Writing Updates- February 2021

So this is an ad hoc writing update because I already changed my writing goals after one month in 2021.  So basically I’m still continuing (being plagued) by the decimal draft process where I just cannot create even a full rough draft but have to proceed via partial outline, partial draft form for a blockContinue reading “Writing Updates- February 2021”

Remarkable Women in Ancient China (8)- Xu Zhao Pei

Who is she: The first divorced wife of a royalty (in death) Was associated with the idiom “Mistress Xu was half-old” referring to a woman past her prime but still charming Notable Life Events: Born to a line of prominent officials (her grandfather was the Prime Minister and her father was also a high rankingContinue reading “Remarkable Women in Ancient China (8)- Xu Zhao Pei”

Moonlake’s writing updates- January 2021

I finished off last year with a draft 0.75, not quite what I had aimed at. Instead, I’m aiming for draft 0.8 to be completed by end of this year. Beyond that, I have no plans as yet, I think one year plan is sufficient as far as this debut novel is going. It willContinue reading “Moonlake’s writing updates- January 2021”

Chinese Lore- A Selection of Mythical Fauna (1)

South Sea Butterfly (aka Hundred Illusions Butterfly) Physical Description: A huge butterfly that still weighs about 80g after its massive wingspans are cut off Lore: It is said that sailors of South Sea had once encountered something as massive as a sail that fluttered by and hit the sails on their ship. They hit thisContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A Selection of Mythical Fauna (1)”

Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (3)

Li Tree Physical Description: A tree with square leaves and yellow flowers that sprouts tiny floss on their petals. Special Properties: The fruits it bears are fist-sized. Consuming them will greatly improve one’s memory, might even make someone attain photographic memory. Zhi Chu Physical Description: A plant that looks like okra except that it hasContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (3)”

Reviving enthusiasm in the Work

To be honest, I don’t have full answers to the issue of reviving enthusiasm in a writing project but based on recent experience, I think the following things have helped: A writing routine- Lately, I’m keeping to a routine of working on my WIP for 5 days a week and 1 page of writing perContinue reading “Reviving enthusiasm in the Work”

Moonlake’s Writing Mottos (1)

What you are seeing in the picture above is my vision board that I created a few years back to reaffirm my identity as a writer. As you can see, it’s mostly uplifting phrases or writing mottos.  However, today I want to blog about a motto that isn’t up there (yet), that I’m feeling keenlyContinue reading “Moonlake’s Writing Mottos (1)”

Remarkable Women in Ancient China (7)- Fu Shan Xiang

Who is she: The first and only female Zhuang yuan (the one with the highest score who sat the examination for scholars to become government officials) in ancient China Notable Life Events: Born in 1833 in Nanjing to a scholarly family, which quickly fell into poverty after both of her parents died when she wasContinue reading “Remarkable Women in Ancient China (7)- Fu Shan Xiang”

A New Writing Routine

In October I implemented a new writing routine. Each of my writing days were composed of the following 6 tasks: A) Reading either published English fiction or non-fiction on writing  B) Analysis of a fictional work that touched me and trying to get behind how it triggers my emotions (5 chapters)  C) The self-learning writingContinue reading “A New Writing Routine”

Self-Learning Side Project

Lately I’ve been thinking up time use again and about side projects and self learning. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that my writer self  is whimsical by nature. So all of what I’ve been thinking about combined themselves and now I have got a new side project (to replaceContinue reading “Self-Learning Side Project”