So here’s the thing. I write super mushy, super steamy rom-coms. Most of my one-star reviews describe my books as mindless, shallow, stupid, and unrealistic. My heroines are weak. My heroes are jerks. You get the drift. 

But I also receive emails and messages on FB from readers all over the world, and these people tell me how my books have made them laugh and cry, how my stories have allowed them to forget the real world, even just for a while. My “senior” readers tell me my books take their minds off the pain of their illnesses. Other readers tell me my books are their way of de-stressing after a long, tiring commute, a hard day at work, a challenging day at school – you get the drift, too, right?

Honestly, I think it’s the same with AlDub. 

I know it’s definitely the same for me at least. When I’m exhausted after writing, when I just want to stop worrying about my mother’s health (she’s NOT dying, but a recent scare had us thinking she had some serious illness)…I watch AlDub. In fact, if I can, I watch Eat Bulaga in its entirety because I find the entire show entertaining. 

To be honest, before AlDub, or at least since I start self-publishing full-time, I didn't have much time to watch TV. I got too busy working, and my primary motivation for working is to earn a living so I could make my loved ones happy and be of greater help to those in need. It just so happens that I also love what I do, which makes my job enjoyable but definitely not stress-free.

When I first watched AlDub, it was instalove. I can’t explain it, but I just enjoyed every minute of it. So much so that I was motivated to show my support, regardless of what other people would think of me. I don’t know Alden or Yaya Dub personally, but they seem like good people to me. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think for now, and because I know tweets help in increasing brand recognition for the two celebrities, I tweet. 

Question is - does watching AlDub make me exceptionally shallow? Does it make me a rather unfortunate example of a Filipino citizen? 

I don’t know. 

What I do know is that I’m at my happiest when I make other people happy. As for what AlDub has to do with that, here’s how it works (in my case at least):

• I work to earn a living, and the money I earn, I spend on my family, for my personal use, and for my monthly tithe (a.k.a. giving back). 
•  In order not to burn out from work, I need to de-stress myself. 
•  To de-stress, I watch AlDub.

That’s it, basically. And I think it’s the same for many people who watch AlDub or even Pastillas Girl. People just want to relieve their stress from their day-to-day worries, and they get that from watching either show. 

Watching AlDub will NOT help solve any of the major problems that our country suffers from. But I don’t see how not watching AlDub is going to make our country’s situation any better either. People who, for whatever reason, are not as involved in solving our country's problems pre-AlDub are unlikely to change even if they stop watching said show.

On the other hand, watching AlDub can (not saying it always or ever does, but there's a possibility) start a chain of good deeds.

Honestly, after watching an episode of AlDub, I’m in such a good mood that even when I encounter some kind of negativity in my personal life, my main instinct is to just laugh it off while mentally saying to that person, AlDub you. Watching this show makes me extra patient, extra generous, and who knows? People I’m extra patient and extra generous with can end up being the same with other people…and so forth. 

In the end, kanya-kanya lang yan (to each his own). Maybe it’s just a phase, maybe it won’t last. Honestly, I don’t care. I’m just happy to tag along for the ride and have something relaxing (not to mention AFFORDABLE) to look forward to Mon-Sat.

September is my birthday month, and this year is my second consecutive time to celebrate it with children from marginalized sectors. I think that's the most politically correct way to put it although it does sound a lot more cold-blooded, too. On the other hand, it doesn't feel good either to simply describe them as "poor" or "less fortunate" because technically, there are also wealthy people we can honestly describe in the same terms, albeit in a different context. 
But anyway, doing outreach is something my dad and stepmom's been into for numerous years already. Probably started when I was in my twenties and so it's not something I grew up with. It's not something I was used to doing. However, it is something I ended up wanting to do because every event is, in one way or another, life-changing and it always help me put things in the right perspective.
In yesterday's homily, Father Robert - the priest we invited for the outreach and, incidentally, our priest also for LSS, which I wrote about previously - shared with us a story about a young boy who, like the kids listening to him, had a very tough childhood. He and his mother were relocated to a community similar to what was in Don Bosco, Calauan, Laguna, his stepfather beat him constantly, and when his stepfather died, the boy - at a very young age - had made the difficult decision of temporarily leaving his ailing mother to live with another family for 12 years just so he could finish school (but that family treated him more like an indentured servant than a part of their family) and provide a better living for his mother. The only highlight in his young life was when a priest came to visit the housing community he and his mother lived in, and through that priest he was able to discover Christ. Since then, it became the boy's mission to become a priest as well.
Last August 2014, that boy's dream came true. He became a priest and he went back to his mother, saying, "We made it. We did not give up." Through Christ, he is finally able to give his mother a better life.
That boy was, of course, Father Robert himself, and honestly I hadn't figured it out until may he was 90% into his story. >.< Sharing his story was essential because he wanted the kids to know that his life story isn't much different from the rest of them. In fact, during my dad and stepmom's first visit to the youth center, they had come to know a really young boy - about four or five I think - who knew that his father went to jail because he had killed the boy's mother and tried to hide her corpse in their kitchen. Your heart would break for that little boy when you see him. His eyes have lost its innocence, and sometimes even when you call out to him, he doesn't answer, too lost in his thoughts when he should have been playing and leading a carefree life like most kids do.
The moral lesson in all this, of course, is to NEVER GIVE UP.
Our own lives may not be as dramatic as Father Robert's or the little boy's, but I know you know it doesn't mean that our problems are not as heavy or as painful. We suffer so much especially when we see our loved ones hurting and we feel like we can't do anything about it.
But we can. It may not seem so right now, but we can. We just need to work hard AND have faith. I sincerely believe it's not one or the other. It has to be both.

Personally, September has also been a month of extreme highs and lows for me. I had to overcome probably the greatest challenge in my life, involving a member of my family, and it really had me crying because I just didn't know what to do. It was significantly affecting my work, and I was genuinely terrified that it would show in my writing - that when my books came out, people would know what mood I was in when I wrote it and they'd hate my work. 
I did not blame God at all for this, of course. Throughout this ordeal, I actually came to realize how arrogant I have been in the past months. I had been so busy working that I had forgotten to acknowledge God's hand in all my achievements and blessings. I felt like the challenge was there to remind me that we owe everything to God and without God we have nothing.
So I prayed to God for help and enlightenment. I admitted my weakness and I simply offered everything to Him and relied on His love and grace to get me through.
And you know what? Even though this month included the darkest days in my life, I also ended up releasing my highest-ranking book to date.  To be honest, I was thinking my books this month would equate to career suicide because I was releasing them when I wasn't in the ideal frame of mind. Even worse, they're not in Kindle Unlimited and with Amazon these days, non-KU books suffer from visibility woes right out of the gate. Worst of all, I wrote them in serial format. I did this because I enjoy it - I get an unparalleled emotional high when I do so - but it's also that one format which offers a surefire way to get a few (definitely not all) readers pissed at you for various reasons (which I have nothing to say about since everyone's entitled to their own opinion).
But I still did it anyway because it felt right and it was a gamble I also felt I had to take, just so I can see which direction I'm meant to take with publishing. And with God's grace, the gamble that I thought I'd lose - well, it actually paid off, and in ways that I never imagined.
Moral lesson: God will NEVER let us down. Never. But we mustn't lose faith in Him either, whatever happens.

After our outreach in Laguna, we went straight to Rockwell to have mass (anticipated). So yes, two masses in one day, what can I say? The older folks are very religious. :P
But actually, it was a good thing we did because Father Mario (advance happy birthday, sir!) also imparted a really wonderful message during his homily. To keep things short and simple, he said that people who truly feel blessed are those who work to be a blessing to others.
He spoke of this person he knew, who cursed his 90-year-old mom and blamed her and his siblings for not gaining his rightful inheritance. Father Mario asked why, and he said, "It's because I only got P400 million and..."
That's definitely one example of how you can be blessed but not see it and so you are also unable to be a blessing to others.
I truly believe that the greatest blessing in life is to be that exactly - to be able to share whatever you can with other people, even if it means that it will be - at times or even often - to your detriment. Sometimes, it may be perceived as weakness but even so...let it be. What matters is that you were able to help, and that you know in your heart you have done what God wanted you to do.
In almost three years of indie publishing, I have experienced a lot of personal miracles. There have been numerous times when I question myself, many nights when I'm sleepless and wonder if I've finally done that one mistake which will cause God to take everything away from me so I'll learn my lesson. And yes, I know that God isn't punitive or petty but that's how I feel. But always - and there's no exception - whenever bad something happens (which I am wise and faithful enough not to ever blame God for), I'd realize later on that it was actually a blessing in disguise.
My point is, well, rather my points are---
1. Everything happens for a reason. If we feel lost or defeated, let's just pray for wisdom and grace. We are NEVER alone, but we often forget this in times of trouble.
2. Focus on your blessings. Because we are blessed, all of us. It's just that not all of us realize this. The more you focus on your blessings, the happier you will be, and the more excited you'd be to share what you have. And because you want to share so much of your blessings, God will of course be happy to bless you more so that you have more to share. It's a cycle, and a really great one.
God bless you all!
*pabebe wave*

I can't remember if I've talked about this in the past, but if I did, it was probably only in passing. For this post, though, I intend to be more "in-depth" with my take on writing violations - or things that we are NORMALLY told not to do when writing.

Back when I was querying for an agent and hoping to get my book published by a traditional publisher, I made sure to play by the rules. I believed - then - that following the rules was the ONLY and RIGHT thing to do.
When I switched to indie publishing, however, I gradually found myself experimenting and, yes, deliberately breaking rules that I felt I had to break because of how I want to write. And to my surprise, the experiments seem to pay off. I'd like to think they did pay off, but I also think these rule-breaking experiments worked in my favor because I knew I was breaking the rules. I had the chance to discuss this with a fellow Filipino writer (and editor), and she was the one who opened my eyes to this, actually. She told me (this is not verbatim) that there's a major difference between writers who deliberately violate certain writing principles AND writers who make the same mistakes out of inexperience or ignorance. 

I used to be really, really, really, really in favor of this rule, to the point that I've never acknowledged (in my mind, at least) the possibility that sometimes, more tell vs. show would ever work. But then I started writing My Dutch Billionaire 1, and I just knew that I had to do a lot of telling. I just...had to. There's a kind of intimacy when you do more telling versus showing, almost like a diary that comes to life just for your eyes, and even though I knew it could likely cause my book to be a huge flop, I took the risk anyway.
And I'd like to think it paid off, since the book got me back on Amazon's overall list for Top 100 Movers & Shakers as well as giving me a temporary spot on Amazon's top 100 contemporary romance authors (which, I promise, is even harder to do these days if you're not in KU).

More "tell vs. show" was something I deliberately chose to do because - as you see from the review above - the love story between my H/h started when the girl was very young (14!) and the guy was - here goes - 28! So, yes, double her age! In hindsight, I realize now that one of the primary reasons "tell vs. show" worked is because the heroine's age made her lack the kind of maturity and experience needed to articulate her feelings for the hero in a way that would satisfy readers. And so I had to "step in" and tell. 
We can, of course, argue about skipping this part of their relationship entirely and just go straight to the part where she's old enough to show her side of the story. We could...but I didn't. Because I felt that this part of their story is integral and I personally believe that it's something my readers would appreciate. 

Here's the thing. Other writers may think or even call you a hack to your face. Others may think you're uninspired and lacking in creativity. Others may say that your writing's crap, purely because you have a formula.
But here's the other thing. A lot of readers - and I'm like this, as a reader - have favorite authors because they know their expectations will be met. And that's what you're trying to satisfy when using a formula.

It took a couple of bad experiments for me to STOP FEELING GUILTY about ENJOYING my writing when I use my favorite formula. The penny-dropping moment for me came when I read a book from a certain favorite author and it was NOT what I expected at all. Made me feel so depressed and disappointed, and eventually I realized that this is what would happen if I let other people's opinions sway me from writing what I like to write - and what MY readers like to read. 

Another thing I stayed away from big time when I wasn't self-publishing was PROLOGUES. 
For most people, prologues are unnecessary and even a means to feed one's ego at times (I guess it's because some people use a lot of deep / flowery words in prologues). 
But here's another thing. I really like prologues. I think it's a great way to introduce a character's background without slowing down the rest of the story.
So when I started self-publishing, you can bet your ass I started writing prologues as well. And I'd like to think it works because my prologues have a purpose.

Basically, it's when you change POVs within the same scene. A lot of people hate it - authors, editors, publishers - but, weirdly enough, it's something that my favorite authors do. Judith McNaught is one of my Top 5 all-time favorite authors and I can honestly say that her books have influenced my writing a lot. She never failed to make me fall in love with her characters, never failed to make me cry. I loved the banter between her H/h and I loved the way she made her heroes grovel. 
Another is Lynne Graham, my #1 go-to Harlequin Presents / Mills and Boon author. She does a lot of head-hopping, too and I love it.
There's also Christine Feehan, with her Carpathian series. I absolutely adore the way her characters are able to communicate telepathically and yes, that's a head-hopping scene, too.
BUT again, I avoided doing this because I knew I'd have a hard time convincing agents / editors to even give my manuscript a chance the moment they see one head-hopping scene. In fact, this was what led me to write most of my early manuscripts in first person.
And then I started to self-publish, took the risk in writing the way I really want to write, and I'd like to think this also paid off.

Here's what I think. We are our own worst critics. If we're not the type to indulge in self-delusions then we'll be able to know right away when something's not working. So there's no need to read bad reviews. I don't know about you, but every one or two-star review I read about my book (I try to avoid doing so, but sometimes it's just so hard to ignore) HURTS me. It also affects me at times, to the point of crippling my ability to write. 
So really, the less negativity, the better. Avoid reading bad reviews. 
Remember: a bad review only means your book got into the wrong hands. 

Rules were made to be broken. 
No, not really. :D I'm kidding. 
The point is, it's essential that we take our time to hone our craft. To study the basics so that we have the right foundation to "build" our stories on. It's only by knowing what these rules are and understanding why they're there that we can effectively determine for ourselves if all these rules are something we should adhere to when writing. 
So NO, I AM NOT ENCOURAGING YOU AT ALL TO BREAK THE GOLDEN RULES OF WRITING. 
What I am saying is that if you do intentionally break a rule (meaning, you know you're breaking one) and you do it because you feel it's right (meaning, you understand why the rule exists but you also believe your story can't be told properly without breaking the rule) then go for it.
It's your story, and it has to be told the way you envision it.

First: the link to the September 2015 report. 
Next: Points that stood out for me -

If only local bookstores / or even chain stores like 7-11 would do this, too!

KU1 was great for my pen name, but unfortunately I went into it a little too late. KU2 stung because I hate the idea that we're paid by pages read. However, considering the stats shared by Author Earnings, I know I have to adjust. So, yes, I'm planning a KU comeback for my pen names. Will share results once I have a complete NEW series to market.

For me, this simply means that Amazon will naturally provide books under their own imprints with better visibility. It's a good way to do business and it's just something that we need to live with and adapt to. C'est la vie.

Note: I have nothing to say about the decrease in traditionally published authors' earnings or reduced sales for trad-pub books because, well, to be honest - I feel like I have bigger things to worry about at the moment.

Lately, I've been receiving emails from young writers (both sexes) wanting to know what their options are for getting their works published. I've been meaning to write this entry for them but life and work's gotten in the way.
Eventually though, I've realized that life and work will always get in the way until I make time to write this entry. So here I am, and apologies for the delay.
Now, I've actually rewritten this post in my mind several times, trying to think of how to best explain the difference between traditional and self-publishing is. But now I'm thinking I don't have to do that. Other experts have already weighed about the difference between as well as the pros and cons of self-publishing and traditional publishing, and their explanations are way better than anything I can ever come up with. 
So no, I'm not going to bother with that. I do recommend you read Courtney Milan's take on it as well as this and this by Jane Friedman.
(Note:  I know that PH's publishing industry is different from the publishing industry in the US but there are also enough similarities for the aforementioned posts to still be applicable.) 
Anyway, what I'll be sharing with you now is a questionnaire that I hope can help Filipino authors determine whether it's traditional or self-publishing they're more suitable for.
Now, the rules:

1. Each question is answerable by YES or NO.
   
2. When you're done, tally your answers.
3. If you have MORE YES answers than no then you're more suitable to self-publishing.
4. If you have MORE NO answers than yes then you're more suitable to traditional publishing.
5. This questionnaire is ONLY meant to be used as A GUIDE. 
6. It DOES NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESS in publishing.

1. Do you want to own copyright to your work? (Note: It's possible that you'll still own copyright to your book when it's traditionally published, but it's something you usually have to negotiate with the publisher. The advantages of owning copyright is that you DON'T need to ask anyone's permission when you want to promote or alter your book in any way. BUT if a publisher owns copyright to your work then you may have to ask their permission for just about, well, everything. Keep in mind as well that when you sign your copyright to a publisher's, it's very hard - in most cases - to get those rights reverted back to you. In worst case scenario, these contracts can actually STOP you from self-publishing your other works.)
2. Do you want / are you more comfortable with having more control over your book covers? (Note: With traditional publishers, they often will consider your opinion but they almost always have last say over your books, and yes, that means they can choose to ignore your output. On the other hand, more control means YOU have to PAY for your OWN COVER. Then again, you can always make your own covers, and sometimes - depending on your skills - that could work, too.)
3. Do you want / are you more comfortable with having more control over the editing of your books? (Note: I know a lot of authors who self-edit their work and are still able to sell a lot of copies. You need to be honest with yourself, though, and figure out on your own if you need professional help with editing. The main advantages with working with a professional editor: it frees up your time to write more AND your book is less likely to suffer from poor editing since you are working with a professional. However, this also means having to find a good editor to work with and paying for their services - something that traditional publishers typically do for their authors.)
4. Do you want / are you more comfortable with having more control over the marketing of your books? (Note: It used to be that traditional publishers would spend a lot of money on every book they release. Now, that's no longer the case. Only a few handful - really few, to be honest - get to enjoy huge marketing campaigns. Of course, you can still do your own marketing even with a traditionally published book but if that's the case, you should be publishing your own work. On the other hand, being indie means you have to DEVELOP and PAY for your own marketing campaign.)
5. Are you READY to think of WRITING AS A BUSINESS? (Note: You can no longer think of your writing as just art. You also need to see it as a business - in every aspect. You still need to write what you LOVE, absolutely, but you also need to make sure that what you love is what readers will love as well. This may mean tweaking your plot, setting, even your characters' names. This also means thinking about the right pricing strategy and how to package your work.)
6. Are you ready to work on spreadsheets? (Note: I'm NOT asking you to be an accountant, but you do need to keep track of your expenses to figure out the ROI of each book. You will also need to monitor results every time you conduct experiments on your books in order to figure out what you need to keep doing and what you need to change with your strategy.)
7. Are you OKAY with NOT having your books IN BOOKSTORES? (Note: It's possible for an indie author to get his/her books on local bookstores on consignment, but you'll need to negotiate your own contract and take care of all the logistics. It's not easy but not impossible either. Also, having your book in bookstores is considered an important milestone by many authors. Are you willing to let go - even temporarily - of this opportunity?)
8. Are you READY to take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for your book? (Note: As an indie publisher, the buck will always stop with you. No ifs, no buts - whether it has to do with your writing, cover, editing, or even formatting - you're accountable for it. BUT then again, everything that's right about the book is also because of your own efforts.)
9. Do you want to enjoy INCREASED CHANCES of EARNING? (Note: I say increased chances of earning because I can't guarantee that you'll earn from your work. However, if you take a look at AuthorEarnings.com, you'll see that indie authors out-earn their traditional counterparts in general. Primary reasons for this include being able to have higher royalty percentages for authors and indie writers being free to publish as many books as they want.)
10. Do you want to START EARNING NOW? (Note: Amazon et al has a 2-month delay for royalty payments. What you earned this September, you will be paid with a check late November. For us Filipino authors, this check will be mailed and reach us early to mid-December. OTOH it takes publishers months to a year or even more to pay you royalties.)
11. Are you comfortable with working on your own? (Note: Indie = independent, and most of the time you will be working all by your lonesome.  There won't be anyone to prod you about deadlines, no one to look after your interests except yourself. If you're the type who needs supervision while working then indie publishing may not be for you.)
12. Are you good with TIME MANAGEMENT? (Note: You need to know your priorities as an indie publisher. You need to learn how to say 'no' to people or opportunities in order to FIERCELY PROTECT your writing time. Marketing and networking with other writers is important, yes, but it's not as important as getting the next book out.)
13. Do you write FAST enough? (Note: The main advantage of working independently is being able to publish as many books as you want. But if it's an advantage that you don't think you want or intend to make use of, then you may be better off signing with a traditional publisher.)
14. Are you comfortable with and excited about WRITING TO TREND? (Note: Imagine having watched this week's blockbuster movie and finding it so inspiring you want to write something like it, with your own twist. Imagine having read this week's NYT bestseller and again feeling so inspired by it that you want to write your own version. That's what writing to trend is all about: you're writing what's CURRENTLY POPULAR, regardless of your motivations. This used to be an ill-advised move in the past because then, we only had traditional publishing. Since it usually takes 1 to 2 years for a book to go out from the time you signed your publishing contract, there's no point writing to trend. By the time your book's out, the trend's no longer popular. BUT IT'S DIFFERENT NOW. Depending on how fast you write and how passionate, excited, challenged, and inspired you are about the trend, it's more than possible to get your next book out while the trend's still hot and readers are EAGER to pay for books that cater to that trend. Don't you want to be the author who gives these readers what they want?)
15. Are you comfortable with approaching readers or reviewers about your work? (Note: I consider this as an inevitable and necessary part of self-publishing. With traditional publishing, your publicist or your publisher's marketing department will do it for you but since you're indie, you'll need to do this on your own. You'll need to come up with a system for determining which reviewers are best to approach, following them up, and monitoring reviews.)
16. Are you READY to SPEND money on MARKETING? (Note: This is also something I consider inevitable and necessary. While there are many ways to market your book for free, in the end there are also instances when you just HAVE to pay for marketing, in order to boost your book's visibility.
17. Are you FLEXIBLE? (Note: I still believe the ebook / digital publishing industry will continue to experience growing pains for quite some time, and because of that we as indie authors need to be ready to work with whatever changes that are sure to come our way. An example: KU changing its payment policies, which totally took me by surprise, but I've moved on and I'm already working on my next strategy. We can't waste time crying over spilled milk. We just need to move on, work harder, and keep writing.)
18. Are you READY to face the STIGMA that still comes with SELF-PUBLISHING? (Note: People's take on self-publishing isn't as bad as it used to be in the past, and yes, I thank God for that. BUT it's not completely gone. There will still be people who won't consider you a "real" author because you don't have a book in bookstores. There will still be people who think you don't have a "real job". If you're not ready to deal with such stigma in a positive manner then you may not yet be ready to self-publish.) 

Now that you're done with the questionnaire, go ahead and tally your answers. Remember, though - THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER. How you publish is a matter of choice and suitability. ;)
Hope this helps!