#romanceclass talks, starting March 22

I know how it is. Life totally gets in the way of writing novels. Like everything's conspiring against you so you never finish it, even though you want to.

You probably know that I've made it a mission of sorts to get people to finish that first book. Last year's #romanceclass was all about that, and I learned that when a class is free, a mix of online and face-to-face, paced, and somewhat focused in terms of content, about 16% of the participants would actually finish something. (That percentage went up considerably in my new class, Steamy Reads, but that's another story entirely.)

Since then the #romanceclass textbook has been available. It has all of the assignments, lectures, and a recommended schedule to finish writing a book in 3 months. A number of people have it -- but none of them have finished their books yet! That I know of. I expected that though, because not all of us learn the same way. Which goes back to the problem of life and its distractions preventing us from finishing our books.

So I'm starting this:

bronzeage.ph/romanceclass

I will hold a 3-hour talk, once a month if I can sustain it, and in person go through the entire #romanceclass program, help participants through some of the exercises, and answer questions about anything else. If you want to do this, you will only need to attend one session. If you want to attend again the following month, because you need to consult on something, you're free to do so (but you'll be doing different exercises, based on where you are in your novella).

It'll cost P600, and that includes the #romanceclass textbook. If you already have the book, then it'll just be P100 per session.

The first talk will be on March 22, at Toast Box Greenhills Promenade, from 2 PM to 5 PM. It will likely be in this venue every month, unless I announce otherwise. Register at bronzeage.ph/romanceclass so I know you're coming, and can prepare enough books!

If you're coming, I suggest you start thinking about the kind of story you want to write. But know also that #romanceclass has guidelines (there are things I may ask you to change) so have two or three story ideas ready, just in case.

New Adult Quick Reads 1: Say That Things Change (giveaway for buqo and Google Play!)

New Adult is an emerging literature category that focuses on themes of discovery and independence for characters in college to their mid-twenties. Say That Things Change is a new adult romance anthology featuring stories by Filipino authors Jhing Bautista, Jonnalyn Cabigting, Katherine C. Eustaquio-Derla, Leng de Chavez, Rachelle Belaro, Rayne Mariano, and Mina V. Esguerra.

This is the first in a series! More info here at facebook.com/NewAdultQuickReads.

Say That Things Change is available from buqo, Google Play, and Flipreads right now, but if you'd like to try for a free copy...

Leave a comment below and mention:

1. Your first name/nickname
2. Of the 7 authors in NAQR: Say That Things Things Change, whose stories have you read before?
3. Do you want your copy from buqo (requires buqo app) or Google Play (requires Android/Google Books app)?

I will pick two winners on Friday, March 14. Please visit this page again to see if you won!

Set your readers to steamy

Do we have enough English-language adult romance by Filipino authors? I thought we didn't, and that it's such a shame. Some people agreed with me.

So for five weeks in 2014, we did something about it. I offered a class in adult-romance writing. 60 people signed up. Buqo agreed to sponsor it, and offer ebook distribution to anyone who finished their "steamy read" in time. 23 stories were in draft form at the end of the class.

On Friday, the final final manuscripts of the #buqosteamyreads stories are due, and there may be some last-minute panicking. I hope everyone who reads this sends happy vibes and good cheer to these authors, who shared their energy, ideas, pics of shirtless guys... everyone was such a good sport, and I want to see them all published. (YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT!)

Fortunately I was able to finish a story too (almost didn't!). It's called "Wedding Night Stand" (it's not about furniture) and it'll be sold exclusively on buqo for a year. For mature readers only though.

Authors, buqo, and casual observers of the #buqosteamyreads hashtag, thank you and YOU CAN DO IT!

Writing as business and art

Let's get a few things out of the way: Wattpad and its popularity in the Philippines just blew away many misconceptions people have had about writing and the state of reading among Pinoy youth.

An interesting consequence of this is that so many young authors are getting published, or self-publishing. I'm happy for them (I too was a young writer just dreaming to see my name on an actual book), but I also am alarmed at how many of them seem not to know what they're getting into, and are perhaps signing away precious rights for bargain prices.

Maybe it's because they're young, but there's a lot of trust being given here -- trust in the publisher, to provide guidance and expertise. Some publishers are of course worthy of your trust. Some, unfortunately, are not. I always tell my workshop participants to prepare for success -- please don't accept a crappy deal because you don't believe it will ever be worth anything, and that any attention, any offer, is good enough.

I've posted several chapters worth of advice for young writers here on Wattpad. It's in Taglish. (Yes marunong akong mag-Tagalog, friends.) I hope it helps you in some way!

Who are you, at Luna East?

Since we launched Luna East volume 1, I've been invited to speak at schools and give writing exercises. So what did I asked students to write about? Luna East!

We created this fictional universe for adults who wanted to write YA. But would kids be able to do this too?

Turns out, yes. At least, the fourth grade students at Miriam College were able to give it a shot.

Anyone can write a story set in Luna East Arts Academy. If you have one right now, go write it, post it, and share it -- and maybe you could win a copy of volume 1! (Also an awesome Luna East lanyard and keychain, making you totally a Luna East student!)

You can also buy the Amazon ebook, or order the paperback (Philippines).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The answer is: whatever you imagine

I'm happy.

A lot of you know that I don't really do book launches. I've fortunately been able to do signings and events, sure (thanks Summit), but an event specifically to show people the first copies of one of my books? Not really. Well, never. It's a strange idea, because when I publish these days I just click "PUBLISH" and boom, it's launched. No need to party.

But when I started working with #romanceclass, and started recognizing that I'm part of a community now, I realized that a launch means something. It's a celebration of a book. It's natural to want to share that happy news to everyone who cares about us (the authors) or about books in general.

So this happened:

Thank you, Ayala Museum, for thinking that this is something worth doing. The space you gave us was lovely and roomy and so very artsy.

Thank you, #romanceclass authors, for putting everything together. And I mean everything, including this awesome spread!

Photo: dementedchris on Instagram

We launched the #LunaEast book (order here: bit.ly/lunaeastv1 or wait for the cheaper Student Edition paperback in March!) and became honorary Luna East students too.

Photo: storiestotell on Instagram

Thank you, friends and readers, for coming over and partying with us...

Photo: detteadrianne on Instagram

Photo: storiestotell on Instagram

Photo: taniaarpa on Instagram

Photo: happpss on Instagram

This was an unexpected but lovely surprise...

Photo: _sparksfire on Instagram

A present!

So that was a launch. Also an anniversary for a class that isn't just a class anymore. It's now a community of authors, artists, publishers... (bakers, caterers, event planners...) 

I wonder what else we can all do. More, probably. Whatever we set our minds to.

KIDS THESE DAYS: Stories from Luna East Arts Academy volume 1 (Art Feature)

This is so exciting! *gasp pant wheeze*

Welcome to my stop on the Kids These Days: Stories From Luna East Arts Academy blog tour. I'm part of this collection of short stories (all set in high school) but I'd like to showcase the art that appears in the book here.

Because we encouraged the writers contributing a Luna East story to post their work online, many of the stories in the book are things you've probably seen (or can see, right now, if you go to lunaeastacademy.org or Wattpad). But the art? These are all new. :)

By Robert Wong, for Anne Plaza's story

Robert V. Wong is an illustrator and graphic artist who has done works for gaming companies, restaurants, schools and organizations.  He has a passion for anime-related art as well doing speed caricatures and technical design.  On occasion, he is known to dress up as a robot when he indulges in his hobby called cosplay, along with his wife Jewel, as well as organizing such events. His works can be found in his Deviantart at http://eva-guy01.deviantart.com

By YK Marquez, for Kristel S. Villar's story

When YK started drawing at the age of three, she would fill their home with large doodles on the wall, even on the pages of her school textbooks. She would also tinker and experiment with her mom's point and shoot camera. While it used to be more of a hobby to her than anything else, she eventually took a step forward to take her art seriously when she took a Fine Arts degree and majored in Visual Communication at St. Scholastica's College.

YK aspires to break into the children's illustration industry and create inspiring stories for children and young adults alike. She is currently working freelance as a web and graphics designer.

By Richard Cy, for Stella Torres's story

Richard Cy is a casual illustrator residing in Manila. He is a graduate of the Far Eastern University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising. The arts heightened his passion for his craft, deepened by various literary works and stimulated by unlimited sorts of music.

With paper, watercolor and ink as the tools of his trade, Richard makes hand drawn illustrations in a contemporary approach. He can also combine his works with digital techniques to befit the client's needs.

Richard is available for freelance work and private commissions. You can email him at richardcy@yahoo.com to get in touch.

By Jonnalyn Cabigting, for Jen C. Suguitan's story

Jonnalyn Cabigting aka baka_usagi's earliest memories of her childhood will never be completed without her sitting on the floor, while holding crayons and doodling "stickman versions" of Disney princesses and princes. She claims that drawing anything and everything (on the back of your notebook when the class gets boring) enhances your art skills. In school, she usually drew hand-made mangas for her friends and occasionally joined poster making contests. She also participated in stage and classroom decorations and became a member of her primary and secondary school's journalism club as an editorial cartoonist.

Thought she did not pursue this talent in college, she would often find time to improve her skill in drawing thanks to Paint Tool Sai and Photoshop.

Today, she is an accounting staff in Pasig and a freelance writer and illustrator at Wattpad.

About the book

The stories from LUNA EAST ARTS ACADEMY are about love. And also, friends, food, kissing, rumors, mean people, insecurities, birthdays, breakups, making up. We set it in an arts academy because we wanted everyone to have a talent, and know it. Because no one is ordinary, if you know them well enough. 

Who are you, at LUNA EAST? Are you a popular kid, a wallflower, a drama club diva, a debate whiz? Visit lunaeastacademy.org to read more stories from #LUNAEAST, and submit your own. For readers 16 and up. Buy the paperback: bit.ly/lunaeastv1