Finishing

What a writing journey it has been?  This is the good thing revealed about thirty one days free-writing challenge.  You have either a heart to take it or none at all as you might just be wasting precious moments away.  Looking back, it’s not really bad joining the fun with many others carving a niche in their writing career.  I actually joined in the second day missing writing last two pieces in the homestretch because of some technicalities.  One, my Globe account was cut off without any official billing served.  This despite  my 27^th and  28^th were ready  for posting. 
And as I wrote the remaining last two entries, including this piece, my account was hacked and could not open my Facebook.  I have yet to write the first entry I missed to get perfect thirty one required entries, never mind given days have already expired.  But what a surprise in my life – my 500 Words Daily Challenge blogsite was lost after I have my FB Account restored.  Sick joke here.  Good, however, that I have those entries saved in my personal file.

            All is well, however, that ends well.  I could now resume writing my second novel “The Way.”  The invitation of course is still alluring for the continuation of the second phase of this challenge, but I’m deliberately waving my desire to redirect my energy  writing that work.  Done work is what really that matters.  That’s as good as already free-written.  One more editing would already be on the way closer for publication.  Yes, way to go but this time with renewed vigor and interest specially learning valuable creative writing tips I found precondition for any writer to master.  Overuse of pet peeves (dead words and phrases), free-writing, deleting of adverbs making stronger statement (now I know!), run-ons, daily writing exercise, making a voice, building your audience, creating and enhancing blogsites.  This incorporating to that big  editing business by oneself  are all extremely helpful if you have to be serious in such lonely but challenging writing crusade.

            Thus far, thirty one inspiring and magnificent free-writing pieces and prompts derived from timely social issues of the day, regular thirty one days and nights writing habit, twenty nine thousand, eighty (29,080) word counts, - this would already constitute significant chapter in my life as a writer.  Regretted that I have not joined Nanowrimo missing the opportunity of writing a novel.  But it seems there is nothing to regret about any opportunity as you have all the luxury writing if you really mean business making writing as your investment for the future.  I know the stake is higher as we level up to the challenge.  Isn’t it that, like Spiderman, responsibility is greater as you are bestowed with far higher career in town anyway.  The opposite holds true.  Never mind investing time to this highly demanding and competitive career.  But isn’t it our passion to pursue our talents what makes the world go round.  First no one ever forced us to write but ourselves.  The advice of the professional writers is in order here.  No one poked a gun on our head.  Ergo when you write, write sensibly anyway, Butch Dalisay would say.

            True enough that this adventure is only for the brave. How would you survive for instance in this creative world if you don’t have what it takes to become a compelling and fulfilled writer. Lualhati Bautista, a multi-awarded Filipina writer has this revelation:

            
            “A writer works in solitude, in his own private room and with only his thoughts to keep him company.  No one sees the love and passion and sacrifices he puts in his work.  He works while everybody else sleeps or make love but nobody sees that.  Nobody watches him falling into familial bond with his characters, living their joys and grief. No one sees the  hours, not to mention the heart he puts in, not just to create a story, but to live and share a whole gamut of human experience.”

                           For our mentors – Jeff Goins and Christine Royse Niles, and Ramil Sanchez, coordinator  among Filipino writers baring too his passion and soul on his writing career; our writers young and mature from other shores for your generous and relevant posts and wisdom.  Thanks for the time well spent.  But of course we should not forget that writing is forever as there is no such thing as finished writing pieces.  Here refinement through editing one’s work follows.

                           My suggestion, although this was not articulated in the challenge.  How about possible publication of one’s work in anyway corresponding to the writers’ hidden desire and merit.  What about an online Certificate of Participation too from Jeff Goins for participants for having survived the fun, something material evidence we could hang on our wall we would treasure to reminisce when putting our pen to rest comes!  What’s your take here? 

(31^st Entry My 500 Words Daily Challenge)