You missed my Writers' Workshop. Where I gave them The Right To Be Bad
Frank A. Hilario
October 31, 2011
Frank H says Creattitudes Workshop Version 2.0 is above all a reinvention of the Writers' Workshop because it is the first time ever that, right at the beginning:
Bad writing is treated as good writing!
How? Secret!
Well, for instance, look at the photograph (I PhotoShopped my original shot): It looks bad, but thatīs exactly what you should be saying, how bad it is, what makes it bad - to get you going.
I can't tell you here how the workshop process goes, but you can ask The Twelve who attended the workshop: Jean Abuda, Carl Dexter Arceo, Erwin Caniba, Ela Carrillo, Cielo Castro, Maria Bernadette "Badette" Catalla, Jenny Manongdo, Maggie Nelmida, Archie Ong Lim, Vincent Ong Lim, Vincent Ong Lim Jr, and Maria Concepcion S Zabala.
Because that's what The Talking Glass told them, right at the start of the workshop. "Be Bad." (I explained what the glass meant.)
A talking glass? Yes, The Talking Glass. Yes, made of silica, about 4 mm thick, transparent. And, yes, it talked. At different times, The Talking Glass told The Twelve, "Be Good" and "Be Gracious." (I explained what the glass meant each time.)
Did The Talking Glass work its magic? Did it ever!
I could see in her face that Maria Bernadette "Badette" Catalla was the most stressed of The Twelve, but look at her very first writing:
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out
It started with everything rushing quick bath, quick coffee, quick breakfast, quick instructions to helpers and quick kisses to my sleeping boys.
Then the long drive to my destination begins. Many things to think about while driving. Thinking of the route. Thinking of what I will learn at my destination. Thinking of things to do after the activity. Thinking of things to prepare for Gabrielīs 3rd birthday tomorrow to make him happy. Many, many things to think of.
And then when I am almost at my destination, I seem to not be able to get there. So frustrating specially if you understand how things work and seem not to get a favorable solution. Unwillingly, I took the step that I didnīt like but if I werenīt stressed would have taken the step with no hesitation.
Finally, I am at my destination but still cannot think straight. I still am stressed with the many things that am thinking of. And then I settle down and prepare my things for the activity. I read the articles and then I go outside and talk to ask for instructions. I really havenīt done this activity in my life. I never even thought I could be someone that can do this stuff. I actually thought I couldnīt make one. But he said to just write and itīs okay even if I think it looks bad. He said itīs the way to start improving. Short simple words but it was a boost. It made me think that I can actually do this. I feel so excited now.
I return to my seat. With the soothing background music, I just let it flow.
THAT'S BADETTE first output, with very minimal editing by me. And my comment below her little piece was this:
Excellent! Badette, this is the way to write - let it flow! (But remember - if it does not flow, don't force it. Just write, write, write. You have a Good reason to Be Bad.)
If you want to write and for some reason you are distressed, in fact it's the best time to write, the best reason to write - to de-stress yourself. Write, write, write! The personal computer was invented for you, the person. Treat it as your slave, because it is. Don't allow it to become your master. Don't allow it to intimidate you.
Above all, don't allow stress to distress you.
If you think don't have the talent, if you think you can't write, look at Graciela "Ela" Carrillo, who was very hesitant to attend, but she did because she was registered by her sister as her birthday gift. She didn't think she had the talent. Now look at her very first piece:
The commuter
I have always wanted to write about commuting to places. Since we donīt own a car, my mother taught me some few tricks on how to go to new places. Specially in Manila.
The Internet has helped a lot. Google Maps can only show you the road and familiar landmarks.
Ask persons who have been to the place. Ask the jeepney drivers and barkers.
Remember the buildings (banks, schools, gas stations , government buildings, etc) you passed by.
My work has given me the opportunity to travel to Manila weekly. But we use the company car to pick up computer supplies from different distributors. I ask the guards from these warehouses but they can only tell you so much. I befriended delivery drivers and couriers. From them I learned some shortcuts to these places. They tell me where there is heavy traffic and sometimes people are kind enough to give us their parking space.
My first time to commute alone to Manila was to visit the Quiapo Church. I was so nervous. I took the wrong bus. I was supposed to take the Lawton bus but took the Pasay bus instead. There was a kind mother with her child who told me to get a jeep to Baclaran and get down at Taft Ave. From there I took the Cubao jeep and got down at Quiapo.
From that experience I told myself to learn other routes to my destination beside the usual way.
I wanted to share so others will not have difficulty in commuting.
I envy those who own a car. They can go to any place they want anytime.
I like to make maps/sketches of place. I want to be as detailed as possible.
How to get to Rosewood via Alabang, the VA couldn't tell me.
AS MY COMMENT, I wrote: "Ela, this is the way to write for the Internet." To her last line, I added, "To be continued."
Reader, you should have been at The Talking Glass seminar the other day!
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