#022: Why do things sound louder in silence?
Power in the unsaid, the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2022, A HUGE FAVOR, and more tiny yet precious life moments
Hey, there! Thanks for reading OK to BE. This is a Sunday newsletter, which means it may or may not be every Sunday but you will receive it on a Sunday, for sure. Here, I share about my creative journey—from reading and writing to making art and helping other people with their projects—and a bit about me and my sometimes-silly adventures. If anything resonates, do write back or leave a comment, and I shall reply! Also, this is a public dispatch, so feel free to share with friends, especially those looking for a reader, writer, or editor to work with. Enjoy! :)
If I say my brain rarely shuts up, will you understand what I mean? My imagination and memory tank just go on and on and on. Even when sleeping, my brain seems to work double overtime, because maybe five out of seven mornings, I would wake up and remember my dreams (or nightmares, but those are rare; they’re more of twisted joys and silly adventures). My Notes app and journal are full of often vivid bits and scenes that sometimes I would wonder if this, my brain that rarely shuts up, was somehow a gift and that I could use it to the world’s advantage or mine. (Sige, i-feel pa natin iyan, KB…)
Let me squash the idea that I’m complaining about how my brain is an idea machine or a constant experience retriever. (Well, maybe I do, because its behavior, nay, processes, sometimes trigger my anxieties.) I enjoy knowing that it works, and thankfully, it does work well at some of the most important moments. It’s just that it takes extra effort for me to let it rest and just be still, without so much of the mental gymnastics.
But when I do hit that stfu-button in my head, it’s glorious. I think some people mistake or confuse silence as nothingness, or as absence of things or sound, or as a lack of communication, but there is so much power in it that can bring unparalleled clarity and wisdom and creativity and even joy. The quiet can sometimes bring out the best of my ideas and actions, plus improve my self-awareness and, yes, empathy. Being silent does not always mean there is no message; being silent can mean allowing messages to fall into the right spaces.
If I ask you about the last time your brain shut up, will you tell me all about what came out of it?
~*Creative stuff*~ I’ve been/I’m up to
OK to BE Issues 11 and 12 will be released together this month. Download all digital issues here for free.
Speaking of OK to BE, I’m planning sessions and drafting handbooks that hopefully can be helpful to my patrons, Discord community, and newsletter subscribers in terms of starting/improving/sustaining creative work. If you want early/exclusive access, everything will be on my Patreon.
Manuscripts! Not mine, hehe. But omg, the ones I’ve been working on have been super exciting, and I hope I can share more in the next issue/s! In case you were looking for a beta reader or editor for your manuscript (fic, nonfic), I hope you consider working with me. I’d love to help you and, of course, learn from you~
#KBookJo January~March 2022
Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2022 - Thanks to the National Book Development Board for choosing me as one of the grant recipients! I’ve been wanting to attend this fest but the tickets were always too pricey for me. Now that I’ve been, I understand that the fees are worth it! If you’re interested to read about my experience at the AFCC, click here.
Featured
Ilocano word: apay (why)
Binisaya word: ngano (why)
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Bookbed - We’re looking for volunteer collaborators or contributors for our website. If you enjoy talking about books and art, contact us here!
Philippine Board on Books for Young People - National Children’s Book Day is on July 19, and a few things are in the works! To know more, visit the PBBY page here.
Take Two by Kaith C. Cimafranca - In a nutshell, the story is about second-chance romance between international working students set in snowy Canada, with flashbacks to their days in Dumaguete. (Full disclosure: I’m part of the book team.) I hope you can support this novel by pre-ordering or buying via this link!
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I wrote about pitching the SEA Creator Club to Patreon last year. I haven't expounded on that experience here yet, and I hope to do that soon, but I just also want to report that we had a good run! Here are the cool members of the club that I recommend you follow:
Audrey Giovanni - Illustrator from Indonesia
Charanel Gile - Illustrator from the Philippines
Lyndee Lee - Illustrator from Malaysia
Mia Marci - Writer from the Philippines
Mochimong - Illustrator from Malaysia
Olivecoat - Webtoon Creator from the Philippines
Oment - Webtoon Creator from Indonesia
Sasha M - Dance pop singer-songwriter from Singapore
Xiao Mei by Milish - Illustrator from the Philippines
myself, hehe
Watch my unboxing of the A Club Captain gift box here.
Before I say ‘see you in the next one,’ I would like to ask if you can include me in your prayers or manifestations, et cetera. I'm waiting for good news/results for particular things (let's name them Sky, Pie, and Cat), and I would really appreciate the help.
…Aaand that’s all for now! I hope you picked up something fun or useful. See you in the next one ☀️
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