Felt like Brad Pitt on the film Troy.
(By the way, I once asked my students of who is the main character on the film Troy and they unanimously said “Troy!”. Forgive me guys, cannot just get this out of my head till I share it).
Since my elementary day up to high school, writing was not my cup to tea, though I was the go to guy when they needed someone to speak in front of hundred younger students for hours. These are the two sides of me: I cannot write well what I speak about best. I look like Brad Pitt but there also lies my secret weakness.
Writing was then like a fearful and futile exercise for someone who could not translate into words all his spoken verses. Here were some instances:
1. I got sick with raging fever when my teacher asked me to join a writing contest to represent our class.
2. I failed the scholarship final examinations which was an essay writing test. Plus, my Arabic handwriting made my score worse. They thought I was applying for a scholarship to become an “Imam”.
3. When almost all of my classmates enrolled on an elective class about advance creative and technical writing, I was one of the few who enrolled on Advance Math and Integral and Differential Calculus.
I guess those are already juicy details before I got myself all too humiliated. But trust me, when I say I never peed on my pants during a writing contest. LOL!
Crossing the Threshold: Singing Another Mantra
I told myself that obviously I will never escape the curse of writing about something, for something and for someone. It was like someone whispering, “You can run, but you cannot hide”.
And it became my personal resolve to overcome my fear by no other way than always have a face-to-face duel with it.
I promised myself that I will just write…write…and write…and to hell with all the grammar and flawed style and very basic use of the language. I will just learn them along the way. There is no other way than to take a leap of faith unto an uncharted territory by sailing right through it.
I promised myself that when I reach the age of 25, I will get one of my writing published.
Hummm…Hummm…Hummm…That was my mantra.
The Inspirational Book by 27 Bloggers Around the World
And the cosmos never failed me.
My short story entitled “The Lesson My Students Taught Me” got published on the book Inspirational Thoughts and Stories of Bloggers All Over the World, the brainchild of Mam JenaIsle to continually support amateur and budding writers/bloggers.
The book is certainly a book of love, labor and creativity of 27 writers and bloggers around the world which makes it in itself an inspirational feat.
I was first all too hesitant to submit my output to Mam Jena for the same reasons I shared above; the very fact why I am on the bottom part of the list. But Mam Jena has that rare character of not only twisting some arms lovingly but also twisting my fate by challenging me to step up to the challenge.
Thanks Mam Jena! Thanks for trusting me and giving me the opportunity.
Oh, I think I’m seeing more hands!
Show your support guys for this project and to all bloggers/writers who contributed on this book. You can grab for yourself copy here. Or at Mam Jena’s official site.
And who knows, you could be the next published blogger/writer featured on the upcoming poetry book being planned to be published by our very own Mam Jena.
By the way, this Brad Pitt turned 25 last March 26, 2009.



Badong
4 months ago
Nice one Brad! err, Elmot, I mean. Congratulations to you guys! It must felt so elating, seeing you name on the pages of a wonderful book kahit na na you ‘fear’ writing!
Badong´s last blog ..Badong Updated
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Bro! Wow, so this is how it feels like when receiving the Oscars?
I am glad I am part of the project and I owe it to Mam Jena. So excited to receive a copy of the book
Jena Isle
4 months ago
Hello Elmot,
A very refreshing and enlivening post. Congratulations, and more successes for you. You have that audacity and insouciance that best selling authors are made of. I like that. You deserve a spot in the book. Way to go!
Did you receive your copy already?
Jena Isle´s last blog ..Teaching Boys How to be Sensitive
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Mam for being so generous of kind words to me…
Oh, I will be receiving the book tomorrow. Doc Z is really living up to his new task of being the courier. He is set to meet Jhong today and Jhong in turn will meet me up to deliver the goodies. Yehey!
Way to go! Heheheh! Thanks to all the blogging buddies and Jedis! Everyday, I am learning and honing my craft.
Cheers everyone!
Jena Isle
4 months ago
And belated happy birthday pala. He he he.
Jena Isle´s last blog ..Teaching Boys How to be Sensitive
elmot
4 months ago
LOL!
Actually, pwedeng belated, pwede ring advance greeting, eheheh!
jan geronimo
4 months ago
So we can take it to mean you joined blogging to do hand to hand combat with your fear of writing? That’s certainly news to me, Bad Pitch – er, Brad.
Let me say then that you’re winning the fight. You’re doing well. Mastery of fear is not something that gets bruited about often. Because of us just take the easy way out.
But you don’t. You’ve stayed on and that’s remarkable. See? You’ve been invited to be part of this anthology because you’ve arrived. You’re doing well. Just keep at it. “,)
jan geronimo´s last blog ..27 Reasons Why Jena Isle’s Inspirational Book Rocks
elmot
4 months ago
If you are Darren Row then I am Brad Pitch? Hmmm…sound a nice combo to me.
Thanks bro! And everyday I am learning new tricks, styles and relearning the basics. Thanks to all of you guys.
You write real good stuffs! Style, words, language, thoughts are superb!!! Source of inspiration definitely here for Brad.
But as you said, I need to be always ready with my working gloves, boots and hard hat…lots of things to do and work out…
Thanks Bro!
Damn, this is a tear-jearker! hu, hu, hu… LOL!
yatot
4 months ago
happy birthday elmot! hehehhe
and here’s one thousand pesos… high five! everybody join me… CONGRATULATIONS!!!
yatot´s last blog ..David Archuleta and Charice duet with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
elmot
4 months ago
Could you just send the 1000 pesos on my paypal account? Wahahha!
Palak-pakan!!!!
niko
4 months ago
brad is a great man.
niko´s last blog ..Angie in new action movie
Jena Isle
4 months ago
he he he , we learn from one another Elmot. Life is a continuous learning experience because man is a dynamic being who evolves with his environment. Kudos to you for having the tenacity to keep on reaching out for your dreams. Hep hep hurray!!!
Jena Isle´s last blog ..Teaching Boys How to be Sensitive
elmot
4 months ago
Next year, I will be the one to ask your help regarding the Comic Book for which I wrote the storyline…I will be coming out early next year…eheheh!
Hep-Hep Hurray!
Good thing, there are people like you who does the pushing for the hesitant person in me to just “Nike”
xprosaic
4 months ago
Wow! good for you! jejejeje… well I am also poor in writing which made it more difficult when I entered masteral…ahahahhahah… but well the only way to learn is to practice… hahayz… jejejejeje but at least you now have a published work… great job! jejejejejejeje
xprosaic´s last blog ..Gluttony!
elmot
4 months ago
Practice makes perfect…but if no one is perfect, why practice? Wahahha!
That was a line from a comedy film I watched…
Indeed, we can only master a craft out of repetition; doing it over and over again. Once cannot become a good writer without writing over and over again or become a good violinist without playing the violin over and over again.
Holly Jahangiri
4 months ago
So this was a big leap for you, hmm? All the more impressive, elmot. I never would have guessed that writing made you uncomfortable. Well, keep at it – it does get easier.
Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Deadly Games
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Holly! It was indeed a challenging task especially thinking that there are superb and accomplished writers contributing on the same book.
But as what Mam Jena told me, just write.
And I am learning alot from all of you…:D
It gets easier? Hmmm…certainly. At least I am not experiencing getting a fever now whenever I am asked to write, LOL!
Jhay
4 months ago
Congrats dude! It’s a start of a potential writing career.
Jhay´s last blog ..Blog Action Day 2009: Make Climate Change an important agenda in the 2010 National Elections
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Jhay! Especially for including the book on your book list for next month, hehehehe!
Heather Kephart
4 months ago
This book was a wonderful idea. If you can do it, so can Brad Pitt!
Heather Kephart´s last blog ..The fart that shook the earth
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Heather! Really feels good to be like Brad Pitt, and it would be even better if I have Ms. Jolie too…
DiTesco
4 months ago
Way to go Elmot. I ditto Jan’s words about you overcoming your fear and that you are without doubt winning the fight. With all the ramblings and rants that you post frequently, it is almost impossible to believe that you were once someone who could not translate words into spoken verses. Keep it up El’Brad:)
DiTesco´s last blog ..AdSense Expands With Promoted YouTube Videos
elmot
4 months ago
Thanks Bro! Wahehehhe, there is no other way but to face that fear or inferiority.
Winning the fight? But I guess the fight is still a long and tedious process for a young learner like me.
darbs
4 months ago
You said it all darb este brad. Nothing to add but process/reflect/learn from this entry.
Definitely, I should learn from all of you guys eventhough I accept I am still intimidated with all your perfect/correct usage and expression of using the english language.
Maybe someday before I leave this world, I would finally put in my about blog… “I am a writer just like the following writers/bloggers (you will be in my number one list) but if not then if there is such thing as reincarnation then maybe by then… heheheh.
darbs´s last blog ..Christopher Columbus: A hero or a villain?
jan geronimo
4 months ago
Darb…Brad. That’s a happy coincidence.
Darbs, put the writer tag now before you forget. Reality hews closely to spoken words. Words have power all their own. Make it your reality by owning it.
Di ba, Elmot?
jan geronimo´s last blog ..New Twitter Social Proof: Are You on Everyone’s List Yet?
elmot
4 months ago
Darb–Brad?! Galing! Heheheh! What a coincidence indeed.
You are one good writer Darbs; each of your post is full of so many beautiful things and also not to forget your humor that makes all of us wear a happy face after visiting and reading your posts.
Why not start now Bro? Hehhehe! Go, go go!
Jena Isle
4 months ago
I agree Jan, absolutely!
Jena Isle´s last blog ..Teaching Boys How to be Sensitive
elmot
4 months ago
I agree Jan! Take head to that upward feeling…
Go, go, go!
Churvahin na yang pagsusulat, di ba Mam Jena? LOL!:D
darbs
4 months ago
I didn’t see that coming. Life is full of coincidences indeed. Cool ha?
Tenk you guys sa confidence booster. I wish I could feel the same. But…hey, who knows maybe by the power of Positive Enhancement injected with the Power of Suggestion and Heart Enlarger would result something.
Hope you understand that this is not about me “perse.” This is just about my own reaction/reflection to Elmot’s entry. Na after reading para bang ito ay pumukaw sa nakaraang lumipas hinggil sa isang writing experience na kung tawagin “traumatic experience” na still bothers me. Sorry about that.
darbs´s last blog ..Frontline: The Warning! – Comes 3 days from today
elmot
4 months ago
No problem about than one Darbs…life is full of coincidence, full of surprises…
And to that the power of affirmation from all of us…:D
Chris Cobb
4 months ago
Congrats man, It will be a wonderful idea if you do this. If you can do it.
Amor
4 months ago
Congrats Elmot! Certified writer ka na. I saw your post nga about this inspirational book in a yahoo group.
Anyway, you’re not only an excellent writer/speaker too but you’re also good in math pala.
I wonder, anong subject itinuturo mo Math related ba?
I can easily remember your birthday coz Sean was born on the 27th.

Amor´s last blog ..Tantrums
elmot
4 months ago
Wow, magkalapit lang po pala kami ng B-day ni Sean, ehehehe! Makisabay na lang ako sa b-day nya para may pang handa ako, LOL!
I am not really good in math, I just want to avoid writing that I chose to love math the more difficult way.
Actually I am into guidance and counseling na course…layo sa math noh? ahahhaha!