I write articles for a variety of blogs, usually about productivity, work habits, creativity, and travel.

EDUCATION | Currently continuing my Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. I was also a film major for a while, and spent a lot of time in film and creative writing workshops. Still, most of my education is informal. It's in the act of actually sitting down and writing everyday, reading as much as you can, and learning new skills.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Write a lot. Read a lot. Edit yourself and allow others to criticize your work without bias. Start your own blog as practice, then after you've gained some experience and confidence, apply to other blogs and web sites that are looking for regular writers.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Self-discipline, love of the work, and the willingness to learn.

how I got started | While I was starting college, I had to provide for myself and my family without giving up my schedule to a structured, traditional working environment. After doing some research, I realized that online freelancing was for me. My ability to write well was my most bankable skill, so I took small writing jobs online. I started writing things like product descriptions, blog posts, and web site content. On the side, I had a few magazine writing jobs as well. Now, I mostly work for several high-profile blogs.

why this job?| Although I got into blogging to fulfill a financial need, it soon became evident that I was into it for more reasons. I love writing, and the idea that I had the freedom to write about topics that I was interested in was very appealing to me. I also saw it as an apportunity to learn everything I can and practice what I already know about writing.

why I love this job!| It's a perfect fit for me. I can delve into topics that I'm passionate about. It's also a constant learning experience - I love that I never find myself feeling stagnant or underutilized. My work gives me the ability to work from anywhere, at a flexible schedule. Just last year I found myself blogging for two weeks from the jungles of Bohol (at a slow GPRS connection, though). I can't imagine myself working in any other way. Most days I wake up eager to work.

my typical day| I've learned that I am at my most productive at 3:00am, so I get up at 2:30am. I make my breakfast and do my other morning rituals before starting work. On most days, I'm done with my blogging work at 8:00am. After this, I pursue my passion projects - some of them are paying projects, while others are non-profit. I also spend as much time as I can on learning, both theoretical and practical, whether it's about gardening, carpentry, foreign languages, art, or writing.

what they are | As a blogger, I find myself communicating with a vast audience that can communicate back in real time - unlike print media where reader responses come in the form of letters. This is challenging for two reasons: 1) your ideas are tested all the time, whether you're prepared for it or not, and 2) some readers don't hold back when criticizing you. It's a constant challenge to be open to other perspectives and at the same time preventing "trolls" from affecting you too much. Also, blogging tends to be performance-based rather than presence-based. There's no room for faking it. You have to actually do the work and show results, unlike a traditional corporate office where, if the boss sees you, she automatically assumes you're working.

all about growth | I have this obsession about making my work better. With every blog post or article I write, I keep trying to outdo my last effort. For me, the quality of my work is the most important part of my growth. Increasing your visibility and authority in this field is also possible with a bit of hard work. I also find myself exploring different niches such as travel, personal finance, and gardening - this gives me lateral growth as well. It's important to plan your own career ladder, since there's no cookie-cutter mold for blogging. Doing this is a great exercise in priorities.

my website|