It’s October! Best month of the year. Had to get out to the local orchard today for some apple picking and fresh cider donuts. It’s been raining for like a week straight but today starts a string of perfectly sunny 70-something-degree days and I am heeeeere for it.
Has anyone else read The Great Believers? I was into it for a bit, but I’m having trouble getting myself to care about the 2015 timeline with the lost daughter and the cult and all of it. 15 more hours of listening feels like a lot to dedicate to it, but I hate not finishing a book.
It's been a while since I've written a newsletter. Seasons are changing so fast so here's a summary of my highlights and milestones for the past months.
Wattpad Ambs Update
Ardor
Ficlet Fridays S04
Inkspired Inktober
Wattpad Ambs Update
In case you missed it, I'm no longer a part of the Ambassadors Program since August. After evaluating my circumstances and busy schedule, I know that I can no longer commit to being an ambassador in Wattpad. Being a part of this program taught me a lot. Here are the few things I learned from Wattpad Ambs:
Never underestimate the value of meaningful conversation for your well-being.
Be aware of what you're saying, and how it could perhaps be misinterpreted.
Take a breather if something you are reading is annoying or angering you.
Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart!
The heart of a volunteer is never measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.
And lastly, "Be kind, always." Wattpad Ambs taught me to always look at another online user as another human behind that account. Whatever they might do or say, that account is being handled by another human who has feelings or a circumstance that we know nothing about. That's why it's important to always be kind.
I'm grateful for the work that every Wattpad Ambassador is putting out there, whether seen or unseen by the Wattpad community. You, guys, are awesome!
For those who wants to join the Ambs program, I highly recommend it only if you love to serve the Wattpad community and reading (because you'll do lots of it).
Ardor
Whenever I think of it, I still can't believe it happened. Last MIBF, Ardor was launched and I had my very first book signing. Crazy!
Ardor is an anthology of 21 short stories about love. The title means a strong, intense feeling of love. This is KPub PH's first anthology book project and I'm extremely grateful to be a part of this.
To be able to publish one of my stories is already a miracle, but to be able to have my first book signing in MIBF is even more than my wildest dreams. Publishing a book was never the goal for me. I was already content in writing stories and sharing them on my online platforms.
So I wanted to thank you, my RNAs, for reading my stories. Every support you give goes a long way already, whether it be just reading, commenting, or sharing any post I make. Thank you also for those who already got a copy for themselves. By buying one, you're also supporting 20 other writers. I hope you read theirs, too! Special shoutout to KPub PH who has been so accommodating to me, whether online or in person. I'm deeply grateful that you have chosen my story from the hundreds who submitted their manuscripts. Thank you for being an avenue for me to experience such a miracle as this.
Ficlet Fridays S04
As you may have observed, I stopped posting ficlets since July. I'm officially ending Ficlet Fridays S04. I apologize for those who were waiting for the JenJer ficlets. They are still in my drafts pero iipunin ko muna sila. The main reason why I challenged myself to post a ficlet every Friday this year is to see how far could I commit myself to post regularly.
Since I'm still a student and a person who has different other responsibilities, this challenge became my gauge as to how I can be present as a writer while juggling different roles in my life. I'm doing another writing challenge, Inspired Inktober, to help me start writing about what I really want. It just wouldn't make sense for me to continue writing S04 when there's S05 already.
No worries. My remaining ficlet drafts from S04 would see the light someday.
Ficlet Fridays S05: Inkspired Inktober
For the past months, God has been dealing with me my creative calling. He has continued to affirm that He was the one who placed that desire and dream for me to pursue creatives. One of the ways my creative calling has been manifested is through the stories I create. As a daughter of the Creator, God has given me the gift to create through words and writing. And I just know that I ought to use that gift to reflect God's character and to tell God's story well.
Having a Christian creative community also encouraged and pushed me to pursue this calling. Over time, I became more intentional in the things I write. I also began to reflect and review on the things I've wrote before. So don't be surprised if I begin to unpublish certain stories on my profile.
One of the things that I wanted to do to grow in my creativity is to join Indie Beginning's Inspired Inktober for Christian creatives. Since there are no rules about mediums, interpretations, number of prompts you follow, or how often you'll create, I'll proceed with writing ficlets.
In the ficlets you'll read for Inkspired Inktober, you may expect new characters I might introduce in the (far) future. But for me, these characters have been sitting at the corner of my mind, waiting to be introduced to the world. One day, I'll share their entire stories to the world. But for now, all I could offer are ficlets--only fragments of who they are. And I'm stoked to share them to you!
Don't worry. I might also write about familiar characters you know, depending on the prompt given.
As you journey with me this Inktober, my prayer is that you would encounter God somehow in the ficlets I write.
Thank you for being a part of my creative journey. It's a privilege and an honor for you to allow me to enter your world as you enter mine.
