Author Interview: Mia Daquial
Getting to Know Pinoy Indie Authors
I truly feel Pinoy (Filipino) Indie Authors are underrated and, most times, under appreciated. In support, I am resuming my interviews with Pinoy Indie Authors.
In addition, I have also created a Facebook Page and a Facebook Group specifically dedicated to empowering and equipping Pinoy writers to write, publish, and promote their books.
If you’re a Filipino indie author or writer, come join us! You’re welcome — whether you write in English, Taglish, or Tagalog. We’re all in this together!
Author Interview: Mia Daquial
This week, we are proud to present Mia Daquial, who, unlike most self-taught authors, is actually a Language and Literature graduate of the University of the Philippines, and a Cum Laude at that!
Mia is a very promising young author whose sense of humor and zest for life are delightfully (and highly) contagious.
About Mia Daquial
Mia Daquial is a cum laude graduate with a degree in Language and Literature from the University of the Philippines Baguio. She enjoys reading, playing video games, visiting cafes (mainly to write) and doing martial arts.
She started writing her own stories when she was in third grade, but her passion for it sparked when she wrote fanfiction for one of her favorite anime.
She believes writing is both a necessity and a tool for healing.
She is currently reading Outbound Flight and is watching Star Trek: The Next Generation purely for its fun storytelling.
Mia Daquial
Author; Cum Laude graduate with a degree in Language and LIterature from the University of the Philippines Baguio
Connect with Mia Daquial and purchase her books here:
Q & A with MIA DAQUIAL
What inspired you to become a writer?
I think my thirteen-year old, dole-eyed self can answer this better than me. Haha! But if I can recall, it was the shows I used to watch and books I used to read when I was younger that inspired me to write. I carved out ideas on bond papers and Green Apple notebooks, dealing with themes of friendships, shooting zombies, and fantasy.
Could you describe your writing routine?
The first thing I do is brainstorm. I explore different kinds of ideas either on my phone or my notebook. After that, I start drafting. I spend at least one to two hours per day writing and editing on the weekdays. On the weekends, I devote more time to writing (and I love doing this with a cup of coffee in one hand!).
How do you develop your story ideas?
Nowadays, I usually start with an outline that I type on my phone. My mind is continuously buzzing with ideas, and I use my phone to keep track of these in case I decide to make a story out of them. Then, when an opportunity to contribute to an anthology or write a book pops up, I draft my ideas onto a notebook. Writing on a piece of paper is a practice I still find immense joy from. It’s necessary too, for me at least.
How do you approach creating memorable characters?
I take highlighted bits and pieces from some of my favorite characters in fiction, my family, friends, and even figures I look up to in history. Then I incorporate some of my own life experiences and the ones my friends and family have had. From there, I determine how these characters would develop.
I honestly find this to be my favorite part of storytelling.
Q & A with MIA DAQUIAL
How do you balance research and creativity in your writing?
I try to be as creative as I can with my ideas first, then ground it by doing research. For me, it’s best to test how creative your mind can be in the beginning, and then when you’re world-building and developing characters, you want to definitely supplement these with research.
What challenges have you faced as an author?
The biggest challenge for me is really getting to write all these down in my head. I also tend to pressure myself into writing something perfect, but I’ve realized as I got older and became more experienced that it’s better to just write whatever comes to mind and flesh it out before editing it.
How do you deal with writer’s block or self-doubt?
I walk around a bit, read my favorite book, or let my mind wander just enough to deal with writer’s block. A writer’s block for me could either be a signal to take a break, or it could also be a sense of boredom. I do make sure to go back immediately to my writing, however.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Keep reading, keep writing, and stay disciplined. It’s the little stuff (i.e. writing for thirty minutes a day, taking meaningful breaks) that matter in the long run.
Experiment with different genres until you find the one that suits you the most.
Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming projects?
A slice-of-life-ish adventure involving a serious policewoman and an alien prince who has no idea what planet Earth is like. What could possibly go wrong???
What’s the message in your latest book and why did you choose it?
The overall message of Blue – a short story I wrote and featured recently – is to find happiness in the little things, and take pauses every now and then to fully understand what one’s life really is and should really be about.
I chose this message because at the time, I was on a standstill and reflecting on what I wanted my life to be like.
Did you know I wrote a Romantic Comedy set in an island?
I hope you can also check it out – it might just be worth your time!
IT'S NOT JUST SEMANTICS
It’s Not Just Semantics is a clean, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy in which a smart-mouthed and willful Personal Assistant and a former heart surgeon-turned-disgraced champion race car driver heal each other’s emotional wounds despite their different views on relationships.
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