A Message For All Women Writers Who Have Ever Doubted Themselves

Exactly a year ago today, I attended Write Away, an all-women writing retreat in Casa Luminaria, Batangas. The organizers and mentors were familiar to me: I worked with life coach Aurora Suarez back when she was a big boss at Summit Media, I often see #RomanceClass founder Mina Esguerra at various workshops and events, and...

A Brave New Year

I can still remember the time I sat at the airport in 2004 with eight virtual strangers, waiting for our flight to Singapore. I had just graduated from college and was about to participate in an ASEAN exchange program for five months. I was excited, sure, but mostly I was terrified. It was the first...

On Heat Levels and Live Readings

As a writer, there are so many authors I admire and aspire to be like. Jane Austen and L.M. Montgomery for the classics. J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and J.K. Rowling for epic fantasies. Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, and Jennifer E. Smith for YA. Elizabeth Gilbert and Gretchen Rubin for self-help and inspiration. And so...

On Letting Go

Have you ever had to let go of a person, a place, or a thing you loved dearly? Saying goodbye is a natural part of life. Every day, seasons change, people pass away, relationships end, things get old and have to be thrown out. As a writer, I often have to let go of the...