The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2020

Eurekaa's Author Interview

The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2020

#TWFBP2020 #TWFBPYore

1. Ano-ano ang mga pinaka-surprising na mga bagay na natutunan ninyo sa paggawa ng mga kwento?

To be honest, there are a lot of surprising things that I learned from writing (especially about stuff like how to improve my writing skills and I hope I really did improve my writing throughout the years in Wattpad. LOL, I am not really still confident about my stories) – if recently lang, the most surprising thing na natutunan ko is—in my recent stories (as you noticed I'm mostly writing epistolary/chat seryes now)—na enjoyable pala ang pagsusulat ng mga epistolary type of novels. Iyong nailalabas ko lalo iyong comedic side ng sarili ko (Hahaha! I really do hope my readers laughed at my puns/jokes in my stories).

Not only that though, natutunan ko rin na we—WOMEN—should be strong and independent especially in chasing our dreams. In my recent stories, I always want to portray my female characters as EMPOWERED WOMEN that no matter what obstacles—you should NOT give up in pursuing your career/dream because at the end of the day, when you finally had pursued what you are looking for, you'll never going to regret it and YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF—because pinaghirapan mong abutin ang mga pangarap mo. YOU DESERVE EVERY BIT OF YOUR SUCCESS. (Charot!)

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

It depends though on my mood, haha! But I—more—prefer standalone kasi new setting, new characters, new theme and so on. Kapag series kasi, marami kang tatandaan like mga pangalan ng mga previous characters, you also need to remember their family background and other stuff. Also, para sa 'kin, minsan nagiging complicated ang series especially about sa timeline ng isang story—kailangan nagcocoincide sila sa ibang stories na kasali sa series. I am not good at remembering stuff so I pretty much would prefer standalone.

3. Ano ang weird writing habit ninyo? (side comment: kailangan niyo rin bang uminom parang si Edgar Allan Poe bago magsulat?)

To be honest, hindi ako na kakapag-update o makapagsulat kapag wala akong pinapapakinggan na kanta/music. Tapos dapat yung kanta/music na pinapakinggan ko, dapat naaayon siya sa situation ng chapter naisusulat ko or ng buong story. Hindi ko alam kung weird bayun. Hahahahaha. Pero dapat may music ako while I am writing.

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

Marami eh.

But I think one particular story na nahirapan ako all throughout the chapters (I was even a teenager pa nang isulat ko ito, way back 2015 pa) is—The Bad Boy's Club—para sa 'kin kasi, the theme of the story was very heavy and it contained a lot of sensitive topics (and the violence was very graphic). For me, it wasn't the typical bad boy story, my lead male character, Samuel Ignacio Rivera III is I think the most hated (at first) from all of my male lead characters in my stories. I even got a lot of negative comments about him sa mga unang part ng TBBC. I really just hope the third's character was justified in the end.

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

Epilogue, actually, most of my stories are already has an ending in the final chapters. Para sa 'kin, iyong Epilogue ko, parang bonus chapters nalang like what happened to the characters after the conflict was done. Doon ako nahihirapan since parang kailangan kong mag-isip kung ano ng nangyari sa kanila pagkatapos (for me, yung final, end natalaga for them). I don't know if it makes sense haha.

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

I don't want to be biased. Favorite ko silang lahat. Feeling ko 'pagmabubuhay yung mga characters ko, magiging magkakabarkada kami. Hahaha, pwede silang lahat?

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

It would be Atty. Miranda Jimenez—the female lead character of my story: The Art of Breaking--since her character is based on a real person. And for me, Miranda's story is my most underrated story—so I am plugging this, for my new readers and future readers, please read Miranda's story as it's not just a typical love story (the story wasn't a "whole" love story), The Art of Breaking is about the redemption and saving of Miranda's very complicated life.

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

It would John Grisham, James Patterson, Harlan Coben – I really like reading legal thrillers and suspense type of books—and since favorite ko sila sa ganung genre (it's their expertise), kapag gagawa ako ng suspense/thriller type of novel, sila ang gusto ko na maka-collaborate.

If sa romance, Colleen Hoover, because the plot twists of her stories are really so unpredictable.

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

Greek mythology kasi since I was still in high school, I am into Greek mythology na, halos nabasa ko na lahat ng mga Greek myths and legends. I also have a book yung colored na hard bound about Greek myth by Edith Hamilton hahaha, favorite ko talaga ang Greek Mythology.

10. What are your future plans in your writing career?

I'm thinking about indulging into new genres. I am thinking na magbreak muna sa mga romance/drama and will probably focus on other genres like Greek myth (actually may nasimulan na ako), vampire, suspense, conspiracies, thrillers – basta baka titigil muna ako sa romance. Hopefully that would still happen kahit magiging busy ako sa law school.

BONUS: Please leave a message for your readers.

To all my readers, guys, thank you so much for staying with since I started writing in Wattpad. I am going to be forever grateful to all of you and I do hope you enjoyed reading my stories. You all know how much I love you guys from the bottom of my heart—especially those loyal readers and those readers who became friends with me. Thank you so much and thank you too for always believing in me. You inspire me to be a better writer every day.