Erwin Robledo's Links

NaNoWriMo

2005-10-09T02:55:00.000+08:00

If there's one reason I'm writing the way I do today, it's this: NaNoWriMo.org.

November is the National Novel Writing Month, where anybody (and I mean anybody) can participate by writing a 50,000 word story in 30 days. You don't have to be a writer to participate (I did say anybody, right?); if you can talk, you can write. If you ever dreamed of writing your own book, now is the time to do it. Why write? Because it's fun!

The rules are simple. Register yourself as a participant, then plan your book in October (or just write without a plan, whatever your preference is). Then write like there's no tomorrow come November, while working, studying, taking care of the kids, bumming out, or doing whatever that is you do in a normal month. Then submit your novel when it reaches 50-80,000 words starting November 26 (if I'm not mistaken) to confirm the wordcount (yes, they don't read your novels, they just count the words) and you win! And you thought writing was for the gifted few.

Be sure to join the forums to see how everyone else is doing. See you in November!

View my profile here.

Ikobo

2005-08-22T11:04:00.000+08:00

One good alternative for international online money transactions for me, since PayPal isn’t available in the Philippines, is Ikobo.com. You get your money via ATM using a reloadable debit card that they mail to you. Setup is easy; you can register for an account in a few minutes. There’s a $500 limit in sending and receiving funds per month that can be adjusted after submitting some required forms. ‘Not yet a problem for me since I don’t get more than that amount every month from outside the country. And yes it works. That’s how I got paid for a website I did some time ago. Definitely recommended for the kababayans considering online freelancing without having to leave the country.

You might want to search the web for sites that use Ikobo to send and receive money before creating an account. Or, convince a client right now to send your funds via the system.

Emanilapoetry

2005-08-22T04:15:00.000+08:00

Emanilapoetry.com showcases both English and Filipino poems created by Filipinos around the world. The site is completely free and members of the site retain the copyright of their work. They also announce news and events from different poetry groups such as Pinoy Poets.

Yes, I do poetry once in a while. I find my poems short, rarely reaching more than ten lines. I figure if I’m going to do something that long or longer, I might as well turn it into a short story. Check out some of the poems I’ve posted here. They look like short shoutouts that (as I see it) contain so much meaning compacted in a number of words. Really, check it out. I could be wrong.

Faithwriters

2005-08-22T04:14:00.000+08:00

Godly writers aren’t extinct yet (thank God), and Faithwriters.com brings them together online. It’s an online community where Christian writers can go and talk about anything, especially writing (of course). It’s also a place where writers can show their works to friends, family members, and even prospective publishers! There are also free tutorials on writing contributed by seasoned authors and even a writing challenge, which accounts for a big percentage of my involvement in the site.

I’m happy with the site because you are under no obligation to contribute anything, but you’ll feel like it once you find your member page blank. A free online presence is always advantageous for the serious writer, who spends most of the time slaving away in the real world and using spare time to write a couple of hundred words, or going around the dreaded writer’s block. Promoting oneself is time-consuming, and having your profile and sample works online in a writer’s group website makes it easier for writers to make one's works available for the viewing of an international audience, and make one's faith known.

Check out my profile here. Yeah, I need to work on my writing.