Miah Learns to Write

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash I have also been self-conscious about sharing my work with others. Fear of criticism is also one big issue that I face as a writer. The thing is, during the editing phase, you feel like you’ve already criticized your work. The thought of others criticizing your work would just make you feel more worthless. And that’s a depressing thought. But if you go to someone whom you trust completely and who only thinks of what’s best for you, I think it would be less of a burden. What good is it? Letting others read your work allows you to see it from a different perspective. You can gauge how your work affects or impacts other people through their response. That could help give you a direction on what to write or how to write it. It also allows for an exchange of viewpoints and ideas. This is probably a good idea to do when you’re editing your work. Getting a second opinion or a fresh perspective on the topic would allow you to make more ...

Credits: Studio Pierrot I know I'm a bit late to the party but recently, I had just finished my Naruto marathon, both the original and Shippuuden. It took me about three months. Afterward, I kind of missed it since it felt like I was with them as they grew up and matured. So here are a few things I picked up after watching it. Pursuing Your Dreams One of the things that came up often in the anime is the idea of never giving up. Naruto knew what he wanted to be from when he was a child. He held on to that dream and worked hard to achieve it. He spent all his time and effort into getting closer to his dream. This tenacity and determination is so admirable in this character. And I think this is the reason why his story is endearing to many people. And this is why his story resonated with me. The way the character was written and animated made him an inspiration to me. That’s why after watching the anime, I became more determined to express what my dream is and to reach for ...

Photo by annekarakash on Pixabay When I started blogging, I just wrote stuff that came to mind. I didn’t pay any heed to whether the ideas were coherent or not. It didn’t matter to me whether the paragraphs were too long or whether the words were too big. I was probably breaking a cardinal rule of writing which is to always edit what you write. You won’t get an article, a story, or any piece of writing right the first time. It’s a process of laying out your ideas, straightening them out, and polishing them. You do this until you’ve exhausted all possible ways to make it better. There are a few editing mistakes that I’ve done besides neglecting editing. This all depends on your mindset when looking at your work. One: “There are too many flaws in my work. Or for that matter, the whole thing is flawed. It’s one big mistake. So I should just scrap the whole thing.” This is the wrong mindset. I know I shouldn’t focus on every mistake I make. Technically that’s what makes us huma...

Photo by Mikito Tateisi on Unsplash As I mentioned, I have been blogging since 2011. But I have been writing even before that time. I was editor-in-chief of our school paper in grade school. While I also became a feature writer for the Filipino publication in high school. The problems I faced back then are still the same today. I don’t know if other writers experience the same thing. But I would like to share with you my experiences with writing and how difficult it really is. Getting started on writing Everybody procrastinates in one way or another. When we put something off for a later time even if we can do it now, we procrastinate. I don’t think procrastination in itself is a bad thing. It could be viewed as conditioning oneself to be in the right frame of mind to tackle whatever task they need to do. That requires time to prepare. Procrastination becomes an issue if it takes too long for you to warm up. Then you find yourself pressed for time. If you have deadlines, ...

Yesterday I watched the film Koe no Katachi ( lit. The Shape of Voice; English title: A Silent Voice ). I cried several times throughout the film. For me, it was a sweet blend of tragic, sad episodes and uplifting, hopeful moments that make it easier for me to process without becoming an emotional wreck. After watching it, I now understand why many anime fans were outraged by the Oscar snub. The same thing could be said of many countless anime films out there but I think several bloggers and Youtubers have explained why that is the case. I like the explanations of Mother’s Basement and akidearest on the matter. Spoiler alert : If you haven’t watched the film yet, I suggest that you do. If you could get a DVD of it from your local video store, do so. It’s a wonderful film. When He Met Her The film follows the story of Shoya Ishida and his friends. One day in elementary school, their teacher introduces a new student, Shoko Nishimiya, who is revealed to be deaf. In the beginni...

Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash So after a long time of not writing any articles, I have decided to get back to blogging.  When I heard about blogging for the first time, I didn’t know how to do it. My mother was the one who suggested it to me. I think it was after learning about it from a friend who goes to the same church. I checked out their blog and I thought the process was simple enough. It seemed like a good opportunity to improve my writing and possibly earn money on the side. The Beginning So I started blogging in 2011. I didn’t really have any idea how I should go about it. So I just started writing whatever comes to mind. As I grew and matured as a person and as a writer, my writing became more nuanced. I also learned more about blogging throughout the years. But ever since I learned about it, it evolved from just a simple hobby to a dream, the dream of being able to stay at home, sit in front of my computer, and earn a living. However, this wasn’t a sim...

From: Thought Catalog Continued from Missed Chances Him: My heart sank, those words fell like drops of rain They rang through my ears, echoing, echoing What did she mean by that? Moved on? How? I spent many years out in the world Trying to get better so I can be the one Who would be deserving of her affection When I left her, I had nothing to my name All I had was the shirt on my back I had nothing to give her but my heart But my love would not have been enough Sweet words, a gentle touch, side by side We would have died with nothing I wanted to give her the best things in life Enough, at least, to sustain us especially When the times comes to start a family So I climbed and clawed and conquered every mountain My desire to be with her fueled my spirit And the next time I see her again, I can be the one Now I can give her the life that she deserved But she rejected it. I was so baffled and torn All those years I spent apart from her Moments that I coul...

What differentiates the rich from the poor? The answer: financial freedom. Rich people can buy and do whatever they want but most rich people, particularly, successful entrepreneurs and businessmen, don't really spend a lot on things that they don't need. So that begs the question, "Why do we buy things we don't need? Why do we have a tendency to splurge on things that have little value in terms of generating wealth?" Let us try to explore the psychology behind human wants and desires. Then we can understand how that manifests in the way we behave. Needs vs. Wants Human beings need a few basic things to live and survive. One cannot live without food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep, and exercise. These things help us in the normal functioning of our bodies. More than these, we also need to develop and foster relationships. Love and acceptance from others fulfill our social needs. Work humanizes us because it gives us the capacity to pursue our desires. The f...

Photo by  Emile Séguin  on  Unsplash Why do emotional attachments have such a profound effect on the human psyche? Where does it draw its strength and power from such that when one is gripped by the emotions that have been amplified by bonds, ties, or attachments to experiences or people, one could be left paralyzed by it, unable to move on from that specific moment, as if the weight of that moment accumulated and had suddenly been difficult to carry? I don't know why we feel helpless in times of grief, pain, sorrow while it would be the complete opposite when we experience happiness, joy, laughter. Love and loss, that's one thing my mind goes back to. Love, or the emotions associated with mutual recognition, solidarity, friendship can definitely bring such elation but when that is taken away, loss takes over, a time of mourning. The mind should be able to rein in the heart. Logic should be able to trump out sentiment. Reason should overwhelm nostalgia. But that...

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash His POV: I have traveled far and wide looking for her She was the light that shines in the morning Now, my days would be bright once again When I had nothing, she was my everything Now, I have everything but I feel lacking My heart longs to be by her side, beating next to her Serendipity, that's what brought me to her I had lost hope of ever finding her again Until I caught a glimpse of something peculiar I blinked my eyes, I wasn't mistaken, it was her I tried to come up to her but I didn't know what to say I panicked, I turned around and walked the other way My heart was pounding, leaping in my chest I decided to wait for the right moment to meet her And finally spend the rest of my life with her Days passed and I stood on the corner of the street Same time each day, waiting to see her again But she didn't come, and I started doubting Did I really see her or was it just an illusion? Was my mind playing...