As a part of my "I am doing it no matter what" attitude, I would like to speak about some of my goals. Not all of the details or the progress, just what they are. They say if you speak it into existence...so let's see how this goes when I do it my way. This is in no particular order.

1. Publish a book by any means necessary.
2. Start a micro-chapbook press that is inclusive to writers on all levels.
3. Write more haiku, a form that I love.
4. Share my work in Instagram, even if it means I am in danger of becoming an "Instagram poet". I just want to share.
5. Work for a non-profit on a professional level (marketing, management, writer, ahh - just look at my resume here).
6. Blog more. About anything.
7. Build websites for artists.
8. Get The Write Movement off the ground and truly start my own non-profit.
9. Travel to places around the country to study writing.
10. Gain more skills in digital media.
11. Learn more about publishing as a whole (maybe take classes or just read a lot, we'll see).
12. Learn about book design.
13. Experiment more with writing.
14. Create a photography project.
15. Start a podcast.
16. Do more graphic design.
17. Help my friends in their creative pursuits.
18. Help the Chicago Writers Association be all that it can be.
19. Volunteer with other literary organizations.
20. Publish some good old fashion journalism. At least once with some publication.
21. Submit to literary stuff when I want to, if I want to.
22. Create an app (I know for what, just not sharing the idea on here - contact me if you are curious).
23. Work for an app again even with the danger of companies closing at anytime (I like working in tech).
24. Be happy, no matter the outcome or the level of support.

Okay, so that last one is harder than it seems. I want support for the things I do and I want to succeed. Who doesn't want that?

But I also want to be able to live with failure. If I fail, at least I tried. Really tried. It's better than just getting up and going to work to pay the bills. I have to do that too, but I want to be able to go to work, then come home and work some more on the things that make me happy. I've done it before, juggling 40+ hours and go to readings, find time to write, design, and more. I've done it and for a while, people saw that. It felt nice.

The difference is that I want to do that and not care who sees. If you recognize my work and want to work with me, great. I am all about collaboration, team work, and hard work. If you don't, then hey, I am still working because it makes a difference somewhere in the world. Keeps me alive.

This list is for me only. Yes, it involves work involving other people, but if it doesn't happen, well...I guess I am only accomplishing some of these goals. I want to share because if you get inspired, let that take you somewhere.

Be inspired.

These aren't resolutions by the way. These are my continuous life goals. Not saying this because it's the beginning of a new year. I am not starting these tomorrow, I am just starting.

Let's see what I can do...

​Till next time,

Hello Write Queeners,

I am so excited to tell you that my latest passion, my literary journal Typoetic.us has finally released its first issue!

The concept of the site was in the works for a while, but in late 2013/early 2014, I connected with my editors and we got to work!

I learned a lot through putting together this journal about teamwork, organization, passion, and the ability to keep on going. The submissions were wonderful and my team even more so! I don't even know what to say about this experience except that I can't wait to put out the next issue! So poets, submit, submit, submit!

Thank you to everyone involved! Take a look below:

Happy New Day Write Queeners,

To start a new cycle of experimentation, trips, falls, and elevation, I present another e-book experiment. This time, we have a bilingual book of poems. Now before people wonder and get excited, I have to warn you that this is a rough experiment of skill and technology using my not very fluent skills in Spanish and Google Translate, to see how form and word play work in another language. If you don't know Spanish, you may find this beautiful. If you are amazingly fluent in Spanish, you may kill me.

But I am very open to more direct translations and corrections. I would love to write longer poems in Spanish one day so helping me will help my art =)

Without further ado on the coldest day in 20 years, I present Su Pequeña Lengua Rápida - Her Quick Little Tongue.

Hello Write Queeners!

I want to take you back to way over a year ago. Remember the Late Night Feelings blog? I know you do. It's the Book tab. 

Remember when I was promoting a sampler called Bitten In The Wake of Dusk: Anticipating Late Night Feelings? Of course you do! I told you to print, fold, and go! 

Well now, for those that don't have the time or ability to print, fold, and go - I am happy to tell you that it is available as an e-book. Eight delicious morsels you can sample of Late Night Feelings. 

Ever since downloading Creative Book Builder on my phone, I have been making plans to turn many things into e-book format. They make it so easy!

Bitten, made available on Payhip, is free with the option to pay as you wish if you would like to donate to The Write Queen blog. Funds go towards publishing Late Night Feelings, Home Sweet Home, Sweltering Sugar and other projects.

Bitten is available in .EPUB and .MOBI format (ie iBooks and Kindle). It is also available in its print, fold, and go PDF via the Late Night Feelings blog.

Don't forget to spread the word and if you haven't already, subscribe to the blog!

Hello Write Queeners!

Yes, you are reading it right. An e-book! In a decision to self-publish my work, I decided to start with a little experiment titled Beloved. The reason I call Beloved a mobile e-book is because everything was written on my phone AND the e-book was created on an app via my iPhone. The app is called Creative Book Builder by Tiger Ng, who not only has this wonderful little app, but a few more that help you create interactive e-books on the go! I do promise that you will get a review of these apps within the week.

Beloved is an e-chapbook of poems and musings about opening, swimming through, and drowning in floodgates. This is a mobile e-book creation and experience that was complied between the condensation of Summer and the chill of Fall. It's FREE for a short period of time (or indefinitely...still deciding!). You can also pay-as-you-wish, where the funds would be used to put out Late Night Feelings, Home Sweet Home, Sweltering Sugar and other projects. Beloved is available in .EPUB and .MOBI formats (i.e. iBooks and Kindle) and a special edition web app for the iPhone and iPad.  

Be on the look out for a post on the Late Night Feelings blog about the process of creating Beloved.

Don't you just love the cover? The photo I used for the cover is by my wonderfully talented best friend and business partner, Alshawn Rushing. He is the Head of Photography and co-founder of EAT Media. If you want to use his awesome skills, head over to EAT Media's website or check him out on his website NerosisMuse Photography.

Look out for an update on the link to the web app. Still working on getting that up!

Don't forget to subscribe to the blog so you can receive updates like this and more!

Hello Write Queeners,

I am starting a new section of the blog called The Write Recommendations. This is where I'll recommend my favorite books, music, websites and more.

I have two websites that I would like to start off with.

The first one is World Liberty TV, an online TV network that covers events, conferences, and trade shows, plus reviews products. Their website was under hiatus for a bit while they were redesigning it, but now they are back and better than ever. Honestly I also recommend them not only for their great content, but because I am a copy editor, blogger, and book reviewer for them. So a little bias with this recommendation, but if you want to check out videos that showcase the world with a multicultural understanding, I highly recommend it! 

The next website I would like you guys to check out is Organic Melinda. I cannot write an intro that does Melinda Gonzalez justice, so I am going to take it right from her about page:

Now I am not a super health person. I eat a lot of things that aren't good for me. But as a part of trying to make my life a little healthier, I like to see my options. I connected with Melinda through a writing course that I also highly recommend. I started to read her blog and found out a lot about eating organically. Which is why I pre-order her new cookbook, coming out on September 4, 2013. It's called L.I.V².E. (Latin Inspired Vegan & Vegetarian Eats) Local & Organic Recipes to Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle. This book also features a recipe from a lovely young lady who has also taught me a few things through her own page, Miss Priscilla Deleon (the stuff she makes is food porn, just from looking at it, I swear).

As a Latina woman, I appreciate that there are recipes out there that cater to healthier eating without losing Latin flavor. I'm certainly glad that Melinda is using her knowledge to educate not only people within the culture, but anyone who enjoys food from Latin culture. Definitely puts a spin to Vegan/Vegetarian living. But hey, check out her site and order the book to find out for yourself. 

So you actually got two websites, a book, a couple of Facebook pages and a course that you can go and inquire more about. You'll always get a little more than what you bargained for when you check out a Write Recommendation.

Think The Write Recommendations is a good addition to the site? Leave a comment and let me know!

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!

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!

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

Go check it out: Day 149

There comes a point in a writer's career (do I really have a career? another post...) where the idea of a book haunts them day and night. You have tons of questions (Is my writing good enough? Will someone publish me? How do I go about editing? etc.) and you go through a roller coaster of emotions. I have been toying with the idea of a book for over a year. After almost 13 years of writing, I figured it was time. 

I will save this for another post, but I do have a lot of challenges with creating this book. From editing my work to who to trust with the product, I have been a mess. I've stalled several times. As a matter of fact, I'm stalling now even after taking a big step (you'll see in a moment). Each step is scary. 

I already have a title (Late Night Feelings) and a possible cover. All I need is to choose my content and go through the act of editing and formating the darn thing. I had someone who was beginning to help me, but he jumped ship (dunno where the hell he is, only Facebook lets me know that he is occasionally alive). so finding someone who I can trust with the project is also holding me back (I need feedback and another eye to help me edit and format).

For inspiration, I went to the Chapbook Festival at the CUNY Graduate Center last month. I saw books in so many formats. It gave me so many ideas on how I could distribute my poetry. But then with so many choices, I was stuck again. I thought to myself, "You need to jumpstart this idea somehow. It's the only way you'll start putting this book together."

My opportunity came at the end of a workshop I attended at the festival. One of the editors from Poets & Writers Magazine (my dream magazine to write for; you know I got her contact info!) demonstrated how to create a pocket-sized book with only one page of paper. Well how to fold it at least. The pages she had already had random prints on it. It was so easy! A lightbulb went on after that demonstration.

A couple of weeks later, I chose eight short poems. I went online to the P&W site and learned how to layout the page. I printed out a few copies at work and BAM! A pocket-sized sample of what's to come for Late Night Feelings.

The title of the sample is called Bitten in the Wake of Dusk: Anticipating Late Night Feelings. I recently have gotten into instagram when the Android verison came out this month. I took one of my instagram photo and made it the picture for my cover. Included two poems that have been published in online lit mags and the rest was material that I haven't shown anyone before (well maybe one person has seen these poems).

Take a look at the picture for the cover!