Writing Plans in a Philippine Setting
Every year, I set new goals, what to read or finally finish reading, what to write or finally complete, what to submit and how. This constant list-making has become a routine. Still, goals need to be doable, realizable, and, to some extent, gainful.
My writing plans for this year are about alignment.
First, I am prioritizing books by Filipino writers. I want to be more curious about how they engage with genre, particularly historical fiction. For too long, I’ve ignored the Filipiniana on my bookshelf, choosing instead books that merely entertain rather than challenge me as a writer.
Of course, reading for pleasure matters. But where I want to go is tied to where I’m coming from. This means being aware of how I’ve grown, what has shaped me, and the responsibility I carry as a Filipino storyteller.
My reading, writing, teaching, and research in 2026 will have to be more disciplined and intentional. For every piece of writing, there should be a clear end in mind: a publication, or at the very least, a submission.
How to Stick to the Discipline of Writing
Opportunities often show up quickly at the start of the year, then fizzle out as unrelated tasks accumulate. So how do I move from “I want to be published” to actually getting published? Which publications should I focus on? What communities do they serve? What kind of writing will truly reach their intended readers?
In academia, writing goals are often reduced to Scopus points. Creative or literary work, by contrast, can feel indulgent, sometimes even ego-driven, as if it only matters to the writer’s own sense of achievement. Yet to persist as a writer is to pursue exposure. Discipline is not meant merely to fill notebooks or private diaries. Untargeted writing is like dust scattered by the wind, easily brushed off by those who notice it at all.
The apostle Paul describes the disciplined life of a true Christian. I take this as my verse for the year, as I persist in writing with an end in view:
“Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:26–27
Reading Filipino Historical Fiction
Rereading the Philippine historical fiction on my bookshelf is no longer negotiable. The story I’ve been trying to develop needs fresh direction. These novels can show me how Filipino authors weave together context, memory, history, and geography.
I am more drawn to realism than fantasy, and I’ve piled up works by F. Sionil José, Eric Gamalinda, Charlson Ong, Jun Cruz Reyes, Luna Sicat, Vim Nadera, Vince Garcia Groyon, Clarissa Militante, Gina Apostol, and Criselda Yabes on my desk.
Finish One YA Novel at a Time
Mikka’s Diary (English) and Banggol (Tagalog) are tentative titles of stories I’ve been working on. I’ve set one day a week for each. As I shift between English and Tagalog, I expect each novel to move at its own pace.
Rather than plotting the entire narrative too tightly, I want to let each story unfold organically. At the same time, I intend to stay healthy. It’s striking how much our sanity and stability depend on how faithfully we care for our bodies.
My goal is simple: to finish at least one book. Both English and Tagalog come with their own difficulties, which can easily turn into mental blocks or convenient excuses. Still, my eye is on the finish line. Fast or slow, I write with intention, for publication, or at the very least, for a grant or contest.
Write Poetry for that Imagined Reader
I’ve thought about how content writers eventually find ways to monetize their work. It may be too early for this blog (though I’ve been blogging since blogging itself became a legitimate form of writing), but I can’t help imagining T-shirts, calendars, planners, stickers, bookmarks, bag charms, and other items carrying poems as text or character.
Merchandising can come later. For now, I can build an inventory: tanaga, bugtong, kasabihan, dalit, English haiku, couplets, and tercets, rhymed or free verse. In doing so, I return to my first love with disciplined regularity and a renewed sense of stewardship over the gift of language.
Teach Model Literary Texts
As a Filipino writer, style and craft cannot be separated from identity. My syllabus can no longer rely on a familiar rotation of poems, novels, short stories, or plays I’ve been teaching for years. I must expand my repertoire and invite students into other Filipino texts.
How else does one learn to write masterfully and with integrity? I’m also aware of the inevitable reckoning, how tradition, peers, and a wider community of Filipino writers will read and assess my final work.
Pray for Travels Later in the Year
Budget and circumstances notwithstanding, I hope to travel in September or November. This may remain in the realm of prayer rather than plan, but I still hold space for it.
Travel isn’t urgent for me. If I do travel, I prefer to linger rather than rush from one tourist spot to another. Three weeks or a month feels ideal. The extra hours not spent sightseeing or moving will be devoted to writing my personal projects. (Would you like to sponsor me?) 😊
Commit to Purchasing Nothing
No clothes, shoes, bags, or vanity items. Less buying means less clutter. Not buying also means maintenance: whatever is still usable and durable will be cleaned or restored.
I initially thought of changing my shower curtain, for example, but I also could simply brush-clean the one I already have. I feel that this is also caring for the environment. How much trash do we generate simply by chasing the “aesthetics” of place and space?
Is My List Doable?
In 2026, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Whether I accomplish everything on this list remains to be seen. What matters is that something tangible comes out of the year.
If, by its end, I have reread old books more deeply, purchased nothing redundant, recycled and reused what I already own, written many short poems, and finished a YA novel for a contest, then 2026 will have been a full and prosperous year for writing.
