Eureka!

I have dug a cache of precious gems in this goldmine of a blog.  I am attesting to the fact that the articles are undoubtedly unparalleled.   This man is the writer I have sought far and wide in the blogosphere.

The Role of Serendipity

I was commenting on Roy’s blog when I read his comment and got impressed, so I visited his blog.  I could not help but raid his archives because I had gobbled up his newest post and still I wanted to read more.  I practically put up camp in his blog so I could continue reading ALL of his posts even into the wee hours of dawn.  I was utterly awed by his style, his language, his aphorisms, his effusiveness, and his witty one =liners and had savored every single sentence of his posts.  Right then and there, I became an avid fan.

I left my first comment in his guest post at Jaypee Habaradas Blog: Jaypee Online:   How to: 10 Ways To Bring Sexy Back To Your Blog .  I did not comment though in all of his posts because I was thinking, he might not respond.   But he replied to my comment   and it made me very happy. This was when his blog was still “Sa Labas ng Mandaluyong.” I was like a fan having a first, personal encounter with my Superstar.

Jan Geronimo

Here are some of  the articles in his archive. They may be “old”,  but  are thought provoking.   I have read them twice, thrice and even four times:

1. 10 Reasons Why My Father Could Have Been an Uber Blogger

2. The Lost Art of Being Silly

3. The Man Behind The Blog

A New Domain Name

Then he won his own domain and named it “Writing to Exhale”.  Slowly, he really began to notice me.  Imagine!  – I – who had been cool and unruffled at work,  swooning now like a hopeless fanatic every time he responded lengthily to my comments. He was an engaging conversationalist and made all his commentators “feel at home”.   After a hard day’s work, I usually proceeded straight to his blog to relax and to feed my mind and soul.

These are some of his posts in this domain: Writing to Exhale.

1. 10 Traits of a Die Hard Blogger

2.  My Philosophy in a Bottle of Ketchup – a favorite of my wards.

3. 27 Reasons Why Jena Isle’s Inspirational Book Rocks

A Talent That Should be Shared

He is very generous and helpful too and could be counted on, without you asking for it.  I am talking about no less than Mr. Ultimate Writer himself – JAN GERONIMO!

Jan, keep on writing. As we both have advised Rey Jr. about his singing talent, that he should share this with other people; you should also share your writing acumen with more people, through your articles.  The blogosphere needs to read a Jan Geronimo to really appreciate writing.

I mean every word I said in this post.  You know me; if I have nothing good to say, then I’ll just remain silent.  I rest my case!

11 days into NaNoWrimo, barely surviving and hanging on with the tips of my “claws” (I’ve grown claws now…lol), and ready to throw in the towel.   Well, you see,  I  scanned  the first paragraph of my “novel”,  and  I have a niggling feeling  this  won’t be  given great reviews by the critics later on.   It lacks the “IT” factor.  If it’s blood, it’s grossly anemic.

But at my age, you’d think I’d be wiser, so I’ll gladly assume that role.  Quitters never win!

And would you believe that most of the NaNoWrimo participants are young people?   I really felt “antiquated”   (Yes, Jan Geronimo, like I belonged to the museum.)  The feeling was momentary though,  because I believe that writing is ageless, and it would give me immense pleasure to finally fulfill one of the things in my Bucket List.

Furthermore, the characters in the novel are now taking over the story of their own lives, in what is supposed to be MY story.   Could you believe that?  Now, I understand what novelists say about the story shaping up by itself.   I have to stop typing for the moment,   lest these characters would take me into the burning inferno of the Hades.  One character already had decided to be the “black tar” on Ash Wednesday, veering the plot into some unknown  territory!

A little help from my friends:  The Power 50 group – DiTesco and the rest – had been most encouraging.

There’s no turning back now,  do or die!  Go,  go, go, NaNoWrimo participants:  Holly, Heather, and Doc Z !

See you around , folks.

The clock was ticking

It was the midnight of October 31,  and I  was still undecided about what to write For the NANOWRIMO.  I was growing restless and anxious that I might not be able to make up my mind in time for the November 1- kick off.

Should I continue with my previously written novel –Umma Ayam Sinsana?  The initial draft for Chapter 17 has been gathering cobwebs in the document folders of my lappy.

A little help from my friends

1.   But a dear friend – Holly Jahangiri – reminded me that it would be better if I start with a new novel.   Holly has also written a pertinent post: “Nano Nine: How to Gear Up for NANOWRIMO, which is a must read for noobs.

2,  Heather Kephart ,  another NANO participant was also in search for a plot for this enterprising venture.  I enjoyed reading her article: Post-halloween NaNoWriMo Crankfest . Out in Utah,

3. Brady Frost had also started writing his novel. Here are some pointers from him: Five Things to Keep in Mind During Nanowrimo. We were all in the process of  conceptualizing a plot for our novels.

4, Another  friend ,  who helped  me a lot in my blogging and profession,  is Patricia Rockwell.   She has posted  this article on the 5th day of the NaNo - “Writer’s Solution: Goth Poetry Generator”. She’s a veteran Nano writer and is a published author too.

5. Several scenarios played in my mind: should I write another cheesy love story? Woman meets man and after some LQs, lived happily ever after? Or a sci-fi story? Earth invaded by aliens and saved by the Zorlonians?  He he he…. But that’s Doc Zorlone’s original concept and I wouldn’t want to mar his creative genius  by my inaccurate description.  Incidentally, Doc Z is also an eager  participant in this writing endeavor.

I could not sleep thinking about an appropriate plot for my NANOWRIMO.

The muse has finally appeared

I was in this suspended state of introspection, when out of the blue an idea popped out from the dura matter that I had thought was lost from within.

I hastily click on “create a new file”, and started typing. As soon as the first sentence sprung from my fingertips, I could hardly keep up with the deluge of words that had started to pour from my meandering thoughts.

I had always marveled at the beauty and grandeur of the Mountains of Kalinga. It was in this far-flung place that I had spent the latter part of my childhood, I had revered its Eden-like beauty with its lush flora and unnatural fauna. It was only there in Taloctoc that I have seen a genuine firebird – with its flaming red feathers, ominously effulgent in the starless night.

I fell in love with the clear, rambling, Chico River and had forged unforgettable memories amidst its swirling waters.

Photo courtesy of Nikes Alviz

I have written several stories about my beloved Kalinga; some found their way to the glossy pages of local magazines and some went straight to the editor’s bin.

In spite of all those stories written, there are still numerous ones that continue to haunt me in my sleep. And one of these is the basis of my story for the NANOWRIMO.

The Clamor of Kalinga

My novel in the making,  entitled:  “The Clamor of the Mountains”,  is a tribute to the people of Kalinga.

I’m now on my 8,000 word count. NANOWRIMO veterans,  like Holly,  instructed us  – the Noob /Newbies – to write, write,  and write; and not be bothered with syntax and fluidity .  Editing would be next December.   During these crucial, first months,  it’s the word count that matters.   Hence,  I’ll say goodbye for now; I’ll have to shift to MSword so I could continue writing my novel.

Wish me luck  as I unravel another story that – I hope – would serve as a means to understand more the culture and customs of the Kalinga people.