Confession: I used to be something like a teacher's pet when I was querying agents. I followed the rules rigorously and didn't even think there was an alternative to it. 
However...when I started self-publishing, I have to say that's when I've really found my voice. I've made conscious decisions to break certain rules, and I don't regret doing so because, in a way, those "violations" are also what made my writing distinct from other people's works, in good and bad ways (subject to personal opinion of critics, reviewers, and readers).
That said, we come back to this new mini-series of posts that I thought would benefit you guys. If you're like me when I first started, you have this bone-deep need to please everyone with your writing - to the point that you'll end up losing sight of what you want to say with your story and how you want to say it. 
Note: The Writing Rule Violations series is for you to see the alternative to blindly following the usual rules for writing. It is NOT meant to encourage you to violate them.

First, here's an in-depth analysis of whether or not to capitalize the first letter of the Internet.
But for those who don't have the time to do so, the long and short is that for as long as dictionaries continue spelling the Internet with a capital I, style guides like AP will most likely follow suit. 
What does this mean for you?
If you want to be technically correct with your writing, you need to use capital I. 
If you don't care to be technically correct, then feel free to spell 'Internet' with a small i since people who actually do this also have a valid argument for their decision.
Up to you!

Just read another report featuring Anna Todd's epic rise to fame. FYI, she's the author who wrote 1D fanfic on Wattpad, which eventually scored her a six-digit deal with traditional publishing. Paramount has also optioned it for filming. If you don't know much about her, you should read the article. My favorite part of the article - which this post is about - is how she basically shrugs off all criticism with this:

And I can't stress how much I agree with this.
Confession: I used to be a grammar Nazi. I used to be a snob when it comes to people who didn't spend enough time editing and polishing their work. But the more years I've been in indie publishing, the more time I spent studying bestselling books and the readers' reactions to it, I realize that my standards - even my perception of writing - have been largely dictated by traditional publishing. I'm not saying everything they believe in is wrong - DEFINITELY NOT - but there are new rules now, brought about by digital publishing, and writers today shouldn't be faulted just because they happen to thrive in those new rules.
I'm getting too vague, aren't I?
*Deep breath*
I'm going to be honest.
I no longer mind when a book I read has poor grammar and/or editing. I just find myself enjoying the story as it is, and I don't begrudge the author at all for his/her success. The thing is, many readers today don't even seem to notice or at least they don't seem to mind that the book hasn't been properly edited and proofread. All they care about is the story, its characters, and how the book made them forget, even for a little while, about how stressful their day-to-day living is. 
Same goes for cover design. I used to look down on books whose authors obviously didn't spend enough time conceptualizing the covers for their work. There has to be a connection at least, you know?
But now, I just ignore the unattractive cover and focus on the story. It's the blurb that grabs my attention the most, anyway. If you have a great-sounding blurb, I'll be most likely sold on your book regardless of your cover, title, and even your writing style.
Does this mean you shouldn't bother with professional editing and cover design?
NOT AT ALL. 
I still work with my editor and cover designer for every book I put out. But that's MY choice, and that's what makes it right for me. As for you and your work, it's all about your choice, too. 
These days, I've come to think of authors as being one of three types.
The first type is the author who would always have his/her "writer's hat" on. This type of author enjoys the intricacy, exactitude, and harmony of word play. This type of author focuses primarily on the beauty of word and doesn't care about the potential (or lack of) commercial value of his/her work. Work of this type of author has a high probability of eventually turning into a literary classic.
The second type is the author who works with his/her "storyteller's hat" on. This type of author is all about the story. Literary critics may be predisposed to dislike the work of this type of author because of the way it violates almost every rule of writing. On the other hand, given the right niche, platform, and enough marketing effort, this type of author has good chances of enjoying commercial success. 
The third type is a hybrid of both.
Whether you're Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 - there is no right or wrong choice. Ultimately, it's about choosing what makes YOU happy and what meets YOUR publishing goals and emotional needs. 

Don't be too sensitive about your work (more about this in a future post). No matter how nasty other people are, try to find something positive in what they've said and remember that, not the negativity.
Also, there's always the chance that you may be a Type 1 today but you could turn into a Type 2 or 3 down the line...and vice versa. It happens. It happened to me. I used to be a Type 1, but in the end I found myself being more a Type 2. I can't even say I'm a Type 3 because these days, my #1 priority is story and I've also made a deliberate attempt to write simply so that more readers would be interested in reading my work. Don't mistake this for dumbing it down (but I won't kill you if you want to think otherwise; you're entitled to your own opinion). Rather, I'm doing this because I have a lot of readers who read on the go (during one-hour lunch breaks, train commutes, etc.). Readers have told me how much they love that my work is a fast and easy read, and how it's able to take them away from the real world even just for a little while. They don't read my work to think. They read my work to feel. And I love that because that also happens to be my goal as an author. As a storyteller.

Again, though. This is just my two cents, and this is what I did with my work. If I want you to take away something from this post, then it's to write from the heart. Forget about what everyone says. Just write from the heart, pray to God for grace, and that's it.

I figured I should write something fun before I pull out another all-nighter. So anyway, here goes...
First up is my bag. My #1 requirement: needs to be big enough to fit my laptop in. Also, sturdy design. Coz I bring my work with me.

The blue purse (a gift that comes w/matching bag) is where I have all my receipts, IDs, and cards. I use the bag's inner pockets for cash and change. I don't have a wallet w/me most times because I find them too bulky.
The white one, I bought in HK or Macau and it's where all my meds go.

I have one last pouch (it's actually the travel bag for my quick-dry towel but obviously I'm using it for something else), and it's where I keep all my cables, earphones, and other tiny miscellaneous stuff.

I always have notebooks and pens with me, and I use it mostly for outlines and computations hehe

Lastly, scattered inside my bag are---

• iPad and iPhone (but not in pic)
• My extremely old NERD brush that the boyfriend uses more often than I do haha
• Two power banks
• The silver slide box is where I keep my plasters and extra hairpins
• Rosary box
• Mints (brand differs)
• Handy dandy alcohol

And there you have it. What's inside yours? Would love to see it. :)

But first, let me ask you one question.
Do you have this unshakable dream 
that your works are meant to be read 
by people around the world?
If so...keep writing.
That's the secret.

Every time I write a post about writing and marketing books, I’ve always had this niggling worry at the back of my mind, asking me if whatever advice I was offering would really help.
After all---
·       When I first started, I had a publisher to do marketing for me.
·       By the time I started self-publishing, I had a small but growing readership.
·       I received additional promotion from the boxed sets I had the fortune and privilege to be a part of, many of which made it to NYT and USAT bestselling lists.
·       I had mentors, whose advice was golden.
Now, a question: what if I wouldn’t be able to have any of this if I hadn’t started out with a publisher?

This has always bothered me…or at least it had until an experiment with another pen name has challenged me to put my money where my mouth is. So I applied my own advice, and I’m happy to tell you that the results have been astoundingly positive.
For a breakdown of the entire process, let’s start with what I did prior to releasing the book---
1.      I picked a trend in romance that I figured would still be hot by the time I finished writing.
2.      I worked on an outline for a trilogy with a possibility for continuing the series if there was a demand for more books.
3.       Each installment was about 10k words or less, and they had the dreaded C word for readers: cliffhangers!
4.       I ordered covers patterned after the latest bestselling romances targeting the same trend.
5.       I decided to price everything at $.99 and enroll all three in KU.

Books 1 to 3 were released in quick succession, the first 2 just days apart and the last one a week or so after. I made sure to do a bit of free marketing such as---
1.      Making use of Amazon’s free days for Book 1
2.     And reaching out to Facebook page owners while Book 1’s free to download, asking them if they could the post the book for me and offering them ARCs for reviews and/or giveaways.
3.     (Indirect marketing of sorts) I asked readers to let me know if they wanted a Book 4.

 Once Book 3 was out, I was earning approximately our daily minimum wage (net total for all three books), and almost all of it is from KU borrows. I was incredibly happy with the earnings, but I felt like I should also give paid marketing a try. So I did, and the results were even more overwhelming.
Let’s just say that for every $1 spent on paid advertising, I earned it back and $3 more. I do have to warn you, though: I was only able to enjoy this level of ROI with a medium-range budget for marketing. 

I’ve thought about this long and hard, and personally, I think it’s okay not to do paid marketing at the start. Just see how things work out first. You have to be patient though; this is definitely the longer and harder road to profitability. I also have to admit that I only invested in paid marketing because I could afford it.
But if I didn’t, I’d have done things a bit differently.
·       Outline, write, and finish a series of novel-length standalones (length requirement  is because of KU's new payout structure).
·       Release in quick succession.
·       Enroll everything in KU, with the first one at $.99 and the rest at $2.99
·       If I don’t earn enough from KU, I’ll ditch it after three months and release wide.
·       I’ll set Book 1 free and reach out to Facebook page owners about it.
·       If and when I could afford it, do occasional paid marketing (low budget).
Rinse and repeat until I’ve grown my own readership.
And that’s it. If you have questions, feel free to post a comment below or email me. I know I’ve simplified things too much, and I haven’t talked about how to write a “good” book that would sell and all, but here’s the thing. I don’t think it’s my place to tell you what’s good or not. What works for me may not work for you, so I’ll just leave that part for you to figure out.
Always keep writing! 

I've been thinking lately that I've been working too hard, and it's making me proud. :(

As breadwinner (by choice), I've a lot of responsibilities. I welcome them because nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing my loved ones happy. However, more responsibilities mean I have to earn a certain amount. I work hard to earn beyond this target, work so hard that I forget it's not about what I can do.

You know how, when Manny Pacquiao's always asked about his accomplishments, he always say it's because of God? I believe that's true. I believe my work is because of His grace but because I work so hard and worry so much, I end up feeling like it's all up to ME. When it's not.

Whatever I accomplish now is because of God and I need to remember how NOT to worry. Worry is one of Satan's tools because it makes you focus inwardly and doubt God's plans for you.

And it's funny really, but where I am now is so much better than where I was before and yet I realize I worry more today than I used to. It's because I feel I have more to lose when in actuality, nothing's different. Everything I had or have is God letting me be a steward of His blessings so really, nothing's changed.

I pray to God that through this post I may be free of worry and re-learn humility. I hope that you - and I'm still surprised whenever I find out people read this part of my site haha - will not make the same mistakes I've made.

Trust in God's plans. Cease your worries. :)

P.S. Also, listen to your editor when she tells you to stop worrying. :P It's another kind of worry altogether, but still.,

So a few hours ago, I watched The Breakup Playlist (first day, yay!), and I have to say - it's my #1 fave movie of both Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual so far. TBH I've only watched a few of PP's movies but dear God, he's won my respect with this one - he was so good at crying, there was this scene where his tears fell like RAINDROPS. I. Kid. You. Not. 
The pacing is a bit too slow for someone like me (I'm all about instalove), but that's just MHO. It's not that there were scenes I think should be cut. There weren't. It's really just me, and the way I like my movies and books even.
Anyway, on to the stuff that I loved as an author (it's why I'm writing this review here)---

• Characters were imperfect but still likeable; I also loved that they showed growth.
• Scenes that made me cry (spoiler alert! highlight if you wish to read): Sarah getting kicked out of her house, Sarah wanting to make it up to her mom, Piolo's crying scene, Sarah learning how to forgive (the part where she was listening to Piolo's apology CD), and Piolo saying ILY through album covers
• HEA!!! Because I hate - goddammit I totally hate - it when you make me think I'm watching a rom-com and then the film ends with the H/h not getting back together (I'm looking at you, Kimerald! Toni/Piolo's an exception coz I asked for spoilers for that one).

That's it. Definitely recommend everyone to watch this movie. ;)