Creative Writing: The NINE Chongisms

In my book talks, one of the frequently-asked questions is: “How do I become a published writer?” I am surprised that there are so many closet writers—like I was—out there.

Had there been a sure-fire formula on how this is done, I’d have followed it years ago. But each published writer, I have discovered, has his own unique story to tell. Mine is a series of fortunate events.

But that is another story.

I’ve mulled over that question and I’d like to help usher budding writers to the joy of creative writing—in my own small way. I summarized my thoughts on creative writing and what I’m doing to give it justice. 

I call them The NINE Chongisms, first discussed in my talk to young writers, participants in an Essay Writing Contest sponsored by OMF Literature, launched at the International Book Fair. 

Why nine? Odd. Why not ten? Because they’re no commandments; punishment comes not to those who disobey them. They’re for anyone or no one to treasure or trash.

The beauty of creative writing is—there are no how-tos. Every writer has his own voice. 

1) Creative writing cannot be taught, it can only be nurtured.

The gift is not the ability to write; it is the passion to write. You can’t be forced, or made to go to writing school and emerge a creative writer. Like a pianist or an athlete who constantly practices with discipline before he becomes a virtuoso or Olympian, the writer likewise must go through the same practice and discipline. That means, writing every single day.

2) The perfect time to write is now.

How much writing are you doing? If you wait till you have more time, more money, or when you’re older, or more experienced, then kiss publishing good-bye. If you have stories to tell, tell them now. If you want to write, write now. Waiting is an extravagance a creative writer can’t afford. I splurged on waiting and now I seem to have very little time to write the many stories still untold.

3) Creative writing must help heal.

I live and wish for happy endings. I believe that when this earthly life ends, God’s children will move to eternal life. I feel that each written work—be it for kids, adults, the world—must uplift a reader’s (or my) sagging spirit.

At some point in our lives, we hurt. Surely the human spirit has the capacity to bear pain and rise from it, but it can use a little help to hasten the healing process.

The characters in my stories are drawn from real life. Except for Alvin Patrimonio, my nephew, they are ordinary beings who have made an extraordinary impact on how I think and feel. While reading these stories, others—from their letters—have found their own.

“Thank you, my pasaway little boy is trying to be like Teo!” (Teo is the main character in the Oh Mateo! Series of 11 books to date.)

“What’s for Breakfast? is bringing me closer to God.”

“Gifts of Grace lifts the heart and makes me think of how fortunate I am with so many people around me making my life meaningful everyday.”

4) A writer needs to keep the wildness in him alive.

The wildness in us is our daring attitude, opinions and feelings which we call imagination—it can go where others don’t want to go. Imagination is circular, not linear. It can begin with any character or action at any point of your story.

It’s thinking out of the box, thinking in the box, thinking in another box, and thinking in new boxes. I guess it’s courageously trying out all kinds of boxes to weave tapestries of daily living.

5) Creative writing is not about words or syntax, it is about life.

Polyglots, grammarians, linguists, and philosophers can write. Anybody who has mastered a language can write. But only a creative writer can put his soul on paper: the connections he has built, gaps he has bridged, failures he has learned from, and successes he has celebrated.

Creative writing is looking for the good in people, reconciling differences and solving conflicts, in a unique voice that is yours alone—not preaching, just testifying.

6) A creative writer needs ten senses, not five.

Behind every sound, touch, scent, image, and taste is a story. Someone said that when a writer hears a whisper, he hears a thunder.

Creative writing is looking beyond the beauty in the ordinary. It’s seeing the buds bloom, enjoying the birds' chorus, hearing the leaves wail, re-reading the books that have inspired you and dipping into them. It’s feeling the texture of paint and the ouch of a needle.

7) A creative writer must embrace solitude, including tedium.

Creative work requires a good deal of time alone. Often, I need to withdraw from the hubbub of the world—and be with my shadow.

Enjoy the tedium. Go over a paragraph ten, twenty, fifty times until it sings.

8) Every piece uses your brain, but has your heart.

Brain: We’ve been told that the brain controls everything—our actions, thoughts, emotions. True. How do ideas come? At the base of our brain is the Reticular Activating System (RAS). These cells help us decide what to be conscious of, filtering out other information.

When my husband bought an Innova car, I never thought there were so many Innova owners. People didn't rush out to buy the same car. They were always there. I just made it important to me and my RAS allowed that information through.

When I decided that creative writing is more important to me than advertising writing, I saw many ideas I missed before.

Everything we experience is in our brain. The challenge for a creative writer is to retrieve this information.

Heart: Is the heart mushy? Facts: The heart's electromagnetic field is actually 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain. Research shows that our heart perceives and transmits information in much the same way that our brains do.

We use our heart to read others and through electrical impulses, pressure waves and hormones, our intuition enables us to feel empathy for others.

By no coincidence, our vocabulary is filled with expressions, such as: Broken-hearted, Change of heart, All heart, Take heart, Heart-to-heart, Hard-hearted, Tender-hearted, and Half-hearted.

9) Creative writing is for God’s glory.

Creative writing is honoring the light within me, letting it shine, to glorify its Source. It is baring what chaos and choices have taught me, so others may find their own light.

Creative writing emerges only from a center. So then every page is a celebration of the beauty of noon, midnight, and all hours in between. Every leaf is a rediscovery of blessings and a conduit to our Creator.

The NINE Chongisms in a nutshell: Creative writing makes me lose myself in the excitement of the imagination; only to find myself ensconced in the warmth of His grace.