WATTPADFILIPINO BLOCK PARTY 2019
CODE NAME: This Gurl is Weird
WATTPAD NAME: WEIRDYGURL
1. What is your username means? What is the story behind it?
WEIRDYGURL means nothing, honestly speaking. It's a random username I've made up 8 years ago. Jeje days, 'yong wala lang, gusto ko lang. Haha. But my stories over the years had given this username justice. Most of my readers, sinasabi nila sa'ken, ang weird ko raw gumawa ng plot o story. Weirdly unique and fun, na-e-enjoy nila ang mga weird and unique names ng mga characters at settings. So I guess, at the back of my mind, alam niya kung paano ako mag-isip kaya 'yon ang ni register ko nang mag-sign-up ako.
For example, may story ako na puro computer parts ang character names. Main hero, name niya si Crosoft at ang main heroine ay Cambria. Second lead name Alt. Lahat ng mga characters ay makikita sa desktop, computer parts, keyboard at MS Word. Ang malala, nag-aaral sila dati sa USB, haha. It means University of St. Benedict. I like it to be different para maalala nila 'yong ka weirdohan ng pag-iisip ng writer. To spoil you, they have four children, Verdanah, Font, Print and Paper. Story title? MY CROSOFT. Haha!
Minsan puro Disney related names o mga kalahi naman ng mga bulaklak. Pinag-mi-mix ko na lang. Haha. Wala lang trip ko lang basta naiiba at bagay naman sa story, push ko na.
Even my first published book, Rome Vs Julie, is inspired by the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet, but instead of head over heels in love with each other ay head over sapatos silang nagbabatohan at nag-aaway. Their families are very fond with each other instead na nag-aaway. I wrote that for fun though. Haha.
At present, if you're going to ask me why I didn't change my username? Alam ko na ang isasagot. Simply because I'm a kind of writer who wants to be different. A kind of writer who aims to inspire people by writing and sharing weird yet inspirational stories. I believe weirdness is next to awesomeness. And ayyy, thank you!
2. Can you still recall the first time you've wrote your first story? Share your experiences in the process.
Yes, hindi pa ako nag-jo-join ng any writing platform that time. Grade six ako, there was this specific movie na hindi ko nagustuhan ang ending. Let's not go into details, na de-depress lang ako. Imbyerna ako nang bongga! Haha. After that, I started writing fan fictions. Sinusulat ko ang ending na gusto ko para masaya.
Nagtuloy 'yon hanggang sa nag-high school ako. Mostly, my stories are written in a used notebook. Noong una close friends ko lang ang nagbabasa hanggang sa napansin kong 'di na nababalik after class ang notebook. Then one time, habang naglalakad ako sa hallway ng school may tumawag sa'ken. We're not close, I grew up as an introvert so hindi ako madaldal before. Hindi na siya applicable sa'ken ngayon though. Chika ko lang. Then bigla niya akong kinawayan, she asked, kailan ako mag-a-update? Shookt ang lola n'yo. Then, na discover ko na pinagpapasahan na pala 'yon sa ibang section at araw-araw nanghihingi sila ng kasunod sa huling kabanatang nabasa nila. So sino ngayon mag-a-adjust? Haha!
Writing is really my stress reliever. Noong una, okay lang kahit anong isulat ko. But years taught me to do more, nang minahal ko nang husto ang pagsusulat, I learned to love even the struggles and hardships na kaakibat ng writing journey na pinili ko. Sinikap kong mag-improve sa story telling and character build up. I've read books and learned from those amazing authors. Published author or not, experiences were the best teacher. Passion makes it more bearable. My unedited first few stories are my daily reminders that I've improved.
Feeling ko dati, ang galing-galing ko, tapos kapag binabasa ko na siya ngayon, gusto kong isako ang sarili sa kahihiyan. Ang sakit sa sentido, baliko ang grammar, exag masyado ang eksena, hindi tama ang salitang ginamit, kulang ng research, nang instead of ng, peru instead of pero at madami pang masakit sa apdong pagkakamali. Minsan naiisip ko, ba't may nagbabasa nito? Sinong dwende ang nag-sumpa sa'yo? Seryoso ka ba? Haha. Kaloka, 'yong confidence ko noon kasing tayog ng Mount Everest. Ang sarap itulak!
But still, I feel grateful.
Mahirap, pero kailangan. It's for your own good. Kasi mag-ba-backlash 'yan sa'yo. You don't need to pressure yourself, just enjoy the hardship along the way. One step at a time. Hindi naman ito race. Naniniwala kasi ako that all of us has a time of our own. We will shine when the right time comes. Kumbaga, kung may birthday ka every year, may dreamday ka rin para sa mga pangarap mo. Work hard in silence and let your stories ripples in their minds and hearts. Patience is a virtue ika nga. Parang kabaliwan mo lang 'yan kay crush, kahit 'di ka niya gusto, laban pa rin. No pain, no glory!
So sabi ko, okay lang kahit konti ang reads, at least sinulat ko nang maayos at naisulat ko nang buong puso at may pagmamahal. I'm writing because I have stories in my mind that I want to share. Gusto ko silang bigyan ng buhay gamit ang mga salita. Doon kasi ako nagiging masaya. At feeling ko, may purpose kung bakit naisip ko 'yon, at sa tuwing nakakatanggap ako ng messages from my readers, iba 'yong fulfillment at saya. Alam mo 'yong, napasaya mo sila at nabago mo ang buhay nila? Masaya. Sobra.
Most of them, malungkot at suicidal. Pero sa tuwing sinasabi nila sa'ken that my stories saved their lives. I feel grateful. It makes me believe that I become a writer with a reason. That somehow, despite all my self-doubts and depressions, I too was able to save my own life and at that same time, I was able to inspire people to live well whose lives were close from breaking apart. My stories ripples in the heart and mind of those sad and lost souls who needed a reminder that they're not alone. Guys, we're fighting the apocalypse together. Chill!
And thank God, I didn't stop.
3. If you're going back to the past, what would you change in your own author career or stories?
Good question, aayusin ko ang pagsusulat ko. 'Yong hindi masakit sa liver. Second, don't let negativity stop me from doing what I love. Third, huwag sulat nang sulat kung hindi naman pala kayang tapusin. Ang dami kong napaasa. Nakarma tuloy kay crush. Haha! Fourth, huwag masyadong tamad. Fifth, huwag masyadong mabait, kasi na-a-abuse na e. Masakit sa heart. May limit dapat sa mga taong huwad ang mga katauhan at fake readers. Lastly, to always remind myself that I'm a writer and will always be a writer.
4. Who's your favourite character among all the stories you've written? Why?
Para sa akin si Mahaleah, her story is the most complex story I've written so far. Her character is what I love the most. Kilala ako ng mga readers ko as writer na humor at light romance ang forte. Ayoko talagang ma stress. I want people to be happy because I know how stressful life is.
I excel more in Rom-Com. Sabi ko at sabi nila. Haha! #ComfortZone
So why? Basahin n'yo ang kwento niya at malalaman n'yo kung bakit. It's Saving Forever For You, pa-promote na rin. Sayang ang exposure. Haha. Anyway, this story is a mix of horror, paranormal-ish, mystery, hisfic, humor and of course romance. And some would say, this is my master piece.
I've read comments saying, this story made them cry, scared, angry, confused, sad, happy, kilig, and crazy. It gives you daw a teleserye vibe. Ang kwentong 'to ay nakakaloka 'di umano pero 'di naman ito KMJS. Masakit sa puso, nakakatakot at nakakatawa, but at the same time, it gives you moral lessons to ponder with kahit 'di si Ma'am Charo ang nagku-kwento. Lahat daw ng emosyon ay napupukaw ng kwento ni Mahaleah. The story talks about life, depression and hope.
Some would say, the story deserves a million reads, which I feel grateful with. And I do hope one day, madami nga ang bumasa sa kwentong ito.
Mahaleah Salvatierre, is one of the strongest character I've written. Her positivity, kindness, selfless and sacrifices made her a woman whom you can look up to. I call her my sunflower girl, because sunflowers are happy flowers. And like a sunflower, she makes people around her happy. She gives them hope and she cheers them up to continue living.
Yiee! Magbabasa na 'yan. <3
SAVING FOREVER FOR YOU po ang title.
I also like Darwin Fate, he's the mischievous son of Mr. Destiny from Love, Lies and Fate. It's a romance, fantasy and humor story. Hindi siya ang main bida but he's really adorable. Wala lang, I like how he gives love advices, manipulate couples and can be naughty sometimes. He's a great friend, no a best friend rather, and he makes you wanna wish you have a friend like him. He's just so cute! I wanna take him home.
5. If you're going to create an alternate ending in one of your stories, what story would that be? Why? What ending will it be, if ever?
Wala, I believe the endings are written for a reason. Kung babaguhin ko 'yon, it will defeat the purpose of the story. Kaya kung pinatay ko siya, karma niya, haha, joke lang. There was a reason of course. Same with happy endings, deserved nila 'yon. I treat my characters as persons, ayoko rin silang masaktan nang walang dahilan. Gusto ko rin silang maging masaya dahil ayoko talaga ng kalungkutan. Nakaka-stress, masakit sa eyeballs.
Pero kung may gusto man akong baguhin, na sana hindi na sacrifice ang buhay niya, si NEMO, ang chow chow dog ng isa sa mga characters ko. Kailangan ko lang talaga siyang patayin kahit labag sa puso ko. If I could think of another heartbreaking scene aside from killing the most loved dog in that story, I'll keep Nemo. Spoilers! Haha.
But anyway, change maybe the only constant thing in this world, but not for my stories.
Allow me to share this as well, I am not your typical famous author/writer and some of you may not know me.
But kung open minded ka?
You are free to read my stories. I've written them with all my heart and love for human kind. I gave birth to these characters because of my marupok mind. Haha. Basta, love kita, kahit 'di ka niya love.
Thank you!