Interview with Aira Ledesma

Aira Ledesma discovered her talent in writing as early as seven years old. Up to date, she has written hundreds of pocketbooks including the very popular Bestfriends Series. Here's a short interview with her.


1.)When did you start writing?
As romance pocketbook writer,1995.

2.)Did you experience rejection? How did you cope with it?

The first time I experienced rejection, I stopped writing. I felt bad and frustrated. I kept the rejected manuscript for months. Then, there was this new publication that opened doors. I decided to submit my rejected manuscript with this in mind: if ever ma-reject ito uli, it means I am not meant to be a romance pocketbook writer. So what I did was I ironed every crumpled page of my rejected manuscript to make it appear newly typed. During that time, computers were not that popular yet so writers used typewriters instead. To my delight, which gave me a new hope, that manuscript was approved. In addition, an editor of another publication talked to me and got me to be their regular writer. That ended my frustrations and the rest was history.

3.)What do you do if you have the writer's block?

I stopped writing and turned off my computer. . I'll do something else and try to relax my mind. When I have rested enough from writing, I figured out what's wrong with my manuscript. That's the time I'll think what scenes should comes next. It is very important to get rid of the writer's block before a writer continues writing. For me, it's like an obstacle in a game. You can't continue playing in another level unless you have resolved the hindering obstacle.

4.)Any tips for the aspiring writers?

If you feel you are a borne writer by heart, don't stop dreaming to be one. Read as many romance pocketbooks as you can for a start to familiarize yourself with the formula. Yes, love story writing has a formula. As for myself, reading Mills and Boons was my training ground. By constant reading, I was able to determine how a story should run and what are the important elements that should compose it.

I got this tip from the first publisher that accepted my first published manuscript. According to him, the dilemma of the characters must already be established in the first ten pages of your story. He also said that the writer must have the ability to arouse the curiosity of the readers at the very start of the story. Most of the time, it must be written in the female character's point of view since the target market of romance pocketbooks are women. Aside from being a wide reader, the writer must know her characters and can give justification if ever there are deviations from the normal characterization.

Be attentive, be a good listener, be a wide reader, be a keen observer, be alert and aware with everything and everyone around you. For who knows? A single word that you may hear from a person next to you or a funny act from someone you bump in a department store may lead you to a good story plot.

Interview with Sharon Rose

Sharon Rose is one of the most talented persons I've known. She's a writer, a painter, an architecture, a photographer, a make-up artist, a businesswoman.... Name it! This lady can do all that.

To visit her blog, CLICK HERE!

1.)What is your inspiration in writing?

For my characters, my inspiration are the people around me and the individuals that I admire. For example, nagagandahan ako sa isang kakilala, gagamitin ko yung bida sa nobela ko. Or if I would be inspired by her life, i'll use her life as the plot in my story. Yung mga ginagawa ko kasi, though fiction are inspired from true to life stories, some of them are mine. Dagdagan na lang ng konting spice at ang finished product ay isang manuscript.

2.)How do you beat writer's block?

May writers block ako kapag masyadong pagod kaya pagod na ang utak mag-isip. Or kapag hindi inspired. To beat this, I usually read interesting books that will inspire me and challenge me to write a good read. Lalo na kapag nagandahan ako dun sa binabasa ko. I also unwind and go to places that i can get inspiration. Or simply not to think about writing at all. Pagkalipas ng ilang araw, may mga bago na naman akong ideyang maiisip. Or simply kapag tinatamad ako, nagkakawriters block talaga ako kasi tinatamad na magsulat.

3.)Do you have a writing schedule?

I don't have any writing schedule. I write when an inspiration struck me and that I have the time to put my ideas into writing. Ayokong masyadong pinapagod ang sarili ko kasi nagiging fight scenes lahat ang kalalabasan. Kumbaga nagiging suplada ang bida.. haha

4.)Do you have some tips for the writers wannabe?

Tips na mabibigay ko, if you have the passion, then strive hard to fulfill your dream to be a writer. Wag masyadong padadala sa mga negative comments. Take it as constructive criticisms and a challenge to improve your craft. Kapag nadiscourage ka naman at feeling me eh hindi ka talaga magiging writer kasi di maganda ang feedback, stop for a while, relax, get inspired and write again and again. read a lot and study other author's style, to get some tips and read about techniques in writing. Read and read and write and write until you'll get the right formula. its always try and try until you suceed.

Interview with Almira Jose

Ms. Almira Jose gave me permission to repost this interview from her blog: http://naniniwalaako.blogspot.com

 1. When did you start writing Tagalog romance novels? 2003

2. When were you first published? Aug 2003
What genre or title - was your first published work? Modern Category Romance written in Popular Tagalog

3. How did you become a Tagalog romance novel writer? My own initiative
Who or what influenced you? I have long since been a fan of the genre and writing felt like a natural progression

4. Do you use any pen names? If yes, what is/are these? Yes, Almira Jose

5. How many novels have you written so far (If forgotten, approximate no.)? Twenty four

6. Are all of these published? If not why? No, 18 have been published already, the rest are still waiting their turn/schedule

7. How do you come up with your plots/stories? How do you choose your characters? My psychology background plays a part. I'd like to think I have a rudimentary understanding of human behavior.

7. What are the usual themes of your novels (aside from having a central love story)? Why do you use such themes? I'm partial to 'coming of age' 'comedy of errors' and 'rekindling old flames' but I try not to indulge myself and write these themes. Why? I want to push and challenge myself.

8. Do you follow a formula/process in writing your manuscript? If yes, what is/are these? Romance fiction by nature is formulaic. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl in the end.

9. What do you consider as ideal writing conditions (place, almosphere, mood, etc.)? Place - my room...Atmosphere - as long as there's no distraction...Mood - when I don't have pressing problems to think about. In short, when I'm relaxed

10. Where do you get your ideas on what to write in your novels? Decades of reading, watching films, observing strangers, interacting with others etc...

11. What/who are your inspiration/s in writing? I'm a fan of the genre and that inspires me to write.

12. Do you accept inputs suggested by your publisher? Editors? Production Designers or Marketing Directors? Yes. I take their suggestions into consideration.

13. What suggestions do you retain/remove? What I love about PHR is that they give us writers leeway in our stories. We can write 'out of the box' as long as we are able to give justice to our plots

14. Who has the final say as to what gets published? The editor

15. Does/do your publisher/s have memos/ guidelines on how and what to write? No. But they do have book imprints for example, my love my hero (where the heroine's safety is compromised and the hero saves the day), my lovely bride (the story leads to the altar), blue (the male protagonist is a blue collar worker), working girl (most of the scenes take place in the work environment).. they don't obligate us to write under these imprints but they do encourage us

16. Are there any restrictions? If yes, what are they? Who sets these rules? As I've mentioned, the very nature of the genre is formulaic. Boy meets girl, conflict keeps them apart, this conflict is later on resolved and both end up together. Conflicts are vast and varied and it is up to the writer to think of, build up, and resolve this conflict. You can't write a story without these elements and still call it romance.

One rule that can't be broken though is that the hero and heroine together must have a happily ever after ending. This has been a long established requirement of the genre.

For clarification purposes, I'd like to make clear that we are talking about modern romance fiction here. The happily ever after part is a requirement that sets this genre apart from a love story... one example, Love Story by Erich Segal. Although containing elements of romance, this book cannot be categorized under modern romance fiction since the heroine dies in the end.

Interview with Mei Sanchez

Mei Sanchez was the sole finalist of PHR's 3rd Romance Writing Contest. Her winning piece "Sa Pagitan ng Dalawang Rosas" was published on July 29, 2009. Her other books are  "Huling Mahal" and "The Boy Next Door". I had a chance to interview this talented and very down-to-earth woman.

1.) How did you discover your passion in writing?

I discovered my passion in writing when I joined PHR's 3rd Romance Writing Contest. It was only that time I found out that writing gives me joy and profound fulfillment. That's also why I'm thankful for the contest because I was able to discover a part of me I thought never existed.

2.)You won PHR's contest last year. Who motivated you to join?

Actually, I didn't really win, I was only a sole finalist. To tell you the truth, the prize motivated me to join. ^-^ You see, I'm a full time mom and housewife, so the cash prize will do me good. But through the contest, I'm now embracing and loving the life of a writer with its ups and down.

3.)What was your initial reaction when you found out you won?

When it came to my attention that I was the sole finalist, I was surprised. I was thankful to God for the new found talent. Who would've guess that a middle aged home maker can start a career in writing?

4.)Any writing tips for the aspiring writers out there?

Dear ones, never stop dreaming and believing. Before writing, READ and STUDY a book. You might pick-up pointers on the writer's style. Also, don't lose heart when you receive a rejection because it's a vital part of being a writer. Why vital? Because through it, you will learn and strive harder to have an approved MS. Keep on writing and love it. Let your imagination run wild because it will help your fingers type your stories. ; P