My writing journey : 24H Trip to Singapore (Draft for training purposes)

It has been awhile since my last posting.

On Saturday 22nd August 2014, I embarked in this 24 hours so-called trip down under (Singapore). Right after work, I hurried to catch the Aeroline bus and arrived Singapore around midnight. I took a cab to the Plush Pods hostel. Yes, back-packing style :P

The Aeroline travel was quite good. Good food, ample time for stop-over rest and prayers.

The Plush Pods was not too bad. It was just my first time staying in a hostel so it was kind of uncomfortable. But again it was not too bad. The price was reasonable. I paid RM75 for an overnight stay.

My little bed-cubicle

The hostel was convenient because it was just 2-3 minutes walking to the workshop venue the next day -  Heritage Place at Tan Quee Lan St.

The workshop title-details

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Right after the workshop ends, I had lunch at Nandos Bugis Junction which was just few minutes away. Then, I rushed to the MRT station to catch a train bound to KL at 4:00pm Arrived home around midnight.

I boarded the First Class KTMB train and it was all so exciting! I remembered how much fun it was many years ago.

The only frustrating thing was I had high expectations of the train. When I went in the coach, it was not as first class as I expected.

Some of the seats are have mechanical problems, torned fabrics and shown obvious signs of wear and tear.

Overview of First Class coach

Not too glamorous but good enough for me

But, I love trains and decided that these should not spoil the journey.

And as expected, the journey was not only exciting but very nostalgic. It was amazing that the scenic panaroma looked the same throughout these years. I spent my whole daylight time to enjoy the view. It did not matter whether it was someone's backyard, wild bushes, old shophouses. It was meaningful to me. I wished I am good in watercolours so that I can put visually on paper.

Mostly palm oil plantation along the way

A calming river flow

Then the food trolley came and I was very excited. For unknown reasons, I love food served on moving public transportantion! Be it on airplane, trains or express bus. Having served and dine while in motion is cool.

I bought a pack of meehoon goreng, a banana cake and iced milo. They tasted quite good. While having my meal, I remembered how my mum served as ayam goreng rempah on our way to Singapore, I can still taste how nice it was.

Later, to entertain myself, I went for a walk to other coaches. I m and to the toilet. Very exciting indeed. The toilet looked the same throughout these years.

I had fun throughout the journey.

I arrived around 11pm and an hour later arrived at home, served with goodies from my wife!

home-cooked karipap daging and hot tea

Writing tips : Beating Writer's Block

Writing tips : Beating Writer's Block

If you are experiencing Writer's Block, it is totally OK. Do not panic. Some people don't even believe it exist.

Whatever it is, here are some suggestions for you to overcome WB compiled from various sources.

1. Don't take it too hard!

Anna Quindlin once wrote, "People have writer's block not because they can't write, but because they despair of writing eloquently." We are our worst critic, one of my writing teacher said. Turn your critical brain off. We can always edit the writing later.

2. Time off

If you experience WB, perhaps it is time for the ideas to gestate. Give yourself time to rest, gather new experience, new ideas from other activities. As for me, I would just take a walk, play with my kids, paint and visit the social media!

3. Scheduling

Graham Greene wrote 500 words every morning and has published 30 books. If you are up to it, set out time to write and just completely ignore WB. When your body shows writing at the same time and place daily, perhaps your mind will too eventually.

4. Multiple Projects

Try to switch back and forth from one project to another. I work on many stuff and just leave it when I was stuck. I know it sounds a bit ambitious but most of the time it works for me. The only thing I dislike about it is we may stretch ourselves thin doing lots of things all about the same time.

5. Redecorate

In the movie Batman & Robin, Poison Ivy, played by Uma Thurman once uttered, "Let's redecorate!" when she wanted to set up her lair. Taking cue from this, sometimes I re-do my writing / creative stations. The work that we do suppose to be fun and the space is suppose to be a place we look forward to being in.

6. Exercising

I am not talking about physical exercise as I do not want to preach what I do not practice! What is meant here is writing exercise. Such can loosen up the blocked mind and get us to write anything. Some of those may not be good but perhaps one day it might be useful!

7. Study

Study how other writers overcome their WB.

8. Intrinsic Motivation

Ask yourself what are your writing and why. Is it pure passion or obligation? If you feel most about your writing, it will makes your happy and perhaps your readers will too. You passion will not only sustain but drive you through your WB.

End of article.

Writing Tips : Ideas for revising your writing

Great tips from a great writer, Ralph Fletcher. Taken from www.ralphfletcher.com

Many young writers think of revision as all hard work and drudgery. But revision is more than just a way to fix a broken piece of writing. It's also a way to honor a good piece and make it even better. Here are some ideas to experiment with:

1. Change the beginning:

- Experiment with different kinds of leads. You might try sound effects, or an intriguing first sentence.

2. Change the ending:

- Maybe a circular ending, for example, or a surprise ending might work best for your writing.

3. Add a section:

- Have you left out something important?

4. Remove/delete a part:

- A piece of writing is like a rose bush--it grows healthier after you prune the unnecessary parts.

5. Revise for voice:

- Are there places in the writing where you stop sounding like you and start sounding like someone else?

6. Change the order:

You don't have to tell the story in the order it happened. Try starting in the middle, or try starting at the end and flashing back to the beginning.

7. Change the genre:

- The story you are working on might work better as poem, an information piece, or a letter.

8. Change point of view:

- Try telling the story through the "He" or "She" point of view, instead of the more common "I".

9. Change the tone:

- Make it funnier, more sarcastic, more serious.

10. Change the tense:

- From past ("I walked into the house") to present tense ("I walk into the house"), for example.

11. Slow down the "hot-spot" or crucial moment of the story:

- Use dialogue, emotion, and frame-by-frame detail.

12. Break a big topic (All About My Family, for example) into chunks or chapters:

- Think of each chunk as its own piece of writing.