Where Writing Begins: Yanna Alcazaren’s Story

People often treat “writer” and “author” as if they are the same thing and that includes me. But for Yanna Alcazaren, fondly known as “Y,” there is a meaningful distinction.

Writing has long been Y’s hobby. Something she turned to as a form of escapism during the pandemic, something that has always existed naturally within her. Becoming an author, however, is her dream. A dream that caught my attention.

Curious to learn more about her journey, I reached out to Y’s Instagram page before the Philippine Book Festival to ask if I could interview her or send some questions. Her mom, who manages her social media confirmed Y’s interest. Aside from hearing a lot about Y and her book, I was amazed that a 13-year-old had come a long way and successfully published a book. Not that I think young people aren’t capable of doing so [please, please do not think it like that,] rather, I wanted to share her story to inspire others. 

Since we weren’t able to meet in person until PBF , I sent my questions through email. First off, I asked when did she realized that she wanted to become a writer, her answer was simple but also made me think. She said it depends on what you mean by “writer.” Because for her, writing wasn’t something she suddenly chose. It has always been there. Since second grade, she’s been writing whatever she wanted. She wrote fanfiction mashups, random ideas, even stories with extinct species as main characters. 

During the pandemic, writing became more of an escape for her. Publishing, though, was never really part of the plan. Not until she finished her first novella and her mom then suggested the idea of sharing it with people outside their circle. 

And that’s when it clicked for her. If she could finish a story, why couldn’t she publish one?

That’s when Y, the author of Thornsong: The Lantern Bearer realized becoming an author is a dream.

Thornsong: The Lantern Bearer

Y describes Thornsong: The Lantern Bearer as bighearted, sprawling, and verdant.

I’ll admit, I paused at “verdant” 😭 but she mentioned it would make sense once you read the prologue. The book didn’t start as one solid idea. Part of it came from a dream—about a thief stealing something important tied to a war plan. Then another separate dream gave her a title: The Ink Stratagem. Y had these ideas prior joining Book Writer's Club. She worked with Book Writers’ Club (BWC), which was founded to give young Filipino writers a home—a place where their stories are taken seriously and shared with the world. You can read more about them here: https://bookwritersclub.org/about/ From there, she pulled pieces from different places, her old drafts, unused character dynamics, and even inspiration from books she enjoys. She described it as everything eventually fitting together, which I think a lot of writers can relate to.

Before going in depth with her book, I asked Y some things about her life... 

What challenges did you face as a young author, and how did you overcome them?

One thing she shared that stayed with me is the challenge of being a young author. There are still a lot of misconceptions people have that younger writers only write fanfiction in disguise and that they cannot create something in long form. It’s not always said directly, but it’s there. Instead of letting that stop her, Y focused on improving and finding spaces where her work could stand on its own. She joined competitions and worked with ARC readers. Her book gaining recognition in the 2025 Akdang Pinoy Choice Awards helped bring more attention to her work. She also mentioned that she values honest reviews more than overly positive ones. Not everything has to be perfect... What role did your family play while you were writing and eventually publishing your book?

Her family also plays a big role in her journey. While she writes everything on her own, her mom helps manage her social media, events, and interviews. It’s nice to see that she has people around her who genuinely want to see her succeed. She also shared how even small, random conversations especially with her younger cousins can help her come up with ideas! Aside from writing, what are some of your hobbies or interests?

Outside of writing, Y has a lot of interests. She mentioned birdwatching, chess, martial arts (Arnis, Muay Thai, and boxing), archery, and playing instruments like piano and violin. She also enjoys studying biology, debating, and even learning about medieval bladed weapons. It’s a lot 😭 but it also explains why she has a creative mind. The things she enjoys naturally find their way into her writing. Do you see yourself continuing to write and publish stories as you grow older?

When asked if she sees herself continuing to write in the future, her answer was yes but in a very realistic way. She plans to pursue science, so she knows things might get busy. But she still wants to keep writing, even if it becomes something she does on the side. I think what I appreciated most from reading Y's responses is how natural everything felt. It seems like we were talking face to face. What message or lesson do you hope readers will take away from Thornsong?

One thing I realized while reading her answers is that Thornsong: The Lantern Bearer isn’t just a fantasy story for the sake of it. There are things she wants readers to take away from it. She shared three main ideas. First, that uncontrollable circumstances like where we come from don’t define our worth or who we are. Second, that even imperfect people (which is all of us, honestly) can still choose to do what’s right, even if it’s not the easiest path. And third, that a lot of conflict comes from misunderstanding. From assuming too much, or not trying to see things from the other side. I liked how simple but real these felt, just things you can actually reflect on while reading. Who do you think would enjoy reading your book the most? Is there a particular type of reader you would recommend it to? Right now, she thinks Thornsong can be read by younger readers, but it’s really written closer to her own age group. At the same time, she hopes it’s something people of different ages can still enjoy. But one thing is clear, it’s for fantasy readers. Especially those who like worldbuilding, lore, and stories where things slowly unfold. She even hinted that the world gets deeper in the next books, which is something to look forward to if you enjoy details and hidden layers. What can readers look forward to in the next books of the Thornsong series?

Y's planning a trilogy. There are two more books coming, with the second one hopefully releasing soon. She mentioned that the next installment will focus more on Merit’s storyline, along with introducing new protagonists.

Also expect more of everything—politics, secrets, conflicts, and (her words, not mine) not-so-friendly banter. Exciting!!! Before ending the interview, I asked her what advice she would give to young writers who dream of publishing their own stories. Her answer? She described writing as a mountain something intimidating, something that feels hard to climb. She didn’t say it gets easy. She just said to climb anyway.To write anyway. To not hold back when you feel like your stories want to exist. I think what I appreciated most from reading Y’s responses is how natural everything felt. It didn’t feel rehearsed or overly polished. It felt like we were just talking like I was sitting across from her, listening. And maybe that’s what makes her story stand out. Not just because she’s young. Not just because she published a book. But because she writes simply because she wants to. And she continues to do so one story at a time...