Disorganized

I can't think of anything to write. Kind of ironic considering how talkative I am. But that isn't exactly anyone's fault, is it? No. It's mine.

In a hotel last week, I shook hands with yet another experienced journalist. Can't exactly recall his name, but it's something close to Luis Castillo or so I think. He said that to be a good journalist, one must continuously read. In verbatim, he said it like "Tandaan niyo 'to, para maging magaling na journalist... Tandaan niyo 'to and someday you will thank me. To be a good journalist, you must read and read and read and read and read." Yup, he said it with matching hand signals to emphasize. I guess you are only as good a journalist as you are a good reader, but again, like all thoughts that cause the receding of my self-confidence, that's subject to change. You need to be a good observer, too. You need to be objective, accurate, charismatic, straight to the point, and the list goes on. Who knew it'd be this much fuss to be a writer? If my neighbor saw a meteorite pummel down the opposing house and wrote about it, does that make him a journalist? I guess not. But if he has a degree in journalism, does that make him one? Maybe no, maybe so. If he has an agency that puts him on an editor's leash, does that make him one? I guess it does! I'm not belittling journalists, I just may not know what makes them a cut above the rest. The Information Technology people know how to create programs in codes and numerals that half the time change the way we live. We now have iPads and phones named after fruits. The guys over at the Engineering building graduate with what it takes to build common houses to skyscrapers. Thanks to them, people don't mold walls and roofs barehanded with clay. The guys at fine arts master human expression. Without them, we are all walking machines without identity. But what does a journalist do that leaves a mark on the world? Is our greatest purpose confined to writing war journals and insider scandals? Is it talking about issues that lead society down a dark path? Is it to cater to the people for market? Is it to cater to the government for propaganda? Is it to cater to our own? The last one seems an inviting option, but we already have Jersey Shore and Teen Mom for it (pfft, shit). Someone enlighten me...

The read and read and read advice is one I'll probably remember for a while. I have not actually read a book yet. You know, under my own will, as a pastime, without an authority requiring me to do it? I know of many people that form love affairs with such objects, these books. I know of people, too, that hate reading some (namely Twilight) like they hate themselves, as if they're off to better its story. I can read well. Fact, I've always joined reading comprehension contests way back; not to brag. 

We all have those friends who walk in dreams and are willfully absent to the present. I, on the other hand, have no trouble dealing with reality. (Well, almost). Dreams are just too easy.

I don't want to turn into one of those people who prefer locking themselves up in solitude to camp on other people's printed daydreams. You know, those people who are awkward in parties, who occasionally drift off in the middle of a conversation, who dream of being a literary being... Newsflash! Don't date a writer. Unless you're prepared to put up with a weird eyeglass-wielding introvert, down on a road to poverty the rest of your life. It's a shot in the dark they make it into today's competitive market. And creative writing is such a make it or break it kind of field...

Heading back to the read and read and read advice, I've just noticed how reading has its edge. People whom I've known to be bookworms normally have the best vocabularies. They also have the brightest ideas though most don't really apply in reality. They also write more, let's say, better than most people who post all they want in the internet. Perhaps reading is habit-forming, so yes, I'll start but only to continue in moderation. Haha. Man, I made such a great deal out of this. I better pick up a book.