Squealing Sequels - The Courage To Write Again

Nothing could be more frustrating than trying to recapture the fire that started and died a long time ago. In my case, the sequel to the first novel was completed shortly after the first book. In those times, I was a hungry wolf pursuing a calling that only by doing 'it' could appease; I was full of adrenalin, writing every day for 5 hours, fearing the momentum might dwindle if I stopped for a day. The result is an astonishing 32 chapter novel. That's 12 more chapters than the first. 

While I'm happy with the pace of the output (I finished the 2nd book in 11 months), I wasn't so happy with the quality. The book had a lot of inconsistencies, purple proses, and horrid conversations. I cannot decide what magical powers to give to the characters and the villains sounded like a rehashed play from the first book. Clearly, I was getting the 'real' hang of being a writer.

Hate and Love Relationship with PageRank

I gotta admit making a post these days is as difficult as washing those dishes on the next morning after a party. One of the reasons is having to look at the PageRank bar devoid of any green lines, which means I have to endure with Zero. Now don't get me wrong if I may have sounded putting too much emphasis on PageRanks. When my blog was at its peak back in 2009, I managed to rank 3, until the penalization comes in, sending me back to zero.

After making amends with Google and coming up with a new theme and posting interesting posts (to say the least) for weeks, I woke up this morning to see a green line in my PageRank battery, and it's 2! I refreshed the browser, and it keeps on coming back. 

Let Rejection Lead the Way

No Venture, No Gain.

Not just physically, the time-tested adage also applies to everything we do where we put our soul onto it. In my case, I finally let go of the fears of rejection and send the work to its respective judges: the literary agents.  After polishing the novel for the millionth time and wrote the dreaded query (causing me tears and nose bleeds), I submitted the work to 12 agencies, and so far I got 2 replies, all of which aren't really good news.

6 Things To Do Before Dying

Life is precious because it ends. This is something all the movies tackling Gods/mortal theme understands. Humans's source of limitless motivation is to continue living, for it's the only way we can make our dreams and promises come true. 

Having been in a desk job for more than 4 years now, I came to a point where I just don't wanna exist, I wanna live! If the Fates turn their fingers favorable to me, I am asking to do these 6 Deeds Before I Die. 

6. Swim with the Manta Rays, Dugongs, and Whale Sharks 

Why?

I've always been fascinated with these marine creatures, especially the Manta Rays. Graceful and calm, swimming with them would, I know for a fact, give meaning to my life. Most people would opt for physical and social satisfactions like riches and fame, but for me, it's simple as this. While Dugongs assure a pet-master-bonding-together moment, a Whale Shark encounter would be a God-letting-a-human-see-his-creation-in-action spree.