Post-Adventure Report: Potent Cures to Writer's Block

For my job as an art reporter, I have to constantly produce stories. I can't tell my boss, sorry boss wala kang diyaryo bukas, writer's block eh. When I was just starting out, I didn't know how I'd survive. Thankfully, I just did. Along the way I discovered tips and tricks on how to cure writer's block. Not permanently, but what you can do is quicken the time of recovery from your recurring illness. I learned this from books and personal experiences. Then, I created the writing challenges for Freewriting Adventures' March 29, 2014 event called Potent Cures to Writer's Block at the Rizal Park (Luneta).

Here at Freewriting Adventures we believe that to write creatively, the learning process must be as imaginative as the masterpieces that we produce. That's why our participants aren't shuttled into a traditional classroom; we let them run wild through Manila parks and kooky streets. At every interesting stop, we throw them a curious writing challenge that will help them solve their inky icky problem

Third Freewriting Adventure: Foot-Loose in Manila (Lrt Edition)

3. Freewriting Adventures Foot-Loose in Manila (Lrt Edition) on Sept. 7, 2013 

The third Freewriting Adventure was inspired by the book Foot-Loose in Tokyo: The Curious Traveler's Guide to the 29 Stages of the Yamanote Line by Jean Pearce. It is a travel book where the author went from one train station to the next. At every stop, the author explored the areas near that station. 

For the Manila version, I decided to use the LRT station because the surrounding areas interested me. From Tayuman station, we went to the Dangwa Flower Market and hunted for curious flowers.

Post-Adventure Report: How to Write Funny Without Even Trying

Last Jan. 24, Freewriting Adventures welcomed 2015 with How to Write Funny Without Even Trying, an adventure that brought participants to Luneta Park (Rizal Park) in Manila. In Freewriting Adventures, we believe that the learning process should be as creative as the written work that we produce. An alternative learning experience, Freewriting Adventures challenges participants to explore the world, interact with what they find there, and use that as inspiration.

If you missed our funny adventure, don't worry. Future adventures will be on April 25, July 25, and Oct. 24. All dates are Saturdays, and each event will last from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Further details will be announced when the adventure nears. Each adventure has limited slots, so watch out for the registration announcements. As a special treat, the adventure on April 25 will have no workshop fee!

Freewriting Adventures: How to Write Funny Without Even Trying

Freewriting Adventures presents its start of the year event How to Write Funny Without Even Trying. Believe it or not there are actually easy tips and tricks on how to write in a witty manner. To know these cool tactics, be there at Luneta Park (Rizal Park) on Jan 24 from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Meeting place is at the gazebo to the right of the Rizal Monument if you are facing the monument. Only six slots are available so confirm your attendance by texting Ja Cruz at 0905-441-9386. Workshop fee is P500.

The second Freewriting Adventure: The Luneta Tour

2. Freewriting Adventures at Luneta on Aug. 3, 2013


The second Freewriting Adventure was actually our first outdoor adventure. The first was just a meet up inside a coffee shop, but for this one we encouraged writers to explore Rizal Park (Luneta Park). The meeting place was in front of the Rizal monument, and the adventure lasted from 10a.m. to 5p.m. Although it rained, our four participants were still willing to push through with the activities whenever the showers halted.

The first Freewriting Adventure

1. Starbucks Freewriting Adventure on July 6, 2013 at Katipunan

The first Freewriting Adventure was held at Starbucks Katipunan on July 6, 2013 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Back then, I referred to it as a writer's meet up and hadn't called it Freewriting Adventures. I posted the announcement on my blog and created a Facebook event.

I didn't have a plan on what we'd do, but I brought Writing Down The Bones and Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg and The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, which were books with many writing exercises. Hansky, one of the participants, brought his book The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. We randomly chose the writing exercises from those books. Some of the exercises I invented on the spot.

Freewriting Adventures: Color Me Quiapo

Freewriting Adventures (FWA) has taken young writers on a hop-on-hop-off LRT expedition, on a hunt around Luneta park, on a tour around Manila’s top art galleries, and now we are coming back on Saturday Sept. 27 with Color Me Quiapo.

If you want to escape the confines of classroom-based learning, hit the crazy streets of Manila, and feel inspired by the vividness of real life, then you should join our next adventure in Quiapo.