This is Theresa - gutsy social entrepreneur, editor extraordinaire. I've learnt quite a bit from her these past three years in terms of telling compelling stories, coming up with snappy story angles, choosing the right interview subjects and managing clients. Working under her is always a blessing - have never met someone in a boss-type role so positive! affirming! enthusiastic! willing to listen! despite juggling a million and one things all at once. I think God blesses some people not just … [Read more...]
Tuesday
Encouragement
October 27th, 2009
Wena: "Next time we pose, it will be with Mel's book in our hands!" … [Read more...]
Saturday
Behind the scenes: Dai Sijie Interview
October 24th, 2009
While interviewing French author and filmmaker Dai Sijie on his favourite travel destinations, I gave him a sample of the kind of article I was hoping to write on him. That particular profile was of a certain celebrity chef who loved Sydney Harbour. Here's how Mr. Dai responded in Mandarin: "Who in the right mind would say Sydney Harbour is their favourite place?! I was there once and saw a man slap a woman. A writer would NEVER like a place like this. Who is this guy again? A cook? A … [Read more...]
Wednesday
Makeshift office
October 21st, 2009
I was suddenly inundated with lots of paper this week so now there's no space left on my study table. I've had to resort to Starbucksing and working in the living room, which ain't such bad things really. The blueish glow from the television comes courtesy of Everybody Loves Raymond. Realise that I need clear space for a clear mind. Everytime I pass by my study table with its mountainous paper terrain, I can't help but feel annoyed. Spring cleaning cum home office expansion time! … [Read more...]
Friday
Time Tunnel
October 16th, 2009
I had to take the cab today with the car at the workshop and met a very animated taxi uncle who told me about the 12 accidents he's been in, a sort-of ghostly encounter and most interestingly, being stuck in a "time tunnel" somewhere along Jalan Anak Bukit where the scenery around him went "all-white white like that". He's convinced that he went back several years in time and that's why he couldn't see the highways. Or something like that. Anyway, I'm kind of wishing I was in a time tunnel now … [Read more...]
Thursday
Connections
October 8th, 2009
I'm not very good with self-help books. Mostly, I'm not very good in following their pointers, or even finishing reading them for that matter. However, one self-help book which I think helped nudge me to get cracking with the whole freelance thing was the Anti 9-5 Guide by Michelle Goodman. Once again, I wasn't very hardworking in following her advice, but I did finish reading this book because in general, I liked how she made it a point to cater to different types of self-employment and was … [Read more...]
Wednesday
Missing out
October 7th, 2009
I doodled this with glee several weeks back in relation to the then impending release from corporate shackles. Yesterday, it came back to bite me in the *ss. A local publisher offered me a possibly once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to do something that would definitely benefit on the writing-my-own-creative-stuff front. But I wasn't able to say yes because I've already committed to other things. According to my husband, this happens to him all the time and he says that this what-iffing will … [Read more...]