LAST WEEK, at least three students from Caldwell Adventist Academy in Zamboanga City interviewed me via Facebook Messenger.
The usual questions—
Who influenced you to write?
How do you deal with critics?
How do you balance making demands on the readers, and taking care of them?
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I never thought of verbalizing this before.
But I guess I am popular with my readers because I know them.
I know what they want, and what they need.
I know what they like, and I know how to give it to them.
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Early on, from my first book “I Flew a Kite for Pepe”, through the popular “The Essential Thoughts of a Purple Cat”, to the heartfelt “Moon River, Butterflies, and Me”, and the rather spiritual “My Life as a Hermit”, I knew that my readers are teenagers.
I knew I wasn’t writing for doctors, and lawyers, or politicians, and their prostitutes.
I knew I wasn’t writing for farmers, and fisher-folks, and their oppressors.
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I knew I was writing for misunderstood kids.
For the teenagers, the tiny people who are feeling left out.
I was a misfit writing for misfits.
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Here’s what I posted on Facebook after watching “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood:
I do not know Freddie Mercury, and the rock band Queen, although I’ve studied the song Bohemian Rhapsody, and used it in one of my (gay) plays (in English) circa 2013.
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But after watching the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” tonight, I totally identify with Freddie—flamboyant costumes, outrageous performances, original ways of doing music (in my case, writing), staying away from formula (though it may win me awards and publication deals), and offering everything to my public who feel that they do not belong.
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Like him, I feel like a misfit writing for misfits (so now you understand why my protagonists are often obviously flawed).
Like him, I do not want to be a victim of anything (but especially of the literary establishment).
Like him, I decide who I want to be.
I decide to be true to my calling.
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Like him, I want to punch a hole on the roof, and into the sky.
And be a rockstar.
I am Peter Solis Nery.
And I, too, am Mercury!
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I don’t stand very well with literature professors, and creative writing majors in colleges and universities.
They look down on my literary work.
(Until, of course, I showed them that I could win those 19 Palanca Awards, too.)
But these days, I am a little ahead of them because my stories are in high school textbooks.
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In addition, I may be the most accessible Filipino writer on the internet for Filipino teenagers.
Students from all over the country often contact me through my www.petersolisnery.com website, and many interview me over Facebook Messenger.
That also explains my 4990+ friends on Facebook.
And some 2,800+ followers.
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I sometimes post crazy things on my Facebook account.
And yet, and yet, they are so spot on, and well liked.
This post, for example, around All Saints, and All Souls, Day:
“CONDOLENCE sa lahat ng nagmahal, umasa, at nasawi. Hindi kayo nag-iisa. Karamay n’yo ako!”
325 reactions, 16 comments, 3 shares.
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The day after:
“CONGRATULATIONS sa lahat na nagpapakatatag na mag-move on, sa nagsasabing nagmo-move on kahit hindi pa kaya. More power sa inyo!”
Sure, only 165 reactions, and only 10 comments.
But read the comments!
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188 reactions, 12 comments for this post with photos from the Hollywood Walk of Fame:
“MY KIND OF HOLLYWOOD. Ikaw kasi, ang arte mo. Ikaw sana ang kasama ko ngayon dito. E, ano kung 15 minutes ko lang nakilala ang kasama ko? Hindi sa patagalan ng pagkakakilala ‘yan. Nasa availability! Binigyan ka ng chance, umayaw ka.”
I can be cruel like that.
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And what about my photo with Aquaman?
You know, those actors (some of them just bums) in superhero costumes plying the Hollywood Boulevard?
Because I noticed my fly was open, and I was photographed a little too close to the actor, I posted:
“ANG LAKAS MAKAKAPIT NITONG SI AQUAMAN. Parang enjoy na enjoy sa akin! Ako naman, nakalimot mag-zipper!”
485 reactions (293 likes, 115 laughing faces, 60 hearts, 17 wows), 7 comments, 1 share.
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Ask me again: What inspires you to post these things?
My audience. I know my audience, and I know what they like.
Look, 89 reactions, and 2 shares, for this poem:
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How can I say I no longer love you?
I see mosaics, murals, many other
Wondrous things, works of art
Works of hands that touch my heart
Very much like your sweet, sweet smile—
And every time, I think of you
I think of us looking at these things, smiling
Together, side by side, holding hands.
I think of you with love, with hope
With deep affection, with fondness
Wishing hard you will see all
The beautiful things I see in this world
With me, with my eyes, with my heart. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
