Balikbaylan: Building Worlds
My name is Kim Dela Cruz, and I'm a freelance writer, astrologer, and content strategist based in the Boston area. My published work includes worldbuilding, articles, poetry, and astrology essays. I've also done consultations and have edited online zines.Check out my credits and samples in the links below!At the bottom of the page, you'll find different ways to contact and support me. Thanks for stopping by!
Adventure Writing
Tales From Sina Una, Hit Point Press (forthcoming, 2023)
Worldbuilding
The Islands of Sina Una, Hit Point Press (2020)
Lead Directors: Lucia Versprille & Joshua Mendenhall
Articles
A collaborative piece deconstructing media narratives on the Atlanta murders of Asian women for FAIR:Atlanta Murders Reporting Relied on Law Enforcement Narratives
A short, satirical piece critiquing wealth inequality for Plan A Mag:Next 9 Financial Tips for Broke Hedge Fund Managers
Poetry
I have been published online and in print since 2009, but the following are my most recent:For EmJae and Chiaroscuro, Anthology: Dawn with arms of roses (2017)
Editor: Lia Hagen
Incept, Eunoia Review (2015)
Editor: Ian Chung
Astrology Readings
My interest in astrology began in 2014, but my focus intensified in 2021. I practice Western astrology using whole sign houses and the tropical zodiac. To hone my skills, I'm currently enrolled in Chris Brennan's Hellenistic Astrology Course.Sample chart drawing:
I'm not open for paid readings, but may be available for practice readings via zoom call. To inquire, please contact me via the Twitter or email links at the top of this page.
Astrology Essays
Astrology is, among many other things, a language. On my Patreon page, astrology invites us into deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.For example:
[Venus, the Moon, and Care as a Language]
Worldbuilding Consultation
I address a client's specific concerns by offering direction and suggestions that are internally consistent with game mechanics and lore.[RIPE (2020)]
Game Designer: David Schirduan
Content Scouting
From 2020 - 2021, I worked with Plan A Mag, an online platform for Asian diaspora voices building radical movements, by connecting them with potential content contributors and editing several long-form articles for publication.
Editing
I pair basic copy editing with more comprehensive line reading. Copy editing corrects spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax, flags factual errors, and ensures internal consistency. Line reading scans for readability by removing extraneous content, modifying sentence structure for pacing, and upgrading word choice for greater precision.[Sample editing process]
Published pieces I've edited for Plan A Mag (2020-2021):- GME AND THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST (By Adrian Jonah)- EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT IDENTITY POLITICS IS WRONG (By Song to Sea)- A WHITE IDENTITY CRISIS (Diamond Yao for The Rebel Minority)- OUR PERSONAL PROBLEMATIC FAVES (JS Lee for Reorient)- LOSS OF MOTHERHOOD (By JS Lee for Reorient)
From Winter 2014 - Winter 2018, I served as co-editor of Window Cat Press, an online lit and art zine. During that time, I curated submissions, worked with writers to polish their pieces through constructive feedback, and designed page layouts for issuu, .pdf, and an interactive website that integrated different types of media.
