Writing, for me, is a passion first. A skill also, yes, but that comes secondary. I guess it is easy to be skillful about something if you have the passion for it, although a person may also be skillful about a thing without being passionate about it, although I don’t know where that would lead. Perhaps to boredom, to a dead end…

But being a passion, I started with writing in pure emotion – writing what I feel, what I hate about the world, what I love about it, why I am angry at the moment, who the person inspiring me right now is… things like that. Until now, I still do. But sometimes, I still find myself in a dead end. I have compiled my writings in a notebook. Some are in loose leaf pages. Oftentimes, I don’t know what to do with them. I’ve been dreaming to publish them in print someday (well, I think all writers and aspiring writers – I am more in the second category – want to have their works published). The thing is, I don’t know where to start. Do I publish them online? I am starting now, though with doubts. Will doing so affect future possibilities for publication in print? Besides, I feel like I still am in the very early stage of being a writer. I am unsure of the next steps to take in order to reach that top of the ladder (not being on top, just reaching my goal – coming up with something sensible that will qualify for publication). I’ve thought of joining writing competitions and things like that – ways to enter the literary world. Many times, I still don’t feel like I am a part of it. Or perhaps, I just don’t know the real meaning of it. Or I don’t know. Am I making sense? Okay, where am I? Okay, starting… I have plans, only plans… I am planning to take my master’s degree in Creative Writing, but there seems to be no university here in Bicol which offers that. I have tried looking for online degrees here in the Philippines. There seems to be none either. So, I guess I really have to get out of my comfort zone and explore the unknown. I really still have to make up my mind whether I’ll go to Manila to pursue creative writing.

Okay, here goes… Writing for me is a passion first. But then, passion does not seem to be enough. Writing still requires hard work. When I was still in the university, I had great dreams of finally doing something I love after graduating. I will write! Explore the world of writing. Now I’m here. I have graduated a year ago. Where am I now? I am writing now. As I used to write when I was still studying. But then, I feel I am still standing in the same ground where I have stood when I was still in the university – when it comes to writing – a PASSION.

Even successful novelists have done a great amount of research before coming up with a bestseller. So, I guess I’ve yet to work some more. Work some more. Work some more. Work some more. Go beyond passion.