YOU only become a better writer when you have finally figured out what writing technique works best for you.
The panelists of the seventh Varsitarian Fiction Workshop last September 4 and 11 challenged young writers to put an end to self-indulgence and give their literary works a sense of urgency. It was also the first time a poetry workshop was held in parallel with the fiction category.
Gracing the panel was University of the Philippines professor Jun Cruz Reyes, and Philippine literature icon, Abdon Balde Jr., who mentored six of this year’s fellows for the Katha category while Palanca-award winning writer, Charlson Ong, former president of the Thomasian Writers Guild (TWG) Francesca Kwe, and fellow TWG alumni Eric Melendez were the panelists for Fiction.
Meanwhile, poetry titans Allan Pastrana, Carlomar Daoana and DM Reyes were the panelists for the Poetry category while Rebecca Añonuevo, Mike Coroza, and Joey Baquiran were the panelists for Tula.
The Fiction panellists stressed that stories echoes more than just a simple narration.
“The writer has readers and they both know that what they are reading is fake,” Kwe said. “But it is also in fiction where the reader looks for believability.”
According to her fiction is different from life in such a way that life is random, while fiction requires a great deal of planning out.
“Try to figure out what works for you,” said Melendez. “Know what keeps yourself writing and hope it works for you every time.”
The Poetry panelists gave emphasis that poetry brings readers to a journey of adventure despite its brevity.
“Poetry is about delaying the pleasure of discovery while demanding engagement,” Gonzales said.
With the untimely death of writer-in-residence and lady poetess, Dr. Ophelia A. Dimalanta literary writers have noticed an apparent decline of fine poetry writing in the University.
Literary Fundamentals
The panellist also discussed that aspiring writers should clarify their general insight and make the outburst of their emotions as creative as possible.
“When you write, stop and consider the next sentence,” said Kwe. “What you can say in a sentence, don’t say it in a paragraph.”
She added that there has to be a motivation for characters to move forward in time and space.
“We know where he’s going but we don’t know where it will end, that’s unpredictability,” said Kwe. “That’s what story writing is about.”
Moreover, Ong emphasized the essence of clear words and the mastery of language.
“When you’re older, you’ll always be embarrassed with what you have written when you were younger,” he said. “Write in past tense, if you use present tense, it’s harder.”
Former Varsitarian Associate Editor Carlomar Daoana said it is very important to create imagery through words and how it will be different from the others.
“How is the experience different from any other? Make it unique,” he said.
Former Varsitarian Filipino Editor Michael Coroza also discussed the importance of the harmony between content and musicality in Filipino poem.
“Dapat ang tula ay may konkretong imahe na may tamang sukat at tugma,” he said.
Reyes said that young writers should defy from the norm of usual writing.
“Gumawa ka ng klase ng karakter na may intriga,” said Reyes. “Tanungin niyo yung sarili niyo, ba’t ganoon yung taong ‘yun?”
While Balde encouraged the participants to sympathize with the real characters within their imagination.
“Sa umpisa pa lang, dinadadama mo na siya,” said Balde. “Kasama mo dapat siya sa paglalakad. Kailangan mo’ng mainlove sa bida mo. I-build-up mo pa yung character mo.”
In its entirety, the workshop has awakened the participants to write better stories.
“These are works that would not even land you an honorable mention in the Ustetika,” said Kwe. “Give it time, look at it again.”
In spite of the ruthless critiquing the fellows have undergone by the panelists, the fellows all agreed that it their works badly needed some work.
“I learned to breathe life into my characters,” said Katha fellow Paula Marie Navarra. “The most important lesson I learned was to flesh them out. The panel and fellows helped me learn that.”
The other fellows who participated were UST students Miguel Luis Galang, May-Ann Romey, Jessica Nicole Canaberal, Bianca Padilla, Bernadine Sy Tiong and Edmark Tan for Fiction and Samantha Melyssa Perez, Rouse Stephen G. Cebrebros, Niravana Time S. Estiva, Carmen Magsaysay, John Carlo Pacala for Katha.
Meanwhile the fellows who participated for Poetry category were Rouse Stephen G. Cebrebros, April Anne A. Dizon, Melody Rose Apple M. Marquez, Christelle J. Pineda and Jerry S. Balantucas, and Marie Giselle R. Dela Cruz, John Rexell Cusipag and Kathryn Caday for the Tula category.
The workshop aims to refine the fellows’ stories in time for the 27th Gawad Ustetika, also organized by the Varsitarian.
“Hindi sapat ang maghapon para matutong maglikha ng kwento,” said Reyes, concluding that even after the workshop, fellows should make it a point to learn things by themselves. “In the end, walang formula ang pagsusulat.”
