Nobody:
Wattpad Readers:
My Readers:
Me: I'm going to write another Writing Guide!
Hello there, folks! Ito na naman ang panibagong chapter ng aking kadaldalan. Hindi ko alam if dapat ko nga bang isulat pa ito at i-post dahil ang tagal kong nag-hiatus sa pagsusulat. Pero dahil wala akong kausap ngayong quarantine at wala akong mga kaibigan dito sa parte ng mundo kung nasaan ako ngayon na nakaka-relate sa akin sa ganitong aspeto, i-popost ko na lang sa Wattpad.
Bale, ito na nga:
1) Give your characters personality.
Kagabi lang nagbabasa ako ng mga comments sa UC at UQ. Shoutout to @unspokenheart, @BiatchDayDreamer, at @arrivedercigrazie na tatlong usernames na tumatak sa utak ko. Ito 'yung mga readers nung mga panahong inactive ako sa Wattpad. Halos every chapters kasi ata mayroon silang comments. Di ko man alam kung mababasa ba nila 'to, pero shoutout pa din sa inyong tatlo! Lol. Tuwang tuwa ako sa mga comments niyo.
Naalala ko dati sobrang affected ako kapag may nag-cocomment na sobra kung makapanglait kay Summer Yeo. Na kesyo ang "landi landi," "napaka-impulsive, tanga tanga, hindi nag-iisip bago umaksyon," at "puro landi lang inaatupag at hindi naman 'yung mission niya." Kaya din siguro nag-stop ako magbasa ng mga comments kasi it's stabbing my heart, guys. Ang sakit sakit. Kasalanan ba niyang marupok siya? Charot!
One of my writing techniques is giving a part of my trait to the protagonist. That way I can relate and connect more to her. Kesyo ito 'yung past self ko, my current self, or the trait I want to aim for myself. I'd add it to my heroine. Kaya din siguro nasasaktan ako kapag may nagsasabi ng masakit na salita sa protagonist ko, kasi I know to myself na ginawa ko siya with all my heart and there's a part of me na binigay ko sakanya. #dramamuch
Pero ngayon, ito 'yung realization ko:
Even heroines/heroes have flaws and weaknesses. It's what makes them human, by being imperfect, even though they are only fictional character.
Who wants a bland and near to perfection character? 'Yung kayang i-solve lahat agad agad 'yung problema sa story? How will that make your story interesting? How will that make your character different?
Give them personality. Give them flaws. Give them weaknesses. Because they are human too. They make mistakes. They have emotions.
Not all characters are made to be likeable. Just like in real life, you can't like all people. There will always be this personality trait of one person that is in your pet peeve.
It's okay if nakakainis sila. It's okay if tatanga tanga sila. It's what makes them human too. It's okay if hindi agad maintindihan ng readers bakit sila nakakainis at tatanga tanga. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation bakit nila ginagawa 'yun, di ba? And I believe that reason is powerful enough to make your story interesting. Kahit pa tatanga tanga at nakakainis 'yung character. Okay? Okay.
2. Write every day / Make writing a habit.
I am still struggling for this one. Napaka-great procrastinator ko kasi. Katulad na lang ngayon, dapat may iba akong mas importanteng ginagawa. Eh anong ginagawa ko? Dumadaldal na naman.
Kidding aside, halos lahat ng successful writers, itong advice ang nababasa ko. Write every day. Si Stephen King ay nagsusulat ng 2,000 words every day. From morning to before noon ay nagsusulat na siya. Tapos si J.K. Rowling nagsusulat every 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Which made me cry upon reading it, kasi humihilik pa ako sa mga oras na 'yan.
Mas active ang imagination ko tuwing madaling-araw. Mga aswang at multo ata ang creative department ng brain ko kasi mas gusto nilang nagtatrabaho tuwing 2 a.m. Pero I want to change it. Kasi hindi healthy. Lagi akong puyat. Hindi na tayo bumabata at kailangang pahalagahan ang kalusugan. Gusto ko din sanang maging habit sa umaga ang pagsusulat.
So humanap ka ng time sa isang araw na nakalaan sa pagsusulat. Kahit anong way ng pagsusulat. Miski ito ba 'yung ongoing story mo, future story mo, o kahit pa journal lang ito about sa mga realizations mo sa buhay o kung anong ginawa mo kahapon. Ang mahalaga, nagsulat ka.
3) Discipline yourself but don't be too hard on yourself.
If you want to be a writer, you need to have a discipline. You can't be a good writer if tamad kang magsulat o magbasa. You need to set a goal na if hindi ka nakapagsulat ng araw na iyon, dapat nakapagbasa ka. Every day I set myself to read at least 30 minutes before bedtime if hindi man ako nakapagsulat.
Reading is definitely the number one key that will help you be a good writer. Di ba nga, natuto muna tayong makinig sa mga teachers natin bago maging kung sino man tayo sa katayuan natin sa buhay ngayon. Ganun din sa pagsusulat, treat reading as a teacher. You will adapt many things such as vocabulary, writing style, grammar, and new knowledge.
But despite of trying to discipline yourself, don't be too hard on yourself too. I know we have different priorities and responsibilities in life, set your goals in a sensible way and pace. Being too hard on yourself because you can't come up with new ideas and compose a paragraph won't help. If you pour your buckets of creativity into writing, you need something to fill it up again. Breathe, watch something that interests you, eat a comfort food, take a walk. Your creative side will work if it is inspired and motivated. So, don't be too hard on yourself, don't drain yourself.
Alright, folks. I hope may natutunan kayo kahit paano sa mga kadaldalan ko ngayon. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Magtitimpla na muna ulit ako ng second round coffee ko.
