neXtDRAFT 57. Learning the language (finally)

Published: Sat, 06/08/19

Welcome new subscribers. If this is your first neXtDRAFT you'll find poems, stories and pics about my life as an adopted mum (and freelance writer) living between Australia and the Philippines. Each edition I share my best tips for creating a writing business and working as a professional writer serving clients from all over the world.

Here in the Philippines I support about 20 kids from a rural municipality with food, books, uniforms and love -- it's my way of encouraging them to go to school and maybe one day out of poverty. You'll read their stories here too.

neXtDRAFT is delivered to your inbox every Sunday and I hope it will inspire you to get writing and create your own writing practice. Again welcome, I'm so glad to have you part of the neXtDRAFT community.

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Melinda J. Irvine

https://melirvine.com.au/

Hello, happy Sunday, and welcome to neXtDRAFT 57.

Learning the language.

This week I'm finally into my Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) language lessons. If you've ever thought that just by living in a foreign country you would naturally pick up the language -- I can tell you from experience you don't. It takes real effort to learn the words and pay attention to what people are saying. And by effort I don't necessarily mean it's difficult, but it does take deliberate concentration and time.

For the past few years I've learned the basics and can have a simple conversation with a tricycle driver (and let him know I'm not available for marriage), buy stuff in the market, or get the gist of Jerry's classroom meetings. But anything really conceptual -- I'm quickly lost.

So a few weeks ago I asked Jerry's after-school tutor (who coaches him in English, math, Filipino, and science) for her help (paid of course). Jerry is delighted that I am now a student at his own 'school' and tells me excitedly 'I am your little teacher and you will practice practice practice Tita Mel'.

Only today we were walking along and Jerry couldn't find a garbage bin so I thought I'd tried out my new skills. It went something like this:

TITA MEL (attempting to speaking Ilonggo) You put that in the garbage.

JERRY (laughing) Tita Mel why do you want to put me in the garbage?

TITA MEL (trying again in Ilonggo) You put it in the garbage.

JERRY (hysterical now) Tita Mel why do you want to put your mother in the garbage?

After a couple of goes I finally got it right, and like my weekly lessons with Jerry's tutor, documented everything I learned and updated my dynamic 'glossary' which I keep on my cell phone. Well I am a writer. This week I've added the words 'put' 'fast' 'thing' 'hear' 'listen' and 'keep your mouth quiet'. The last one coming in very handy during the put that thing in the garbage lesson.

I'm determined now to reach a level of fluency in Hiligaynon (which by the way is spoken by more than 7 million people) so that I can really converse at a deep level of understanding. It's strange that it's taken me so long to want this, but there is a lot of fear attached to language -- getting it wrong, feeling foolish etc etc.

Over the past few year I have gained a whole new respect for non-english speaking migrants who have left their country and had to give up their mother-tongue. It's something I haven't been willing to do until now.

Check out my tribute blog on the website this week acknowledging all my sponsors and supporters who've helped get these kids back to school. Just click any of the images to take you there.

Eunice has been dreaming of being a doctor since age 5. This Monday (11th June) she's finally out of that laundry and off to start her degree in Pharmacy and her journey to medical school. How wonderful to be part of her journey.

This week nearly all our sponsored kids started back at school -- and I say 'ours' because those kids are connected now to everyone who's ever opened a neXtDRAFT, or bought stamps, or sent me a donation. It's wonderful to share their joy and good news with you, please check out my tribute post on the blog as my way of saying thanks.

Finally I've been doing plenty of writing work for clients, eBooks and blogs mainly. A regular client that I have been working with for two years now, has just placed a weekly order for a number of blog articles. They used to contact me every couple of months and have me write product descriptions, web copy and the odd blog post. Now their budget has increased.

If you're serious about your freelance writing business, but don't have much work on, keep writing. In the quite times write. In the busy times write. Treat every customer as though they were a million dollar client (because they are). And if you can stick it out, you'll slowly build a decent client base just as I have done.

Till next week friends.

Mel xx

PS: That's Jerry and me on Mother's Day a few weeks ago, we took advantage of the free photo pack at the SM City Mall near where we live.

Sincerely,

Melinda J. Irvine

[email protected]

inside shadows

a young fish passes
beyond the mangroves

Have you loaned out books and never got them back?

This blog is about a subject close to my heart. Books. My books. Your books. Our books. And having the courage to stand up for them and get them back when they have not been returned. Here’s my 6-step strategy for never losing another book.

Plus a few BONUS TIPS:

Never lend a book to your boss (awkward), your co-worker (my naturotheraphy books vanished when my workmate never came back after annual leave), someone you’ve just started dating (obvious now but never at the time), friends of friends (serious, how you gonna find them?), repeat offenders (never loan books while drinking wine).

#amreading #standupforyourbooks

keep the secrets

of trees

Next to my bed: a tree seed, gratitude journal, and a daily reminder to do something fun and fearless. PS: nice having a proper bed after many years of living in tents, or on the floor of a shared space.

I’m a professional writer making my way in the world of business. The WritingBiz section is for anyone wanting to make writing a career (or at the very least make some money writing). Each week I share a few ideas on how to find writing jobs, work from a home office space, as well as how to setup your writing business and run it profitably.

What is a freelancer?

Did you know that the world's earliest ‘freelancers‘ were mercenary soldiers? Known as ‘free lances‘ they sold their services to monarchs and rich landlords to defend kingdoms and property. They were an important part of medieval warfare.

But what does the being a freelancer mean in the 21st century? This blog takes a closer look at what a freelance writer does (and does not) do. Get it wrong and you could be in hot water with the taxation office.

#freelancelife #writingbiz

WRITINGBIZ TIP #19 define writing success as progress

There is a passage in Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ (the buzz-book of biblical standards in the writing world) where he tells us unapologetically that there are only 3 levels of writers.

Bad. Good. And, Great.

Apparently a Bad writer can never become a Great writer. A Bad writer can at best expect to work their guts out and one day (maybe) find themselves a mid-level Good writer.

If you’ve ever read that book I suggest you rip those pages out and throw them on the same rubbish pile where you threw your creative writing dreams. You’ll find a few of mine in there too.

How about recognising that writing success is about progress. Example: an eBook I self-published 2 years ago (and thought was awesome), I look at it now and cringe (Stephen King probably would too). Or blogs I published back in 2014, by my standards now, I would never have even hit the publish button.

If we allow ourselves to get too caught up ing this ‘popular’, ‘profitable’, and ‘public’ view of success we place such a major obstacle in front of ourselves it’s hard to write even a single sentence.

Freelance Writing Q&A

Read my answer on Quora

Writing tips, poems and stuff on the blog

For more stories, poems, articles and book reviews follow my Wordpress blog. Please share with your friends too.

Back Issues of neXtDRAFT

https://melirvine.com.au/nextdraft-back-issues/

Use the password: luvdapeepsumeet

From the vault: June 2017

First day of grade 3

Two years ago Jerry arrived home from his first day of grade 3 wearing a big grin, a bright pink name tag that said ‘Hi, I'm Jerry Borreros’, and a Mickey Mouse party hat -- one of his classmates had a birthday party.

He did protest when I requested photos, but I'm so glad I said to him “You won’t always be 9 years old and maybe you will never come home from school again in a party hat. You look so happy I want to capture this moment forever.”

He responded with “Ok Tita Mel” and smiled his big smile.

And now here now is that brief moment.

#backtoschool