My interest in writing started way back when I was in the 2nd grade. At that time, a relative of mine owned a computer shop, and one of the games installed was Battle Realms (Batolims, according to my 7-yeard old self), which was also one of the first games I ever played (No, I didn't abuse the Lotus Clan). This game is actually referenced in my novel, "Alon."

Battle Realms is a real-time strategy game where you control units to build bases and fight enemies. Each unit had unique voice lines when you moved them. By the way, this was in the early 2000s when dedicated gaming computer shops were pretty much non-existent. With this, not all computers had speakers or earphones. To make up for it, I started saying my own dialogue for each unit in the game (I recall I had a lot of fun coming up with dialogues for the Wolf Clan. Basically, they make this sound: Yeeeugghhhh! Lezzz Ghoooouuuu!! Look at my maseeeeeehl!). I did this so often that I wrote some of them down on a piece of paper. That was my first ever memory of writing something straight out of my head.. my creativity.. my imagination. I was around 7 or 8 years old.

In 4th grade, I became a big fan of Spongebob. Inspired by Battle Realms and Spongebob, I started creating short stories with these characters, although they weren't very good.

Moving on, not directly related to writing, but in my 5th grade, my childhood buddy and I would often visit the National Bookstore, and there, we would skim a lot of books (my future self wishes I could go back in time and purchase those books for my little self). A certain book caught our attention, it was a book about dog breeds, and we would sit by the stairs and enjoy ourselves with cute pictures of dogs. Neil, I hope you're doing well. Haha

Some things are a blur, to be honest. I still have vivid memories of what I wrote when I was a kid, but I could never pinpoint the exact picture. It's like trying to remember a friend I haven't met. Sometimes, it keeps me up at night.

In my 3rd year of high school, I started writing poems with a good friend of mine. My English teacher commended me for reading Mitch Albom's "For One More Day," which he had recommended to our class. I was the only one who read it. From time to time, I would still bump into this English teacher, hopefully, someday, the next time I see him, I could give him a copy of my book.

During my high school years, I also started joining small writing competitions and such. I must have not won a single one because I can't remember anything of it, this time, legitimately - no "blur" wordplay or poetic devices; I really can't remember anything. 

Many years later, in my young adulthood, I landed my first job as a freelance writer. During this same time, I was also accepting writing commissions on academics, travel, food, and information technology. It was fun, really (food is my favorite, the amount of times I had free food 👌).

My end goal? I want to publish my first novel and continue writing. I'm not stopping any time soon. Though I now engage in other activities such as coffee preparation and bartending, I will never let my ink run dry. 

Onto the next one,