Monday, November 26, 2012

On writing

I am a firm believer that writing should not be a struggle. Perhaps this is caused by too much movies where you see writers sitting in front of their laptops, wearing specs, pondering 'bout the life outside the window, typing their hearts away!

But I know not everybody can do that. We've been moody writers for once in our lives, this I know for a fact. But what about those who write for a living? They just can't be seasonal writers. Surely they must have some secrets or exercises that motivate them to put some words on a blank piece of paper.

Inspiration and imagination really matter in writing.

When I was a kid, I used to do this make-believe thing or play-act. I'd imagine that am a grownup, sitting at the park, a book in hand. Those days, I still have good eyesight and wearing glasses is just a statement for being cool. I love looking at grownups who are indulged in reading. And so I thought, I could do that!

I tried reading (thick) novels that are beyond my comprehension until I end up very exhausted. Do I even know how to read? But fate must have played a joke on me. Fast forward today, I'm wearing glasses for real! And I came to love books.

They say that when you're a reader, you must have been a writer too. Writers are wide readers.

I'm a reader, but am I also a writer? Moody, yes. Full-time, no.

But I've done a lot of writing jobs and I've got a few good articles published. I dunno. Probably, I just don't believe that my whole life depends on writing alone.

Sometimes I can't help but envy those people who could just write about anything and everything without struggle. Whenever I find myself having a hard time writing, I stop because it's not supposed to be like that. Although I heard a known writer before saying that writing that certain (award-winning) novel was the hardest thing he ever did. But I thought, he's just saying that! I've some friends who are talented songwriters too. It's like they just hiccup lyrics and melody. Voila!

What is holding me back from writing? They say that when you write, you just do. Do not edit every after sentence. And this is what am doing right now. Or maybe the problem is we want it to be perfect. But when we reread it, we want to add this and change that. We cannot attain perfection, can we? However, there can be excellence without perfection.

One of my favorite writers, Steve Berry, shared this:
Every writer I've ever met has a little voice in their head. The little voice doesn't tell you to write a bestseller or anything like that. It just says sit down and write. If you write, I'll be happy and I will hush. If you don't write, I will nag you to death.

I wanted this entire blog to be as light as it can be. Dedicated to people who love a piece of something nice. I don't have to force myself to write if I don't feel it. I trust that it'll come naturally. If I can't write for now then I'll just use the time for more reading! 

I was thinking, could I still apply that make-believe thing like I did before? Me as full-time writer? Who knows it might work. Just need some believing!

After all, writing must not be a struggle, it must be a therapy.


10 Things

I love movies that make me cry.

But I only watch 'em when all the lights in the haus are out. We're not the mushy type of people so I guess it's better to wait for everybody to hit the sack before I switch into my emotional self.

I haven't got new movies this night (gosh I miss Video City) so I decided to rerun some old flicks I got. Tonight's choice was 10 Things I Hate About You starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. Oh how I miss Heath, RIP bro. :'(


But that's one good thing about the movies, we preserve memories!

Going back, 10 Things is a rom-com film which is dubbed as the modernized version of The Taming of the Shrew by the great Shakespeare. But I don't wanna be a film reviewer right now. I just want to plainly delve into what I'm feeling as I was watching it. Allow me to be selfish please. :)

Now lemme share with you 10 of the best epiphanies/insights/violent commentaries I got on my plate.

10.   When girls say they don't understand guys, guys too are saying the same thing about girls.

9.     Do the effort. If you want something to happen, you don't stare at it, idiot! You're not Magneto.

8.     Research. It's not nuff that you have the stuff. You gotta know how to use it.

7.     Gentlemen? They're rare but real.

6.     Last dance. First kiss. Milestones, man!

5.     It's just a yes or a no. You do it or you don't. No try.

4.     Literature and Film go well together.

3.     Sweet is never stale.

2.     It's hard to fall in love with a jerk.

1.     But there are some jerks who are worth the chance.


So there you have it! *SNIFF*


*I do not own the photos used in this blog. No intention of copyright infringement.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore


Sharing this very touching animation movie. When we read and take care of books, we never get old. By reading, we give life to the words that have once been the labor of love by the dopest men and women in the world.


Getting my heart on with Simple Plan

This is a very very late post but I shall NOT forgive myself if I don't write about this... or them.

It was mid-October when I learned that SIMPLE PLAN is coming to Manila for their GET YOUR HEART ON! Asian Tour on January 12. With unexplained excitement, I immediately reserved an Upper Box slot on TicketNet. But I canceled out the next day for I thought it best to find some company to enjoy the experience.

I called up my friends Cherry and Vberni whom I know are SP fans too. They asked me to wait 'til December so everyone could save up for the Upper Box which costs a little more than 1K. But time flies by so fast! Every penny earned was spent during the Holidays. It was already January 11 and none has gotten a ticket yet. I still got my savings but I don't wanna watch alone.

Really disheartening on my part for I may never make it on the 12th. That morning I even heard Jetlag played very loudly from the headset of a passenger at the train station. Araneta Center also had this contest on Facebook that'd give free tix.

You know that feeling? The world's shouting at me like... "What are you waiting for? You are such a bad fan!" I know... T_T

When I posted my contest entry on FB (hoping I'll win somehow), Cherry asked if I'll be watching. Bam! That was it. Right there and then, I decided to push through with the concert even though I was worried there'll be no more tickets left. I asked my Dad if he could drop by the next day to get the tix.

JANUARY 12, 2012 (Thursday)

12:00 PM:   I called Dad to know if he's got it. Not yet.
1:00 PM:     I followed up, still not getting any.
3:00 PM:     Dad's got the tix! Yey!
6:00 PM:     I logged out of office.
6:30 PM:     I was at the Recto LRT Station. Lo and behold, there's a very long line
                  of passengers and the station management won't let us in. Technical problems. Uh-oh.
6:50 PM:     Still NO ENTRY.
7:00 PM:     Train tech problem fixed.
7:20 PM:     I met Dad at Gateway Mall.
7:35 PM:     Cherry and I got ourselves comfy inside Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Front act was the local band Kamikazee which rocked out songs like Martin Nyebera, Darna, and Tsinelas. After their performance, the stage was set up again and I kept on telling Cherry that I wanna go to the restroom, but I just WON'T! I've said it for like 8 times.

And so the lights went dim...

"Oh my gosh, they're here! THEY'RE HERE!!!" I almost passed out.

FINALLY! They appeared on stage one by one. Pierre Bouvier (lead vocals), David Desrosiers (bass, backup vocals), Jeff Stinco (lead guitar), Seb Lefebvre (rhythm guitar, backup vocals), and Chuck Comeau (drums).

I am an SP fan since time immemorial. I swear I can recite their songs even when asleep. Their first album was NO PADS. NO HELMETS. JUST BALLS. Songs I truly love from that album were I'd Do Anything, I'm Just a Kid, Addicted, My Alien, and Perfect. Next album was STILL NOT GETTING ANY where I jammed with their hit songs Shut Up, Welcome to my Life, and Crazy. Third album was the self-titled SIMPLE PLAN which gave more mature views in When I'm Gone, Save You, and I Can Wait Forever.  And the latest is GET YOUR HEART ON which is my favorite among all.

Simple Plan performed their undying songs from their past albums like Jump, Addicted, Welcome to my Life, My Alien, and Thank You (which they changed into Salamat). When Pierre sang I'm Just a Kid which was released 10 years ago, Cherry and I were like, "Whoa! We're that old!" But the good thing here was that Simple Plan has solidly kept their target audience 'cause there are a lot of much younger folks around us. But of course, WE ARE THE ORIGINALS!

They also did kewl mashup covers for F*ck You (Forget You) by Cee Lo Green, Dynamite by Taio Cruz, and Raise Your Glass by Pink.

My most fancied part of the concert was when we sang along with their new GYHO songs Jetlag, Summer Paradise, You Suck at Love, Astronaut, Loser of the Year, This Song Saved my Life (which was penned from their fans' tweets), and my favorite Can't Keep my Hands Off You.

Pierre came back on stage and began strumming the acoustic version of Perfect. Everybody in the coliseum were in one voice with the band. Oh, how I would like to freeze that moment. I felt like crying then. I didn't even know if I cried while everyone's singing the last song for the night. I was so overwhelmed.

Oh! By the way, David is still the David I've loved. Nothing changed. :')

When it was time to say goodbye, Pierre said they will come back. Cherry and I thought, after 4 years, maybe. But I do hope they'll come back again, the SOONEST!

I LOVE YOU SIMPLE PLAN. I really do.

Thank you for your music. Thank you for your passion. Thank you for being YOU.


*I do not own the photos used in this blog. No intention of copyright infringement.