actually release a book out to the public and pushing for the same ol' YA fantasy-romance tropes.
   I remember back then when many authors almost used to get the same amount of attention here on Wattpad back in its heyday.
Many people used to look for unique and creative stories. The reason why many written masterpieces back then prove to be timeless and have broader appeal is they weren't trying hard to be trendy.
    These veteran authors are typically busy trying to be their own thing and stand out from one another instead of copying what a certain author before them has already done.
   This is similar to artists where it's so easy to tell who worked on it based on the style alone. Now, this is just my initial observation so kindly take this with a grain of salt.
   For example, Stephen King isknown for turning everything into a horror or psycho-thriller.
    Social media can be a double-edged sword. While it can be a helpful tool in bringing more attention to your books, it can also cause burnout and hinder one's growth if you don't know how to present yourself as a public figure.
There is always the pressure to be perfect and sophisticated in how you present yourself. However, that doesn't work for me!
   People shouldn't be afraid to accept failure and acknowledge efforts in the process, as well as personal differences (e.g. physical appearances/age/lifestyle/gender/disabilities).
You should be able to find the right people who could give your stories the love it deserves. You need to do your research especially if you're looking for an agent who could help you in traditional publishing.

Wattpad is already toxic enough especially towards authors who happen to have a huge following. Now, you want me to hop over to TikTok where half of the entire population has the logic and attention span of a monkey?
   As a debuting author, "First impression matters." Now, this ain't projection but if I was in Audra Winter's shoes and TikTok had existed back when I was freakin' twelve, you bet I'd be overwhelmed by the amount of attention and negative comments that I swore I would be steering clear from the Internet forever.
  If I got to sell physical copies of TCOTRB when I was 22, you bet I would die of cringe and be very impulsive enough to throw arms at my editors, oversharing on Facebook on a whim and fighting with everyone as I continue to make a bad impression.
   At the same time, this sentiment can also be harmful as people are bound to change overtime. As they say, never judge a book by its cover — there is a lot to that person or their book than meets the eye.
It is one thing to admit that something (or someone) might not be your cup of tea but outright suggesting they're gonna suck before even giving them a chance is outright ridiculous in my opinion! I think this also stems from me being a little patient and open-minded.
   It would be hilarious if someone picked up TCOTRB and is already judging my overall capabilities as a writer based on that book alone.
   Experience is the best teacher. I agree with the sentiment that there's a lesson to be learned in every book you've worked on. I published TCOTRB while I was still currently working on my other graphic novel "SYNTHETIC BLUE."
    While both are similar in terms of how they tend to be rather self-indulgent, revolving around solving mysteries and take place in a futuristic setting, this time I was able to incorporate similar ideas in a much structured manner and write a longer story that could still resonate with many people.
In retrospect, TCOTRB felt like a love letter to both my younger and current adult self. It has helped me learn more about the world around me and come to terms with my insecurities growing up.
    It may not be an instant hit with the masses, but I'm thankful to have gotten this opportunity to become a published author (even if it's just on Wattpad) and learned a lot of things as a writer.
    Lastly, "It's better late than never (because success has no age limit)." You're never too old to be a writer or comic artist.
   There are times when those ol' fun, outlandish stories written by millennial boomers tend to have more charm than the current ones. What I mean is there are still gonna be a lot of people today who continue to enjoy stuff from years ago.
    I admit I still love 90's and 2000's memorabilia (or maybe a bit of the fun colorful decade of the 80's). Seriously,