Continue reading “What do you see # 184 – Grandmother” →
Continue reading “What do you see # 179 – Realization” →
Continue reading “What do you see # 177- The Dilemma of a Writer” →
Amanda of Mandibelle16 invited me for a short interview recently and that interview came out today. Check it out!
Welcome to my regularly scheduled bi-weekly interview series. I am pleased to share with you the blog of a talented writer, photographer, and world traveler. I have blogged with Yinglan for a while and am pleased to call her a good friend in the blogging world. Please visit her blog here: This is Another Story – […]
I would like to start by thanking Charles French from Charles French Words Reading and Writing for nominating me again for this challenge. I lost count the number of times I’ve participated in this challenge. Continue reading “Inspiration for Storytellers” →
Here I am, the final day of the 3 Quote 3 Day challenge. Once more, I would like to thank Charles French from Charles French Words Reading and Writing for nominating me for this challenge. Continue reading “3 Quote 3 Day – Day 3” →
Here I am, day 2 of the 3 Quote 3 Day challenge. Once again, I would like to thank Charles French from Charles French Words Reading and Writing for nominating me for this challenge. Continue reading “3 Quote 3 Day – Day 2” →
I would like to start by thanking Charles French from Charles French Words Reading and Writing for nominating me for this challenge. I believe this will be my 4th participation. Continue reading “3 Quote 3 Day – Day 1” →
Writing’s an art, in my opinion but this wasn’t what I thought until about two years ago. Before that, my relationship with writing was merely obligatory, just a requirement to fulfill a task assigned by teachers, tutors, etc. Continue reading “Random Thoughts About Writing” →
Today’s prompt asks: Tell us something most people probably don’t know about you. Continue reading “Take Me Seriously!” →
Last week, I was surprised and amazed when I received a ping-back from Izzy of Izzy-grabs-life. Izzy has nominated me for the Blog Tour Award! I didn’t even know such award existed, I’m so honored.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I’m currently working on my homework. Ha ha, just kidding, I’m taking a break from my cost accounting homework.
Um, at the moment, I’m actually about half-way done with what-I-think is a short-story but it’s turning into a novelette. I’m think probably another 3000 words on top of the current 4800 should do it. It’s a rewrite and it used to be called “The Forgotten” but I think the title’s a little lame. So I’m coming with a new title at the moment.
HOW DOES YOUR WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN YOUR GENRE?
Honestly, I do not know. We all get our inspiration somewhere, whether be TV shows or movies or books. I pull ideas for my stories from those places but at the time, I would try to add something different, my own touch but I suppose, in a way, my work can be comparable to others in my genre.
WHY DO YOU WRITE OR CREATE WHAT YOU DO?
My head is filled with pictures and ideas. Every time, I watch a TV show or a movie or read a book, I instantly get pictures, pictures that once I lose them, I am not getting them back. Since I am not an artist (I can’t even draw a car right), I choose words as my medium. So writing is really my way of painting those mental pictures. The paper is my canvas, as some would say, and I’m painting it with words.
HOW DOES YOUR WRITING/CREATIVE PROCESS WORK?
Well, like I said, I get pictures and I just writing it down as to artist painting the canvas. I don’t exactly have a process. I just get these flashes in my head and as soon as I get them, I would jog them down somewhere, anywhere, be it an existing story or a new story. Otherwise, it will feel like what Maya Angelou says.
However for the flash fiction challenges and prompts, it’s different.
It is my pleasure to nominate the following individuals:
I am looking forward to hear about everyone’s creative process!
Is it me or is the sky getting darker? Rachel wondered as she trekked deeper and deeper into the woods trying to find her way back to the cabin her family had rented. She realized now she shouldn’t had gotten angry and walked out without map, food, and water. That was a stupid move, she chided at herself as she walked.
She thought back to earlier that day when she and her brother Justin were stuck inside their family cabin playing I Spy for what seemed like the gazillion times. It was their favorite game when they were children and thought to play it to cure their boredom.
Rachel sighed and slapped a bug on her forearm. A week ago, she thought she was free. She was going to spend every minute of every day hanging out with her friends. Then the night after the start of their summer vacation, their parents sat them down and called a family meeting.
“We have some great news,” their mother announced giddily, “we’re going on a family vacation.” She smiled big while her father did jazz hands in the back.
Rachel’s fingers had paused mid-text while Justin’s jaw literally dropped. “Wait, now?” She asked.
“Yes, now. Your mother and I have rented a deluxe cabin in the woods. We’re set to leave in three days.” Their father answered.
“F-for how long?” Justin stammered and their mother replied, “two weeks.”
When they got to the cabin in the afternoon of the third day, they realized the cabin was anything but deluxe. There was barely any furniture in the two bedroom one bath cabin. “What the hell is this?” Rachel had almost screamed and she did when she found out there was no cell signal.
For two days, the family survived mostly on the few can foods their parents had stored in the car in case of emergency and this morning, their mother decided. “We cannot survive on such unhealthy foods. So here’s what we’ve decided. Your father and I are going to the supermarket to get some real food. You two stay here. Don’t open the door for anyone and don’t leave the cabin. It’s very easy to get lost in these woods. Do you understand me?”
Justin had bobbed his head while Rachel just rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, whatever.”
“How about we play I spy?” Justin asked minutes after their parents’ departure to the supermarket.
“What are you, five?”
“Come on,” Justin pleaded, “I’m bored to death and besides, we haven’t played it since we were little.”
“That’s why I asked ‘what are you, five?'” They sat silently for a minute. The cabin was so quiet that even with the windows and doors shut, you can hear the crickets chirping outside. Rachel grew irritated and caved. “Oh, alright, just one game. I’ll go first.” Her eyes traveled around the room. “I spy…something red and ugly.”
“Uh, you mean the couch?” Justin raised his brow. “Dude, you’re sitting on it. That doesn’t count.”
“There’s nothing here. If you’re so smart, why don’t you try?”
“Alright, I spy something dark and beautiful.”
Rachel’s eyes traveled around the room, searching for the object her brother was referencing to. She glanced once, twice, and even three times before turned to her brother. “You’re supposed to reference something in this room and this room only.”
“I am.” He walked to the other side of the room and pointed at something on the wall. Rachel looked closer, perplexed. She had no clue what she was looking at. “Isn’t this beautiful?” Justin said. “It must’d been an ex-tenant.” It was an etching of a horse into the wall. It was dark and beautiful. “Okay, your turn.”
They went on and on with the game. Rachel growing more and more frustrated with her brother’s finger-pointing at her flaws. Meanwhile, her brother’s pointing out all the things around the room that without a careful eye, it would be impossible to spot. Suddenly, Rachel bolted up. “That’s it, I can’t take it anymore. I can’t play this game with your stupid rules.”
“Those aren’t rules, that’s just how you play.” In less than a moment, Rachel crossed the room and was at the door. She turned the door knob and stepped out into the open air. “Rachel, wait!” She heard Justin’s heavy footsteps behind her and kept on running, weaving between trees and soon, her brother’s footsteps became distant. She was on her own.
She got tired quickly and realized she was thirsty too with no water to drink. Now, after wandering for who knows how long in the woods trying to find her way back home, she was exhausted. She couldn’t walk anymore. She leaned against a tree and sagged to the ground.
Then she heard, “Rachel? Rachel? Rachel?” It was three different voices, all familiar. It was so faint that she wondered whether her thirst had made her delirious. Then the voice grew louder and soon, she saw a growing beam of light racing toward her.
“Rachel,” her mother’s voice and face appeared before her. Then she felt two strong arms lifted her from the ground and carried her up the hill. She was home. Some time later, after downing two bottles of water and explaining why she ran out, her mother grabbed her chest. “Don’t you ever do that again, you hear me? If you don’t want to be there, all you have to do is tell us.” She blew a breath of air as Rachel nodded slowly. “You scared me to death.”
This is a scheduled post. I might be out almost the entire day today (exam and volunteering). I will be posting something later but first I will re-post this short story (flash fiction) I wrote some time ago. The original version wasn’t this long but I just thought it was super incomplete. Happy Saturday. 🙂
I’d like to thank Priceless Joy for nominating me for the Five Photos-Five stories challenge, where I post five photos, five stories, each day for five days. Continue reading “Five Photos – Five Stories Day 1” →
I feel like I’ve finally accomplished something today. I have completed my assignment that’s due tomorrow after another round of Beat the System. Hopefully, my instructor will settle for a 3% similarities. It’s a different instructor than Business Law.
I’ve also completed the homework that’s due on Wednesday. Finally! Now if I can just finish yet this week’s Business Law homework, I’d be the happiest girl on Earth.
I won’t say much. I began scribbling down an idea that’s been stuck inside me for a few weeks now. I feel like it’s going to burst. I’ve finally finished the character list yet again for the novel I’ve been trying to write for about two years now. This will be my fourth possibly fifth rewrite as well as change of characters. Like most writers say, the first novel is always the hardest. I agree with them completely.
Before I go though, I like to share this photograph I’ve found on pinterest.
Even after almost two years of blogging, I still haven’t really shared the space that inspired all my posts. Continue reading “Sharing Creative Workspaces: A Project from WeWork” →
Before I say anything else, I would just like to say, this is my 100th post! I know right? It feels like a whirlwind. After two straight months of constant blogging, I’ve reached my second major goal! The first was of course 100 followers.
Well technically, I have been blogging for more than a year but don’t forget the 5-month hiatus not to mention I’ve only managed to publish less than 10 posts a month from September to April. So really, I’ve only been blogging for 2 months. Honestly, I thought it would take me a lot longer than that to post 100 articles.
On another note, I would also like to brag on myself a little bit. Last Saturday, during my club meeting, I was nominated and awarded the coveted “Outstanding Toastmaster Award”!!! Of course, I knew that because one of the Sergeant at Arms spilled the beans during the last meeting in May but still, it’s not always the Club President gives a specific member recognition. It almost feels like my 5th grade award assembly, except without the surprise. Aww, now I’m making myself blush.
Anyway, onto a more serious note. For the past week, I found myself feeling uninspired to write. 😦 Not only blogwise but in general. It’s like my imagination’s shutting down on me. I am even stuck on the 5th re-write of the novel I’ve working for the past year. I don’t know what’s happening.
Maybe it’s the test and my classes burying down on me? Maybe after next Tuesday, when I can finally take a breath, then my imagination and creativity would come back to me? Right now, the best is to hope.
Whew!!! Finally, a load off my chest.
After getting just three hours of sleep and a protein-rich breakfast (Hot Cocoa and scramble egg sandwich) , Continue reading “An Eventful Thursday: A record setting week” →
First of all, I just want to say thank you Artfullyadelie for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Aww, I have to blush a little. It is currently the second achievement I’ve gotten since I started blogging. At this point, I should probably put up an achievement page. Last year, I was nominated for the Sunshine Award. I am extremely honored. It’s not everyday you get nominated. Of course, I was going to write the post yesterday but excuses, excuses, excuses!
I had a large weight loss shake yesterday, then a large bowl of grapes, and finally, a large bowl of Ramen noodles for lunch. Of course, Ramen noodles are no good without the soup base which by the way is full of MSG. Not soon after I finished, I was exhausted. I stumbled through work, thank god I work at home 🙂 and I wasn’t completely awake again until a few hours ago, after I had dinner, a shower, and begin fiddling with some of my old short stories (I’ve posted them too! Click here to check it out!).
Now, it’s 11:30, planes had stopped rumbling outside (long story), my computer’s off and I can’t sleep. Great!!! Oh well, at least I have my tablet handy, might as well take the time to get this started and finish it in the morning. So, according to Adelie, I’m supposed to:
still pretend the maglite is a microphone and sing to my stereo for fun though.
Are you motivated by fear or hope? Of course, I’m motivated by hope, if a person’s motivated by fear, how are they going to get things done? I believe that everything has a start and an end, you just need to get over that hurdle to the finish line.Now, for the hard part, nominating 11 fellow bloggers. It’s going to be very difficult, real difficult. Also I cannot guarantee that any of these bloggers hasn’t been nominated.
Well, there you have it, my total of 11 facts, 11 answers, 11 questions, and 11 nominees! Looking forward to hearing for you! 🙂
Yesterday, I took my dear old car out on a drive. Yes, dear and old. It’s a ’95 Ford Escort that I do NOT ever want to sell. Continue reading “Took my dear old car for a drive…” →
I had almost gone deaf yesterday. 😮
It was all because of this incessant beeping coming from somewhere within the house. It beeps every 5 minutes or so and it’s been driving me crazy for the last three days. Of course, as usual, mom had a gut instinct but she did not want to go explore and find out exactly which of the many alarms and detectors in the house was making that sound. She put me in charge.
Well, I had a gut instinct, too. I knew it was coming from basement. So yesterday, after working for 5 hours and listening to that beeping, I went downstairs to explore.
As I made my way down, I began to feel a little like a detective solving a case. I got the very bottom and stared up at the smoke detector even though my gut was telling me it was Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector but we just changed the batteries a few months ago. Anyway, it’s good to make sure.
I stared up at it for what felt like a long time, 5 minutes feels forever when you’re doing nothing but waiting for a sound. As I became unaware, that beeping sounded, louder than it was upstairs but it wasn’t coming from the smoke detector, it was coming from inside that mechanical closet.
It was just as I thought originally. It was the CO detector, not the smoke detector. I picked it up from its place next to the pipe and stared at it. It wasn’t beeping. Then I turned it over and read the fine print.
It said, “Low battery, 1 beep every 4 minutes”. Well there’s my answer.
I began to try to remove the lid standing up and then it happened. It beeped all of the sudden. I jumped back, scaring the heck out of me. Not only that, it was so loud, and for the next few seconds, everything I heard was muffled.
I placed the detector on the desk and removed the lid and saw the batteries. No wonder, three batteries, two same, one different. No wonder it was out of battery.
I took out the first battery and a loud beep once again rang in my ears, making me jump and everything I hear muffle again. After my heart stopped pounding so hard, I continued removing the remaining batteries and put fresh ones in.
Another loud beep sounded after I put the third battery in. “Jeez!” I muttered. At this rate, I’d be deaf. I replaced the lid and pressed the test/reset button. Four loud beeps penetrated my ears and the room making me jump yet again. Looks like it works to me, I thought while the back of my mind was praying. Please please please be a long long time before it beeps again.
I placed it back to its original location and went back upstairs.
Two lessons here:
Thanks for listening!
Everyday, millions if not billions of internet articles, books, journal articles, etc. are waiting to be read. However we don’t have time to read so many while some is just not appealing to us. Therefore, as a writer and an avid reader, the first ten seconds is the most important. Continue reading “Title and Hook – Ways to Capture Readers’ Attention” →
Graduation is one of the most memorable days or nights in anybody’s life whether you are graduating from high school or college, the ceremony itself just somehow makes you feel like for just this one day, you are the most important person and nothing else matters. Continue reading “Most Memorable Nights of a Lifetime” →
This is Another Story