The Writing Life: First Approved Manuscript After Four Years

I've always loved writing.

But, after I graduated from college and started working, I forgot about it.

I became too focused on climbing the corporate ladder and getting enough sleep (graveyard shifts can do that to a person) that I forgot about the things that actually made me happy. Like writing and escaping real life through a really good romance novel.

I decided to start writing again a few months ago. I thought I had a decent enough story to tell, so I submitted that manuscript that I had been working off and on for almost two years. After three weeks, I sent an e-mail to follow up on the status of the manuscript... and guess what?

It was rejected.

That was a first for me, and I have to say it was a very humbling experience. It taught me to respect writing even more. You can't just jump into it and expect success without paying your dues.

Fortunately, I had been working on another manuscript while the first one I submitted was under evaluation. I submitted it two days after Manuscript #5 was rejected. When I got the e-mail saying Manuscript #6 had been approved, success tasted so much sweeter after a bitter rejection.

Gisingin ang Puso ang tentative title ng manuscript.

The Idea

I got the idea for the book when I heard the song Don't Cry Joni on the radio. If you're not familiar with the song, it's about a fifteen-year-old girl named Joni who's in love with the boy-next-door who happens to be happen seven years older than her.

She obviously gets rejected. However, the boy-next-door changes his mind several years later and realizes that Joni is the girl for him after all.

Medyo pang-matanda na ang kanta, pero na-inspire talaga ako sa kuwento ni Joni at ng the boy-next-door. Hindi maganda ang ending nila, and I wanted to give them their own happily-ever-after.

Hindi nagtagal ay narinig ko rin ulit ang kantang Gisingin ang Puso--yung original at hindi yung revived version na ginamit nila sa Pinoy version ng Pure Love. Napaka-heartbreaking talagang pakinggan at gusto kong i-capture 'yung emotions sa kanta sa isang libro.

I started getting ideas for the book, and I couldn't wait to get everything on the page.

The Cast

JC de Vera as Paolo Belmonte

Shay Mitchell as Diane Enriquez

The Summary

Ten years ago, niyaya ni Diane na maging prom date si Paolo, ang best friend ng kuya niya na first love rin niya. Nagmakaawa siya na hintayin siya nito, pero isang napakalaking rejection lang ang inabot niya. Mabuti na lang at umalis ito pagkalipas ng ilang buwan para mag-aral sa Amerika kaya naging mas madali para sa kanya ang kalimutan ito.

Tuwing ini-imagine niya ang muli nilang pagkikita ng lalaki, lagi siyang may kasama na napaka-guwapong boyfriend. Hindi maalis ng nasabing boyfriend ang mga mata nito sa kanya at may napakalaking engagement ring sa isang daliri niya. Masaya na siya, mature, at completely in control.

Si Paolo naman? Ayon sa imagination niya, pangit na ito at unti-unting nakakalbo.

Ngunit kabaligtaran ng imagination niya ang totoong nangyari. Si Paolo ang bago niyang boss, and he was more handsome than ever. 

Gawa-gaya ko lang ang summary. Hindi po 'yan ang official summary ng Bookware. Hindi rin ako sigurado kung papalitan nila ang title o hindi. Sana hindi kasi medyo attached na ako sa 'Gisingin ang Puso.' LOL. I can't wait for this book to come out. Ang saya kasi magkakalibro na ulit ako after four years. :D