Feature Series - Raymond Ang

[Amanda Cruz]

Hi Arriane!

Here's Raymond's interview. I tweaked some of the questions to make it more bagay with him :)

I got my laptop back today! I'll find more photos of him muna. Let me know what else I can do to help with this!

Kim

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Cruz <kristinaa...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: sorry for the delay!
To: Raymond Alexander Ang <raymon...@gmail.com>


Thank you thank you! Free for dinner next Friday? Either with Mykee or with sila Michi!

On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 2:59 AM, Raymond Alexander Ang <raymon...@gmail.com> wrote:

• What are the different roles and projects you're juggling right now?
  

On most days, I'm associate editor at Rogue magazine (http://www.rogue.ph/), which basically means I produce shoots, attempt to write long form journalism, and edit a section. Once a week, I report to The Philippine Star office as editor of Young Star (www.twitter.com/YoungStarPhils), the broadsheet's youth section, and close the weekly issue as well as plan the production of future issues. The rest of the time, I'm busy with editorial work for corporations, like Plant, a magazine I co-edit for Rockwell's Power Plant mall.

• What were your major goals for 2012 and how are they going now?
  

At the start of the year, I set out to (1) find new talent to collaborate with for Young Star, (2) make sure each Rogue story I handle/produce meets the magazine's exacting standards, and (3) also make sure I'm financially sound—after all, you can't just live off passion and dreams.

On the first count, I've been pretty successful. The constant challenge of working at a youth section is continuously finding new people to collaborate with when the people you work with eventually graduate to more "grown up" work. This is both a gift and a curse. On one hand, it would be much easier to work with the same people. On the other, it's what's so rewarding about the job, helping young talent earn their wings.

On the second count, I've been okay, give or take a few stories I wish I could've produced better. On the third, it's been good too. Work's been steady and opportunities crop up every so often to help finance my increasingly insatiable appetite. (Yeah, a chunk of my earnings go to food. I don't really feel ashamed, to be honest.)

• How do you keep yourself on track, inspired, and motivated throughout the year?

I like to leave myself a lot of notes—from my Mac's Stickies function to post-its on my desk to post-its in my planner.  Constant reminders litter my work area to make sure I never go too far off production schedule.

And it's pretty easy to stay inspired and motivated, despite the stress and occasional sleepless nights, when you love your job.

• If you could give aspiring writers and editors 5 tips on staying productive/managing their time, work load, and projects, what would they be?
  

1. Take a break when you need to. In any creative field, the space you give yourself between projects is as important to the process as the labor itself. Breathe. The life you live between working is what informs the work.

2. The thinking is as important as the writing. If you "pre-write" in your mind, if you know what you want to say before typing on that keyboard, the actual labor will feel less like labor.

3. Learn to say no. Work is great, yes, but don't underestimate the importance of saying no. Don't be afraid about disappointing people. Quality over quantity any day. Your clients/editors/readers will be happier for it.

4. Keep yourself in check. In any occupation, it's important to be your own boss and be responsible for your own output.

5. Don't listen to lists like this. Different things work for different people. Find your own rituals to productivity.

• What do you do to relax and take a break from it all?

I have dinners/lunches/drinks with good friends. Never underestimate the therapeutic effects of a good meal and good conversation.

And for when I'm feeling anti-social, a good film or a good song is a pretty potent antidote.

• Have you started planning your 2013? What can we expect from you in 2013? (Plug away as you wish!)

Aside from eating a lot of food, hopefully going to Singapore for Laneway, and watching the second season of Girls, I have a few things up my sleeve that I'm crossing my fingers for. Nothing concrete enough to discuss yet though.