I love this book. You heard me, I love The Secret History by Donna Tartt. (Spoilers ahead!) I’d actually read this book a couple years ago when a dear friend lent it to me during the pandemic. Back then, when I asked what it was about, her only explanation was “You should read it. It’s […]
Surprise, surprise. I read ‘the Secret History’ Read More »
I turned 26 today. On the same day, I also finished a vignette collection that I’d been working on for nearly 3 years. That’s got to mean something, right? Some metaphor, some closed loop in the story, perfectly wrapped up on a birthday. Right? It’s strange. I don’t think I can properly summarize how I
Finally Finishing My Vignette Collection Read More »
^And by that, I mean that everyone should read this book. This is one of the fundamental ideas that Elizabeth Gilbert explores in Big Magic, that indeed, everyone, whether they like it or not, is creative. More so, you can choose to live a creative life. The book explores all aspects of creativity and how
Read ‘Big Magic’ if You’re a Creative Read More »
I’m starting to slowly believe in the merits of fast-writing. It wasn’t always this way. I remember being told by a mentor that it takes 7 years to complete a book. SEVEN YEARS? I remember thinking about that with astonishment. Back then, as an impatient 22-year old, it was hard to imagine 7 long years
The Merits of Fast-Writing Read More »
I’m supposed to be working on my vignette collection, yet there was something about this piece that just flew out from my fingers onto the keyboard. As it was, I couldn’t ignore. I think one of the underlying themes of this vignette is the lengths at which we’ll go to self-punish ourselves. I didn’t really
How setting plays a role in my writing Read More »
I’d always been curious about “I’m Glad My Mom Died” and with a title like that, how could you not be? Like most people my age, the other part of my curiosity was fueled by my familiarity with Jennette’s character, Sam, from iCarly. It was one of the few shows I’d really enjoyed as a
My thoughts on “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy Read More »
Today was a truly strange day. Or perhaps not strange, but rather, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It was a day that started with an odd google search: “What does a hand look like after it’s broken?” I had this concept for a while: the image of a daughter cradling a
I’m a woman and I’m angry Read More »
Sometime ago in December, I made the brillliiiiaannnt decision to finish the vignette collection by the end of 2022. At the time, it felt doable, but of course life comes up. Some days you just cannot bring yourself to write, and that’s okay. However, am I readjusting my goal post? Of course not. Because this
How do I write a harana (filipino serenade)? Read More »
I loved writing this piece. It’s a different voice than what I usually go over. The narrator Gina is funny and dry, with a thin facade of keeping it together. I’m usually used to writing in a very ‘put together’ way that is lyrical and I guess lately, I’ve been feeling a bit tired of
12 Week Program to a New Heart Read More »
Yeah, I mean it. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler should be a classic. Below are some of thoughts on the book so fair warning that some *spoilers* lie ahead. When I first read this book, I was convinced that it had just been published, as recently as last year. However, when I flipped onto the
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler should be a classic Read More »