Featured: Red Room NaNoWriMo 2016

You might wonder what's keeping me busy these days, well, still writing!

I have already submitted #7MinutesInHeaven to my publisher, Pink & Purple, and we have to wait for the approval, so while I am still waiting, I decided to rest my brain cells. But ooops, here goes this Facebook post!

I researched what NaNoWriMo means, and so, I found out from Wikipedia that:

National Novel Writing Month (often shortened to NaNoWriMo, "na-noh-ry-moh"),^[2] is an annual, Internet-based creative writing project that takes place during the month of November. NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write 50,000 words (their minimum number of words for a novel) from November 1 until the deadline at 11:59PM on November 30. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing and keep them motivated throughout the process. The website provides participants with tips for writer's block, local places writers participating in NaNoWriMo are meeting, and an online community of support. The idea is to focus on completion instead of perfection. NaNoWriMo focuses on the length of a work rather than the quality, encouraging writers to finish their first draft so that it can later be edited at the author's discretion.^[3]NaNoWriMo's main goal is to encourage creativity worldwide.^[4] The project started in July 1999 with 21 participants, but by the 2010 event, over 200,000 people took part and wrote a total of over 2.8 billion words.^[5]

Writers wishing to participate first register on the project's website, where they can post profiles and information about their novels, including synopses and excerpts. Word counts are validated on the site, with writers submitting a copy of their novel for automatic counting. Municipal leaders and regional forums help connect local writers, holding writing events and providing encouragement.

So, the original NaNoWriMo website is www. nanowrimo.org (I will probably try to join the main site next year, hahaha PROBABLY). My adventurous side took over me. I impulsively joined Red Room's NaNoWriMo :) And good news, I got in!

I have no issues with whoever I will work with, whoever I will deal with or be with, when it comes to writing. I am enthusiastic and I will do anything to learn styles and get to know other people who are good at it too. It is thrilling to be in a group page with my fellow writers, doing our best, motivating each other, and giving each other a healthy challenge.

At first, I could feel the pressure. I guess, anyone would be in my shoes if they get to know good writers like them. (Honestly, this is my first time to socialize or be with writers like me in Facebook). But of course, getting to know some of them, knowing that they felt the same way as I did, the pressure lessened. I finally got an additional confidence with myself, with my work and to look at NaNoWriMo as a long term project. Because I know that all the stuff I will learn from here, all the good writers and editors that I will meet here will be helpful to me in the long run. I am also hoping that they will think of the same about me, that I will be ready to help them anytime.

Now, I just submitted the sixth chapter of my story. I feel really motivated to write and explore different genres. I am a little over with romance, I am now having a transition with erotic romance. Although yes, at the back of my mind, I also want to try sci-fi fantasy. That, will most probably be my next goal after Red Room NaNoWriMo. Unless I change my mind again, of course, hahaha :D

Wattpad Works: Grand Finale of Seven Minutes In Heaven

On September 6, 2016, I began publishing Seven Minutes in Heaven on my Wattpad account. This story is a spin-off from The Set-Up Wedding which narrates the love story of Jude Castillo's younger brother, Efren and his college sweetheart, Matilda.

I started off by launching a little Seven Minutes In Heaven Teaser Video .

After all the cute lovey-dovey but wild scenes during their college days, to the intense passionate adulthood and return of the long lost and gone, Matti, the story is finally coming to its end this Saturday night.

First Wattpad book cover of Seven Minutes in Heaven.
Photos used are from www.wallcoo.com, the rest of the editing/changes are made via Wattpad Covers app.

I would like to thank God, first and always, because even if I am currently in a sort-of a problematic career situation, He made this situation a way for me to write a new story that will put tears in people's eyes, make them want to strangle a guy (Efren), gasp in the intense passionate scene, and make them fall in love. (I am not sure though if these are the effects of #7MinutesInHeaven to my readers, but I am hoping, as always!)

And of course, I am thankful to my family, because they have always been supportive with my writing adventures (ever since I was a kid), and I feel sorry sometimes because they experience my crankiness at times when my flow in writing is disturbed... (I am really sorry, it's just part of the process *sobs*).

I am also thankful to have the love of my life who is also supportive with my writing ventures. He is the one who taught me to look at writing in different angles (that it is not just an art but something more), and I know I still have a lot to learn. If I dedicate The Set-Up Wedding to my parents and grandparents, I dedicate Seven Minutes in Heaven to him.

The second and final book cover for Seven Minutes in Heaven. The photo used is taken from Google Images, the rest of the editing/changes are made via Wattpad Covers app.

I will miss writing Efren and Matilda's love story. At first, it was hard for me to start the story, I always feel like something was missing... or Effy and Matti lacked something to make me write more about them. But like what the couple wanted to teach everyone, I learned to sacrifice some things in order for my relationship with Efren and Matilda to work. And it did, I finally got to know who Efren and Matilda are, and how to tell my readers who Efren and Matti are. (Why not? Efren's apparition always bugged me at night! Lol. Just trying to be funny.)

So, tonight is going to be the grand finale. You might ask, what should you expect from the ending of their love story? There will be a never-ending Author's Note and a list of songs that made it to my playlist when I wrote the novel. There will be abs and reconciliations and some partying and surprises and confettis. It will be fun, it will be nostalgic, it will make you feel like, I should have written more chapters because that's how I sincerely felt when I finished the story last night, that's why I had a lot of editing done with it... because I feel like I should write more...

What happens next after Efren and Matilda's heavenly story? I am planning to write about another Castillo (guess who?) but I want to prioritize some suspense-detective-teen fiction for a change because I have been writing so much romance these past 15 years (Yes, fifteen years!)

But I always tend to change my mind, so let's see!

And don't worry, the story will stay available and free to be read on Wattpad, unless my publisher gives me an assurance or approval that they will publish #7MinutesInHeaven. I will announce that, if ever.

Wattpad Works: Seven Minutes In Heaven 2

Hello, guys :)

I already made a blog last month about Seven Minutes in Heaven and from that blog post I mentioned that 10 chapters are available... now, there's 40+ (to be accurate 45 chapters) so, I am glad (and proud) to announce that Efren and Matilda's story is going to come to an end soon :'( (Okay, now I am not so sure if I should be glad or sad...)

So before everything ends, catch up with the story :) Read. And be one of the 1000 people who did just that. Thank youuuuu <3

(P.S. And gimme some iced coffee, please.)

Featured: From Eroica With Love

A picture of the manga that I posted on my IG & FB account :)

So here we go again with the "Featured" posts from yours truly. And in this post, it will be all about From Eroica with Love by Aoike Yasuko.

From Eroica with Love is a manga that I label as yaoi, comedy, crime and investigation type of story. (Sorry, I am not an otaku so I don't know how you define this thing, guys, hahaha!)

The lead character is Earl Dorian who is an aristocrat art thief who believes that he gets whatever he wants. And his nemesis in the story is Iron Klaus or Major Klaus Eberbach who is initially after Earl/Eroica until his missions were diverted with other crimes BUT by the twists of fate, they still cross each other's paths. So that's where the adventure begins.

My Comment: I really love this story. Period. I just can't help laughing on most of the parts. I learn some stuff about art. It is said that some of the characters in this story resemble the members of the band Led Zeppelin, but as much as I want to research who's-who, I decided not to because, I am more absorbed with the story than with what inspired it. The story is never boring, it is fun to read.

At first, I am uncomfortable with the concept of yaoi. I have nothing against the third gender, I am just not comfortable seeing them in the way the manga has conceptualized them (e.g. Earl and Caesar's scenes where they keep on chasing each other around and seducing.) But I got used to it anyways, hahaha! :)

I like the way Earl and Klaus think. They are really smart people in the story. Earl is strategic, at the same time he knows how to use people (his people) to get what he wants (e.g. James) and Klaus is smart as well and he knows how to foresee events without any kind of telepathic powers of some sort. Klaus also knows how to use people, he uses threat or blackmail to get what he wants (e.g. Sending anyone who doesn't follow his orders to Alaska). They have different set of values (as Earl said in the manga) but both have beautiful perspectives about art.

My favorite character is James. (I sound so biased because that is also my boyfriend's name, hahaha!)

So anyways, yes, he is my favorite character. Period. He makes me laugh everytime his part comes in the manga.

Currently, I am still on volume 2, chapter 5. I have to tell myself to stop reading this manga for a while because I have stories to write and a blog to update and this day is my only day off for this week.

I recommend this story for anyone who likes a light read, but also a challenging one. :)

Love,

AnanymouslyInLove <3

Wattpad Works: Seven Minutes In Heaven

Hello! :)

Now it is time for updates!

I am currently working on three stories (yes, three altogether!) which is The Annihilator's Awakening, Against the World, and another one that I put on hold for a while to make way to Seven Minutes to Heaven.

Let's talk about Seven Minutes in Heaven.

#7MinsInHeaven is the continuation of Efren Castillo and Matilda Rodriguez' story which debuted from Set-Up Wedding (Ellen Estabillo and Jude Castillo's love story). If you will ask me, no, I am not planning to make a series of love stories about the clan of Castillos. It just so happens that the story of Efren and Matilda, and their tandem in SUW caught my attention.

The idea bugged me for a long time, but I ignored it. But then, this time, enough with all the ignoring, I thought I better start this thing, and now I already have 10 chapters of #7MinsInHeaven published on Wattpad.

I might make some revisions in the story. Nothing will change, except a little additional detail about the events in the story. That is all I can share for now.

Interested? Then satisfy yourselves by reading Seven Minutes in Heaven. ;)

Featured: Wattpad Comics

Hello, everyone! :)

Just some weeks ago, I forgot to share to you an important discovery that I had, so now that I have the time and I remember it, I will share it to you.

Today's feature in this blog is Alesana Marie's Pass the Cookies!

It is a web comic published on Wattpad and yes, for me it is a discovery because due to Wattpad's many innovations you can finally publish your own comics in it instead of plain typewritten stories (which was the website's original format when it comes to published works anyway).

I haven't checked if there are other web comics around Wattpad, but as of now, feel free to read Pass The Cookies!

Happy National Heroes Day!

It is already August 29, guys! Happy National Heroes Day!

To those who still have to go to work today, happy national heroes day! You are heroes to your family for working hard for their welfare and bright future, you are heroes for your employers for you keep the business running and your skills and talents gives them an endless probability of success. My advice, why not bring your own dreams to life?

To those who spends the holiday off work, happy national heroes day! You deserve a rest on this day, to finally spend this day with the people you work hard for. For them, you are a hero. Although it is sometimes too cheesy for them to express it openly, just believe me when I say this. My advice, it is good that we sometimes rest from being heroes and enjoy the rewards we reap?

To every mothers and every fathers who provides the needs of the family, financially or emotionally, you are heroes and celebrated everyday, happy national heroes day! :) Without you, how can other children grow up to be heroes just like you?

To every loyal spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, happy national heroes day! The love of your life looks up to you as their hero, who saved them from heartaches and from time to time, teaches them the value of a loving relationship and everything that goes with it.

To every children, every teen, every youth, who are being naturally themselves sometimes but never forget the hearts of their parents, happy national heroes day! You are on your way to becoming a full-time hero! Spread the hero-vibe with your friends and show the elders (but don't brag) that you can be heroes in your own right, in your own pacing and they can be proud of you.

To every best friend or just a friend, happy national heroes day! Nowadays, people are promoting the idea that best friends are sexual whores after their friend's boyfriend and are snakes. Rub it into their faces that not all of them are traitors like that and of course, you can slap it in their faces through a squad goals picture (or any other way you want to show it, lol, these issues are just getting in my nerves these days).

Happy national heroes day to all the pets in every homes' house, a dog, a cat, a parrot, a mouse, etc. All of you who make your owners happy and relieve all the stress they experience everytime they come home.

Happy national heroes day to every worker who works with dignity, works honestly and gives it their best in their jobs. Happy national heroes day to every employer who treats their workers right, who treats them like humans and give them every right they deserve. 

Happy national heroes day to all the writers out there, like me :) Let us all spread a message to the world about reality, the existence of true love and the essence of being human in the way we know-- through writing, of course!

All of us can be heroes. Happy national heroes day :)