The Entropy Blog

I’ve never been published.

I have to qualify this, though. I don’t have a published book. I’ve written articles for a broadsheet, had an essay included in an anthology, and my written work is all over the Internet. But no book I can call my own.

Several years ago, I began writing a graphic novel with a couple of artist friends. We all agreed the plot was terrific (I still think it is) and we thought we had it in us to do it. The problem was, I think, that none of us would take the lead in the project. We were either lazy or uninspired or just lacked motivation. Also, although the preliminary art was great, the characters didn’t look the way I wanted them to. Because I was the kind of self-absorbed writer who apparently didn’t know how to do a collaboration. Then I thought, maybe I ought to do a project on my own first before trying to work on something with others.

So I started plotting plots. Plots for novels, that is.

Good morning, L.I.T.E.R.A.L. agent. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves writing a post on your writer blog/website on the following topic:

Has your book/story/epic been published? If yes, how was the experience, and where can we buy your book? If no (or not yet), why the delay? Is there anything you know you should be doing to make it happen?

If you currently do not have a writer website or blog, but would like to sign up to be a L.I.T.E.R.A.L. agent, you may create one. Assignments will be handed out every week on Mondays.

We are currently acquiring more writers to join you on this mission. Please direct your writer friends, allies, boy/girlfriends, and nemeses to the official mission briefing page at bronzeage.ph/literal. In the meantime, you may confirm your involvement in this mission by emailing L.I.T.E.R.A.L. headquarters with your name, your writer blog/website URL and maybe something about yourself, and drop by the official L.I.T.E.R.A.L. mission briefing page to get your badge. Remember, only L.I.T.E.R.A.L. agents are authorized to use this badge on their blogs, so make it a priority to not let it fall into enemy hands.

… and sometimes on my iPod, which makes my thumbs hurt after an hour or so.

So the voting period for the Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards is open till today. I don’t have a book nominated, but After the Storm (Edited by Elbert Or) is up for Best Essay Anthology, and I have an essay in it. I didn’t have the harrowing experience during typhoon Ondoy that a lot of other people had, but I during typhoon Ruping in the 90s, we did experience having the roof blown off our apartment and we had to live in a pension house for a week. I could’ve written something about that in my perspective on the Ondoy tragedy, but I didn’t actually know about the anthology, and so I just posted something not-so-serious on this blog. Elbert contacted me and asked me if I wanted to include it in the anthology he was editing, and I said yes, of course — the proceeds were going to go to victims of Ondoy, after all. Two years later, I find out it’s up for a Readers’ Choice Award, and so I’ve been asking everyone to please vote for it. Again, voting period ends today, so please head on over to the voting page now and give After the Storm some love.

I was super late to the Kwentillion Young Adult Readers Carnival. Because of the rain and flood and all that drama that comes with the opening of ticket sales for Big Bang’s concert in October, I got to NBC Bestsellers in Galleria around 4pm. I missed Mina and Charles‘s “Filipino YA Creators” panel and barely made it in time for the Kwentillion creators’ panel.

The talk was fun. It also gave us insight into what the creators were aiming for — showcasing local talent and giving kids and adults something uniquely Filipino to enjoy. During the Q and A, one of the people in the audience, a teacher, suggested that they try coming into schools to reach the magazine’s audience. Which I thought was a great idea. I hope this happens.

After the talk and the Q and A, there was a signing session. Glad I didn’t miss that.