CandyMag.Com

So! The feature articles. (And yes, it really is me, Gela, back in the flesh! =D)

Obviously I can’t say much about the part of the articles that I didn’t take part in writing, because I wasn’t there to witness them being born. But I sure can tell you about the part Pat and I worked on, namely the quiz.

It took a lot of idea-changing and a lot of drafts before the two of us finally came up with that. My original idea was “What Type of Explorer Are You?” in relation to the theme EXPLORE! I was thinking the answers would be something like archaeologist-captain-traveler-something (I never got around to deciding on the last option because we thought of a different idea).

The final one came out, I remember, during our Hotspot shoot. I’d asked Pat to ride with us in the Adventure, and the two of us were in the back-back seat while Rubie, Sandra and Mheems (did I get that right? haha! I forgot.) were in the middle-back seat. We both had our notebooks open, and ideas just started flowing right out of us. Funny how that happens when we’re all together. It’s like when we’re getting really into brainstorming, our minds connect effortlessly onto one track, one wavelength, and it all comes together and bam! we come up with something. One time, the eds even said they should have done more brainstorming with us. Haha! Well, going back. Somewhere during that bumpy ride, we came up with the idea of thinking about the gadget the reader uses most and telling the reader what kind of exploring she should do more. Within the span of say, five minutes, we already had a basic outline and a draft of the design, and once that was done, we shut our notebooks and joined into the other girls’ conversation on school and Gossip Girl (although I couldn’t relate with that! =P) as we cruised along the roads.
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As of this moment, I’ve had three Hard Candy pieces published in our favorite magazine: “Left Behind” for June, “I’m a Survivor!” for September, and “Dirty Hands,” co-written with Reggie Belmonte, for August. Allow me to share with you some of my experiences and insights after writing my first three Hard Candy articles.

June: “Left Behind” (Children of OFWs)
This article, my first Hard Candy assignment, remains my favorite. During a Council of Cool meeting, I pitched the idea of doing an article about how parental migration affected left-behind children. I have a keen interest in migration-related matters, and at the time, I had completed a research on children of OFWs. I knew that some of them had some stories about the negative effects of their parents’ absence, so I suggested a Hard Candy article about such cases. I was really surprised when Ate Angel later offered me the assignment. It was an honor because not only was my idea approved, but I also got to write the article myself! I was very proud of this assignment because it was something that I was really passionate about.
I’ll never forget that one of my sources for this article kept thanking me profusely when she saw the June issue. It turned out her OFW mother was coming home that month and she said my article would be the perfect gift for her mom. That really made my day!
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I think I’d have to agree with Crissy that lately school has been que terrible! With the upcoming deadlines for projects as well as the loom of midterms in the weeks to come, I think all I want to do right now is to shut myself in my room and sleep. Of course, any responsible Candy girl would say otherwise! I’m pretty sure everyone’s pretty much getting killed with high school or college requirements. I bet you have some major black eye bags getting darker by the minute. I bet coffee is a constant companion too!

It doesn’t help that when a deadline for a paper rolls along you find yourself grasping for words and statements. You want to sound profound but end up getting lost in your thoughts! You think of something the next minute but for some reason, the idea escapes you! It’s insane! It doesn’t help that when you look at your alarm, it blinks at you stating it’s too early in the morning – like 2am in the morning!

All you can think of is that nice warm bed that’s waiting for you, untouched. The sheets look extra comfortable and though you’d want to burry yourself underneath, you realize that as of that moment, you are attached to your computer with Microsoft Word open and a blinking cursor waiting for the next word you should be typing…uhm anytime SOON.

Every once in a while, we experience the inevitable writer’s block.

How I wish academic life would be a lot simpler but when everything else fails, it pays to stock up on really good music to soothe the head. Believe me, I’ve learned that in order to move away from the mental clutches of writer’s block, more music and more writing is the best remedy.

Thus, I present you with my uhm Writer’s Block Playlist. On days (or nights) which I can’t think of anything to write, I put these tracks on. It doesn’t always work, but it helps.

1. “We Intertwined” – The Hush Sound
2. “Can’t Take It In” – Imogen Heap
3. “Beautiful Day” – U2
4. “World Spins Madly On” – The Weepies
5. “Be Still My Heart” – The Postal Service
6. “Smile Like You Mean It” – Tally Hall (originally done by The Killers)
7. “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” – Stars (used in The O.C.)
8. “The View” – Modest Mouse
9. “With a Little Help From My Friends” – The Beatles
10. “California” – Rogue Wave
11. “Are You Happy Now” – Michelle Branch
12. “Superstar” – Lupe Fiasco
13. “Dark Blue” – Jack’s Mannequin
14. “Hope” – Jack Johnson
15. “If I Had Eyes” – Jack Johnson

I could come up with a hundred more songs if I had enough blog space! =)) I suggest that you come up with your own writer’s block playlist. I’m telling you, it works like a charm! It’ll get you through another paper deadline. J

With iTunes playing,
Sandra

Do you know how it feels when you just need to drop everything you’re holding and write? When thoughts and inspiration overwhelm you and there is no other way to let it out.

I found this (unedited) draft of scribbled thoughts I wrote down a few months ago. I never even recalled writing it at first. I thought I should share a little of what goes on in my hectic mind:

“i feel awfully inclined & inspired to write {and read} tonight though it’s soon to be 3 in the morning. & despite my very important student council meeting at 3 in the afternoon i’m determined to clear my mind.

time controls life. we are governed by it. the wise have used it well. the ignorant have yet to see its power. some despise it, others try to change it, while the weak fear it.

at the moment, i am very conscious of time. though there is no actual sound of a clock, i can feel a ticking within my body.

no deeper.

within my soul. as if it is a warning that i must be cautious of how i spend it. it’s abstract. though it has never felt so concrete. it is the most valuable and fragile thing we may hold. it is the greatest power we may ever possess. as the ol’ saying goes it comes with the greatest responsibility as well.

regrets and choices.

there’s no turning back. we could stay in the same place for an indefinite amount of time attempting to turn back. but in the end the only way to move is forward.

though here i am. at a crossroad. Not sure of what direction to turn.

i cannot blame time for moving too fast or going to slow. unfortunately, it’s flawless. i’m the flawed. it would be useless to wish to be at one point in time forever. no that would be very stupid. so my desire/purpose is unclear. maybe i only hope to come to understand the cryptic mystery behind each clock. to understand myself and what i am to do with time.

how to spend it, how to savor it. how to make it last. each moment. each breath. thought. each word worth a second in time.

i wanted to be a prodigy because i thought if i was smarter and more brilliant earlier than i would been a greater person. But that doesn’t fix anything.

time is fleeting. i try to chase it. but my feet can only carry me so far.

it spreads to my eyes and i begin to see the days that have passed and the days i dream of in the future. from the edges of my fingertips to the end of my toes there is that ticking.

i don’t want to turn sixteen. i want to fly away to never never land with peter pan so i can figure out why Wendy wanted to return.

at least i’m strong enough to admit i’m weak.“