cWrites

2006-03-22T22:00:00.000+08:00

The Writer's Mouse. I'm thinking of adapting the mouse as symbol of creative writing -- it's friendly enough and wild enough, the perfect combination for generating original, innovative, fresh, happy ideas. If you click the mouse anywhere, something happens, and that's how creative writing should work out: strike anywhere. That's how you get insights, flashes of genius, ideas to work with. For instance, if you scan the encyclopedia at random, you'll certainly think of something else other than what you're reading -- that's the beginning of creativity. Catch it and have fun!

2006-03-22T12:22:00.000+08:00

Why the name cWrites? Because in this blogsite, I want you to know that I'm thinking of the 4 Cs of writing, something you may be familiar with: Coherence, Clarity, Comprehensiveness and Conciseness. Actually, there's a 5th C: Computer. The best thing that ever happened to me as a writer is the computer first and now the Internet.

2006-03-22T11:40:00.000+08:00

Very good examples of creative writing are GMA's telenovelas: Sugo, Enkantadia, Majika, and Jewel in the Palace. If you look at the plot, the pacing, the photography, the characterization, the first three are very good examples of the creative minds of the Filipino writer and director. Jewel in the Palace is superb in its totality - I'm jealous of the writing of it. And yes, I don't want to forget to mention Bubble Gang -- the gags are terrific! This is gag-writing at its best. If you are a writer, just watch them and you can learn from them.

2006-03-22T11:33:00.000+08:00

Another special advice: If you want to be a very good writer, first be a very good reader. Writing starts with reading. Becase your writing is empty if you have an empty head. What you don't know you get from books; what you didn't think you get from other people, the authors.

2006-03-22T11:17:00.000+08:00

You want to be a very good writer? Here is my no.1 special advice: Don't read the Manila papers! And their magazines. Bad examples of good writing. They didn't have to go to school to write like that. The articles are not well-written -- I'm not saying the authors are not intelligent or are incapable, but they write just because they have to. Except for a handful, like Alex Magno (Philippine Star) and Pat Evangelista (Inquirer), their writing has no real heart, no real soul, no real empathy with the people. And they write because they know the problem and they know the solution, so everybody should be reading them and following their advice, their instructions. They earn their keep -- they don't earn my respect.

2006-03-22T09:27:00.000+08:00

Here's my open invitation for free lessons in creative writing. Just send me an email-- frankahilario@gmail.com -- or simply write a comment below and it will reach me. If you want, send in a sample of your writing and we start from that.