1. Stories take time to grow and develop. Letters to Crispin took three years to write and a few more before it was published.
2. Sometimes, a story has a life or a direction of its own. What was intended to be a sad, romantic story for a magazine/newspaper turned into something else - a ghost story that is connected to Philippine history.
3. Writing a story involves a process.
4. Writers often ask a friend or a colleague to read his/her story before submitting the manuscript to the publisher. It is good to listen to their feedback.
5. A manuscript is not always accepted for publication. This is a part of the creative process.
6. Book making involves a lot of collaborative work. The author and illustrator are partners in creating a book.
7. Memory connects us to our past and present in some magical way.
8. Look for the fantastic. For example, a person to live a hundred years and to witness two historical revolutions in his/her lifetime is fantastic. This is the stuff of stories.
9. Exchange stories with your parents. Share and compare childhood stories with each other.
10. Keep a journal.
As the teacher and facilitator of the reading club, I am still star struck from meeting Ms. Abad Jugo. She has such a comforting presence. Many thanks to Anvil Publishing for making this Author Visit possible.
