Spotlight Writers: March 2016

2pumpkinQueen2: Writing Tips and Advice

Hello there :)

I was nine when I first wrote my very first short story. I can't really remember if I gave it a title but I can

remember that I wrote it on a pad paper and it had something to do with a princess fighting a dragon. I don't remember how it started and ended but I knew then that I knack for writing.

Since I fell in love with reading first, I spent most of my time reading and forgot all about the writing

thing I had. Well, I was a kid and had a lot of distraction—school being one of them—so I can't really

blame myself.

Fast forward to the year 2013: I just finished reading *cough* Fifty Shades of Grey *cough*--I also just

finished Mockingjay at the time—and was looking for EBooks to read. I remember Googling something

about finding a place or website to find good reads and they showed me Wattpad. I was browsing using my phone so they suggested I download the app and I did.

Hence, on August 12th 2013 at exactly 07:16AM I joined Wattpad.

Upon enjoying myself reading and falling in love with the characters of the stories I read, something

buried deep within me started to unravel itself—the knack for writing.

One night as I was about to join my husband for dinner, as I was thinking about one of the animes I

watched, an idea came to my mind and I thought to myself "Why don't I write it?"

So after researching, plotting the story and coming up with names for the characters, I started to write.

After a few months, I finished my first story "Eluding Emotion". After I finished writing, I smiled at it and though I haven't edited it entirely, I felt satisfied to be able to express myself through words. Then I continued to write stories and more ideas came rushing through my thoughts.

So, how do I do it? How does someone with such noisy thoughts and imagination and tons and tons of

ideas for stories handle it while being a wife and a mother? How do I beat writer's block?

Here are some tips, advices and words of encouragement from yours truly.

~ Have a notebook, notepad or whatever you can write on. Already have one? Then great! Now make

sure that that notebook is always within reach. When an idea, a thought, or a sliver of inspiration comes rushing through your mind, write it. Sure, you can type away at your laptop or computer but hey, it's better to have a written back up in case some crazy technology-wiping-science-fiction-apocalypse comes to play.

~No matter what time it is, even if it's three in the morning—that's when I think of bizarre ideas

sometimes—go ahead and write it. It's better to write it than regret forgetting all about it in the

morning.

~If you're in the bathroom or somewhere a bit far from anywhere you can write it on and an idea comes to mind, just let it play over and over again in your head as long as you can remember it and then write all about it when you can. If you've written in separate papers, compile it.

~Finally made up your mind on a story you want to write? Go research. Everything you need to learn

about your story, go Google it, or read books about it. Remember to write about it.

~Plot and draft. Make a draft of your story once you have the big picture in your mind. Make a story

draft for each character you have if you're planning to do a story with multiple POVs. It'll serve as your

guide so you wouldn't get lost while writing. Even if writer's block tries to interrupt you, you can rely on this draft to get your ideas back.

~Get to know each and every one of your characters—no matter how minor they are. From what they

would do if they're to lead the universe down to what's the color of their toothbrush. It'll help you delve

into their personalities and it'll help a lot when you write about them. It'll show their distinction from

the other characters.

~Writer's block is a tricky problem but do not fret. Relax, chill, grab a tub of ice cream, and eat a whole

box of pizza or whatever you'd like to eat, listen to music, watch a movie, take a hot shower, sleep, read other people's works or better yet, read the one you're working on. Don't pressure yourself because it WILL stress you.

~I'm not perfect and I do suffer from writer's block (There's a story I placed on hold due to that. But I

will get back to writing it in the future). I did find a way to outsmart it though. Here's what I do: Before

publishing the first chapters "Dreaming Alone" and "Living With Him", I already have five to six chapters waiting for next updates. I make sure that there are at least two chapters ahead the one I'm going to publish. It works like magic and I recommend it. If others have done it before I thought about it, then it means that it does work. Gives you time to chill and get back on track in case you got writer's block and you wouldn't have to worry about being off-sched.

~Pour your emotions into every word. I'm a very emotional person. Though one of my flaws is that I

don't know how to express my emotions vocally, I can express them by writing. You don't have to be

scared to go all emotional while writing. When writing a scenario, really put your heart in it as if you

were there. Readers don't only read just for the sake of reading. Reading is one way of travelling

through vast galaxies of emotional adventures and as a writer it's your job to make sure that they enjoy reading it as much as you're writing it.

~Fall in love with your story and never be afraid to show it. You are the first and last person who'll love

your works. Every character is an extension of yourself—they're like your children.

~If you think you don't know what you're doing, that's okay. We've been there. Go make friends.

Wattpad is a community for writers and readers alike. Don't be afraid to reach out, we will reach back

no matter how busy we are.

~We're not just a community, we're a family.

~Don't be pressured if someone says that you're not really a writer because you're not published. This

campaign is proof that in the eyes of your family, you are a writer.

~Don't be afraid to share your story, here on Wattpad, there's guarantee that someone will read and

love your work.

~Write if you want to. There's no standard in passion.

~Go read. It's never difficult to find a good read on Wattpad. You're just an 'Add To Your Library' away

from your next adventure.

That's all for now my fellow Wattpaders. I hope the things I wrote would help you on your journey here on Wattpad. Feel free to reach out if you have a question or if you need a friend or someone to talk to.

Peace out!

2pumpkinQueen2