Award-winning Fil-Am author shares creative writing tips

Filipino American publisher and author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is sharing her secrets, tips and techniques on how to write fiction and non-fiction with a revised and expanded edition of her book, “Fundamentals of Creative Writing.” CONTRIBUTED

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American publisher and author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is sharing her secrets, tips and techniques on how to write fiction and non-fiction with a revised and expanded edition of her book, “Fundamentals of Creative Writing.”

In the book, the award-winning fiction writer, who taught for over 25 years at UCLA Extension’s Writers Program and other universities, breaks down the basic elements of creative writing such as setting, scene, character, conflict, dialogue, plot and so on.

“Each section starts with a concept, followed by related exercises, and a story or two to illustrate the component discussed,” Manguerra Brainard says.

She employs a “no-nonsense approach and provides straightforward guidance.”

“This book is for anyone interested in learning how to write. It can also be used as a text book,” she says.

Places

Manguerra Brainard has authored and edited over 20 books and runs the publishing outfit Philippine American Literary House. She shares that one way to get inspiration for writing is by visiting different places or taking cues from people you know.

“A place that I love will get my creative juices going. Many of my stories are inspired by the locale and its culture and history. I also have many stories inspired by the people I knew, or from my memories.”

“Olvera Street in Los Angeles, for instance, inspired me to look into the first Filipino who came to California, a man named Chino.”

After she visited San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, “a place with old Spanish colonial buildings, churches and cobblestone streets with charming fountains tucked into walls, old wooden doors with gorgeous carvings,” she said she knew in her heart that she would have to write about it.

Good beginnings

“Indeed one day, this image of a woman came to my imagination. She’s sitting at the Jardin facing the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel and starts talking about how she’s been missing her husband who died during 9/11. She reminisces about the happy times they had in San Miguel. Under the brilliant sun and beauty around her, she comes to terms with her loss and metaphorically picks herself up and decides to go have a big glass of margarita.”

Another place that has nudged many stories out Manguerra Brainard is Cebu. “I love that place and visit regularly. You can still find old houses, from the glory-days of the Parian there, and the old churches, fort, parks still stand. The place makes me think of my mother, her parents, and her grandparents who lived there.

This historic city appears in many of her short stories and in two of her novels “When the Rainbow Goddess Wept” and “The Newspaper Widow.”

“To the aspiring writers, I want to say that there are stories everywhere. I like to encourage my students to keep their creative antennae up, and not focus about becoming famous or making lots of money from one’s writing. Keep on writing, keep on reading.

“Learn the craft of writing by taking a good beginning class.”

“Or read my book!” she adds with a wink.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.