Hello my Write Queen readers,

Another month has passed with new writing adventures!

I've had the chance to write a couple of posts on my latest book publishing adventures. It felt good to blog. I really have to make it a regular thing no matter what's going on.

Actually I will have to make it a regular thing because I am helping out World Liberty TV as a copy editor and contributing blogger starting this month. World Liberty TV, a division of Humanitarians of The World, Inc. promotes the news and events of entertainment and culture happening around the US, especially events in New York. Based in Elmhurst, Queens, World Liberty TV aims to be one of the top news channels online. 

I was an intern for their Liberty News Online Network site once upon a time. I am delighted that they asked me to help out with such an important role. I look forward to seeing where this goes. Definitely breaks the monotony of the 9 to 5 life.

Speaking of the 9 to 5 life - this month, my writing skills were showcased in a big way. A promotional piece that I designed and edited for my department made its debut throughout the company this past week. Since its for internal use only, I cannot show the piece but I can show a picture of the announcement.

The last thing I want to mention is the fact that I applied to my dream job at my favorite magazine this month. Just in case they are looking into my stuff, I will not be mentioning the name.

I would like to ask everyone to send me their good vibes, energy, prayers, whatever it may be and hope that I land an interview and the job. I have been checking my e-mail and phone constantly during the week for three weeks to see if I would hear anything. I like my job and I am grateful to have it, but who wouldn't want to get their dream job?

I just keep hoping for the chance. We'll see what I'll have to report next month ; )

Until next month - it's exactly one month today until my 27th birthday!

Hello Write Queen lovers!

I've been blogging about new manuscripts, tips for revitalizing submission opportunities and my thoughts on the print vs. e-book argument plus what self-publishing means to me.

You can check it all out on:

Or just click on the book tab!

Hello Write Queeners,

I've decided that to keep blogging for at least once a month, I will write a monthly round up of my writing life. I will do it in the first week of every month, to give myself the opportunity to experience the previous month in its entirety (you never know what could happen at 11:58 PM on the last day of the month).

During April, I participated in the 30 poems in 30 days challenge. I've been a part of the challenge for five years. I was disappointed in myself last year when I didn't finish the 2012 challenge. It became a challenge when my part time temp job became a full time temp job with the opportunity to become permanent. Sometimes survival comes before creativity, but that didn't mean that I forgave myself easily for not finishing.

I was determined to finish this year. I saw opportunity in Instagram. Sometimes I didn't have time to write eloquent 40 line poems (did I even write a 40 line poem? ::ponders::). Instagram gave me the opportunity to jazz up smaller pieces, using original or found pictures and making a haiku a stronger image. Plus it gave me a new audience to introduce my writing to. I know that I gained new followers on Instagram, though I'm still trying to determine blog readership.

It was really fun and I found that even when I was posting late, that a pile of poems were building up because I was incorporating images and taking the time to find the right image for each poem. Sometimes I found a image, but had no poem. It gave me the motivation to write more. In a seemingly visual society, I found that my writing was a little more appreciated when the majority of my work was image based. I may have to rethink my approach on writing!

Overall it was a great challenge.

In relation to the 30/30 challenge, I had a whirlwind publication opportunity! My Day Five poem has been published in an anthology called "Old Hollywood". The poem was a part of a contest by Lady Chaos Press, a fairly new press by the lovely Shannon Lynette. I submitted my poem five days before the contest ended, which was on April 5th. By April 24th, she was already announcing that the book was out! I must remember to ask her (or simply interview her on the blog - how about it Shannon?) what her secret is to putting together a book so fast is.

The final update is about the writing group I am a part of. Hosted by Erica "Rivaflowz" Buddington, this monthly Write-In is a place for female writers of all genres to come together and talk about the thing we love the most: WRITING! Coupled with yummy food that either Erica has carefully picked out or cooked herself, a group of up to 15 women take the time to talk about what we have done in our writing lives during the past month. After that, for about 45 minutes, we retreat to various corners to write, using a prompt chosen for the meeting. 

After the 45 minutes, we go around and read our pieces, offering constructive criticism to improve the pieces and to rave about what we love about it. I'm often speechless because these ladies are amazing. Their input and encouragement to my work, even when I don't like the piece, puts things into perspective. Their own pieces make me want to throw my pen away because they have written masterpieces. I am blessed to be a part of this group.

So that is my April Update! Thank you for being a part of the Write Journey.

There are many writers and artists that I admire. Each one inspires me to be bigger and better One of my all-time favorite writers who I would love to be when I grow up (in a writer's sense of course) is Miss Erica "RivaFlowz" Buddington. Her writing knocks the wind out of your heart. It's that powerful. Every time she posts a link from rivaflowz.com on my Facebook wall, I know I'm in for a good read. 

Through her blog posts, Riva has helped me see what it really means to be a writer in their 20's, typing away at a keyboard to get to their dreams. Now she needs some help. Riva has the opportunity to go to Callaloo Writing Workshop AND get her book edited by a great editor. She is currently fundraising at Indiegogo. Whether it's by spreading the word or contributing to her fund, I am asking my readers (I know you guys are out there somewhere!) to help out. I'm already doing both because I believe in her dream as much as I believe in my own. If I can't take my opportunities yet, I want to help someone else take theirs. So without further ado, here are the links that will help her get closer to her dream:

Share on it Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, whatever you may have. If you have a blog, do a write up about it. Share this blog post if you want. Just SPREAD THE WORD pretty please, my Write Queeners. If you can contribute, even better. 

As she always does, Riva has opened up my eyes to something else: Indiegogo. I think I will be looking into starting my own fundraiser for my projects ;)

Have a great Sunday Write Queeners!


And Riva - I hope this helps!

Write Queeners,

I am stubborn. I know people who are perfectly capable of designing logos, but being the do-it-myself type of gal, I had to make one myself. Which means a couple of years without a logo. I wanted something simple, yet funky. I have a million ideas and not enough time (or expert skill, I'll admit!) to play on Photoshop. But I finally found time today! After waking up at 6AM to find myself shivering, yet sweating after a night with a terrible headache, I had to call out of work. The extra few hours of sleep did help sort out things and I had at least enough brain power to go on Photoshop (if you knew my occupation, you would see why Photoshop is considered kids play).

Well after hours of frustrating myself with my own logo and a friend's logo, I finally finished my own with the help of my boyfriend (the best cure all after feeling under the weather). Now the final result is on top of my page, but I figured that a larger version was in order:

What do you think guys? Yay or Nay? I can always make (or have someone) make another. For now, after not having one, I think this is pretty dandy. But wait, there is more! I actually made another logo! Check this out:

Eh, that's nothing crazy, but I do think it's cute. What do you think? Hmm, maybe we should do a poll! Yes...we will do a poll. Check out the contenders side by side and tell me what you think.

If you want to skip the poll, you can always leave a comment on the posts!

This sickster must get to bed, but I hope that I might get to wake up to some poll results to make my day.

Good night ya'll!

Hello Write Queeners,

I've been a busy 9 to 5 bee. I've also been a busy reading bee. Ever since I got my Kindle as a "Yay first paycheck/Christmas" gift, I have been reading so many books as I travel to and from work. 

My current read is titled, "Writer with a Day Job: Inspiration & Exercises to Help You Craft a Writing Life Alongside Your Career" by Aine Greaney. 

As the title states, there are exercises that help you set goals, realize your aspirations, and more importantly, write. I figured that it would be fun to share my attempts with WQers. Plus it makes me blog which is one of the important goals that I need to achieve. Here is the first exercise:

1. As a writer, I want to:

I want to create poetry from emotion and experimentation. I also want to write for literary craft magazines (is that the right name for them?). I want my work to be used on things like Poetry in Motion, where I hope to touch someone during the hustle and bustle of transportation (just like I was by one poster I saw this morning). As a writer, I want to be remembered. Not for fame, but for the pure love of the craft.

2. I want to be the kind of writer who:

Makes a mini series out of everything so the reader has an adventure to go on. The real life experiences consist of different phases of hoopla, so my writing should reflect that. I also want to be the kind of writer who studies and talks about every aspect of the craft. I've had to do a lot of growing on my own. I want to impart the knowledge I stumble upon with others so they don't have to exhaust themselves with the learning process and get down to the more important part: the writing process!

3. When my readers read my work, I want them to: cry/laugh/think/improve their lives/enjoy a good story.

Since I can't circle it as the book says, I'll just say all of the above. I want to be diverse in my experiences. In my day to day life, I experience each of these things in non-writing situations. If there is one thing I would love to improve on, it is how to show a range of emotions in my writing. I feel like I have not mastered the technique of conveying different types of emotions in my work.

4. When my readers write to me, I want them to compliment my: 

• Ability to connect with them. 
  
• My writing style. 
  
• My very existence- haha (kidding on that one). 
  

I don't really know if I have a true answer for that because I become really shy when I receive compliments of any kind. BUT I also like to give hugs and candy when someone does!

5. My writing goal or dream:

My goals? 

• To blog more. 
  
• To publish my chapbook and maybe put together another one. 
  
• To write for online mags/blogs about writing. 
  
• To obtain a network of writers to share my highs and lows with. 

Those are attainable if I put the time in.

The dream? 

• To leave behind a legacy. 
  
• To be known on some sort of scale. 
  
• For the world to know that the world of writing is all I want in life. 

It may seem silly (and repetitive), but I just want to know that all of this wasn't for nothing. Living life, writing, putting the work to get my writing out there. If I can't prevent death to my physical being, I would love to prevent my words from being buried with me. I guess the dream is really to have my words live on after I am gone. 

I look forward to sharing more exercises with you. Hey, you can even join me by buying the book or answering the exercise when I put it up on your own blog or in the comments section.

Well this Writer with a Day Job has to get back to work! 


Stay warm WQers!

Sometimes it takes a single note. Sometimes it takes an encouraging word. Whatever it is, something takes you back to a place where your past will help define your future. During Hurricane Sandy (all is well here, don't worry!), when I had nothing to do, no Internet, work, or any place to go, I did things I haven't done in years. I read a book in a day. I played numbers on Facebook where I got reminders of how people view me, especially people who remember my writing. And when I made the decision to work on my next manuscript, I found songs that I used to listen to when I would be up to the wee hours of the morning editing and writing.

I found a lifeline to the passion.

For the last two years since I've graduated from college, I've been up and running. Real life came crashing down. While I've worked on my writing in the beginning and accomplished things beyond my expectations...life has gotten in the way. Lately, I felt I was losing myself. I was going to put it in a different way, but that sounds perfect as I write it.

I've been losing myself. In the most important way. Forgetting that every decision I made before I graduated was for the sake of writing. That I am writing.

Christina is writing and writing is Christina.

Other people know it and tell me all the time. I stopped believing them.

Now I remember. The times in the past year where I have had all of these mini revelations have lead to the big one. It's why I'm up after four hours of sleep and blogging. It's why I'm going to actually continue to work on the next manuscript after posting this. I've been blessed with time (no work while subways and electricity aren't working in Manhattan) and a push from the past. Taking advantage!

Want to hear the song that caused this wonderful revelation? Follow this link: http://open.spotify.com/track/7AEhFs2UwiKQstZ7SuE4H4

In the meantime, I hope all those that have been affected by Sandy are doing well. My heart goes out to those who have been going through a hard time or have lost their lives in this disaster. I thank god that my loved ones, friends, and myself are still well.

Be blessed everyone!

The Write Queen

I published my first piece of writing in 2005. I was 19 and I had a hunger inside.
 
It was only an English 2 assignment. It wasn’t the start of a great novel nor was it under the realization that I ultimately wanted to be a writer. It was just an assignment that I was seriously stuck on until the Saturday before it was due. I had to write a memoir piece about myself. After an incident two years before involving my writing being discovered by my mother, I was a little shy about writing, especially about myself. The past is not pleasant and my mother does not like dirty laundry being aired out. But I couldn’t help it. I had to write. It was a release that was better than all of the bad things a young adult could get themselves into. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t hesitant when this assignment came up.

For those who don’t know which piece I’m talking about, it’s in the prose and publications sections of my portfolio called “Photo Album”. As I said before, I was stuck. I didn’t know how to write about myself, especially in a form other than poetry. I was sitting around in my room when I looked over at the dresser and saw pictures of myself. It stuck me right there and then: What if I wrote my memoir as if you were looking at a photo album? Would I be able to pull it off?

It took a couple of hours, but I did. For some unknown miracle, it worked. I was even able to pull off a smooth transition from third person to first person throughout the piece (though I had no clue I was doing something so impressive until my professor told me so). When my professor offered to help me published it in one of the college's publications, I was absolutely stunned. I had hoped he would like it because I wanted an A, but to have it published meant that my writing had real potential.  

Potential...I still feel like I am in the potential stage.

Forget about what I've published through my journalism classes. Most were good, solid stories that were important enough not be discarded as just an assignment and were runned. But that's all staged for the degree.

Don't point out the literary publications through college publications. While some hold merit because it went through a submissions process, others were a part of a collective that probably would have published you no matter what.

The ones outside of school are the dearest to me. Sending your stuff out to the literary world is scary. Most publications that you admire will reject you. A few will take a chance on you...which I am so happy that they have.

Then what is the problem? Where am I going with this?

Let's go back to my first sentence: I published my first piece of writing in 2005. I was 19 and I had a hunger inside.

I was 19 and I had a hunger inside.

Currently I am 26. I've been writing poetry since I was 13. At some point, I kept count of how much I have written. The number was over 500 pieces. I discovered this around 19, 20 years old. I wouldn't be able to give you a number now.

Now I have a number that haunts me. 32. That is the number of poems in my chapbook manuscript that I am about to shop around. These are 32 poems that hopefully will touch a small press publisher who will be willing to take a chance on my writing and help represent it. I want this more than anything in the world.

But the hunger is not the same. Though I think the concept of hunger isn't right...

I am afraid. The fear is taking over...that's it! The fear...

I was fearless at 19.

Fearless and inexperienced. All I knew was that I was writing. Technique wasn't important. Content less so at times. I just wrote. I wrote so much that I'm suprised that I had time for anything else. When I asked myself would I be able to pull this off, there really wasn't answer. It was just done. I had my reservations, from what I was writing about to if it would be good. But I didn't dwell. I wrote. I wrote and I wrote and in between, I got published.

I don't think publication had the same meaning at 19 than it does now at 26. I wrote without thoughts of publication at 19. At 26, I write a haiku and I think: What if I sent this out? Would it get published? Would someone be impressed? 

Having that mentality contributes to not taking a lot of opportunties and risks. I don't even blog the way I used to. I could blame it on the fact that I am choosing to settle down in a job that is not in my career path so I can take care of members in my family and so I can make and save money to gain independence and to fund many of the projects I have started and not been able to finish. I really could.

But after I settle into the routine of having a permanent job and making an annual salary, if I haven't been writing, especially because I am afraid that I am not writing publishable pieces, who do I really have to blame?

I can't blame my job. I'm not there 24/7. I can't blame publications, when I do send out work, when they reject me. I haven't been keeping up to the practice of writing. I'm letting the sillest fear get in the way of what I am really meant to do: write!

I have to write. I have to have that hunger that I had when I was 19. I have to be fearless and dump a little bit of the knowledge I have in my head. I need to write without worrying about this and that mistake. Experience may be a teacher, but does it prevent us from taking risks?

This is something I need to work out while I hunt for a publisher. After someone takes a chance on my baby...I need to follow up eventually. And there will be no book two if I let the well run dry.

There won't be growth either. So for the rest of this year and the next, my goal is to find the hunger again with reckless abandon.

Cheers to taking chances.

But you would need to go to the Late Night Feelings site in order to see it!

Go check it out: Day 149