UP ICW issues guidelines for writers' workshop

LIKHAAN: The UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP ICW) is now accepting applications for the 48th UP ICW National Writers Workshop to be held in Camp John Hay, Baguio City, from April 12 to 18, 2009.

UP ICW Director Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr., also announced that four fellowships are available for open competition and that these are open only to advanced writers. Following the “Kumustahan” workshop concept, the other eight slots will be awarded by the ICW by invitation only to qualified, highly meritorious writers in mid-career. The ICW reserves the right to reapportion the number of reserved and open slots, depending on the responses and the quality of applications received.

The 2009 workshop will be chaired by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario.

Almario also announced the submission guidelines:

QUALIFICATIONS – To qualify, applicants:
(1) must be writers in English or Filipino;
(2) must have attended at least one creative writing workshop (national/regional, including the UP National Writers’ Workshops), or earned a degree in Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsulat, or won at least one national/international literary award;
(3) must have published at least three poems or two short stories or two pieces of creative nonfiction (e.g., essays, memoirs, profiles) in reputable collections or anthologies, journals, magazines (including campus publications), or refereed Internet web magazines, or have had a play staged. Writers who have been fellows at any of the UP National Writers’ Workshops are eligible. Some of these qualifications may be waived in exceptionally meritorious cases, with the unanimous concurrence of the UP ICW Fellows, Advisers and Associates.

REQUIREMENTS – Applicants must submit the following:
(1) five copies plus digital file (12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11) of one original unpublished manuscript (short story, poem, or creative nonfiction, play) to be discussed during the workshop – this manuscript should not have been submitted to any other workshop;
(2) a two-paragraph description of a work-in-progress in any of the above genres, in English or Filipino (also 12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11); and
(3) photocopies of the applicant’s published work, including publication details; and
(4) application form (available at the UP ICW office in UP Diliman and on panitikan.com.ph).

During the UP workshop, fellows will be expected to make a presentation of a chapter or draft of the work-in-progress referred to above, and an essay on an aspect of their writing or of the genre in which they work. They must be present for the full duration of the workshop period.

The deadline for submission is November 30, 2008. For inquiries, call 922-1830 and ask for Ms. Eva Cadiz.

Download the application form here.

current reading

i'm teaching creative writing 140 this coming semester, and i'm in the middle of preparing my syllabus. i want my students to learn how to incorporate research material in their creative writing. i also want to develop in them an appreciation for highly informative, technically accurate essays that are engaging if not entertaining. the essays they will be made to write for the course will contain more scientific, cultural/artistic information than personal opinion.

As there is a dearth of nature writing in the philippines, i'm considering making my students try their hand at it. of course i know that most of them will not have the necessary knowledge and inclination to be much good at it, but i'd like them to experience how it's done. so now i'm rereading some of my favorite books of nature writing. i am currently enjoying dianne ackerman's the moon by whale light and other adventures among bats, penguins, crocodilians, and whales. if you haven't read this book, you're missing out. ackerman has this amazing ability to blend scientific information and personal observation into engaging essays that read almost like poetry.

bulawan online: oktubre 2008

the latest issue of bulawan online is now available.

if you don't know what bulawan online is all about, read the introduction below.

i'm announcing this here because i am part of the bulawan online staff (this in spite of the fact that i do not write in filipino. haha). i take care of the buklatan section, so if you have a new book out, or you've just read a great book and you want us to feature it in the buklatan section, drop me a line. the current issue features books by rio alma, abdon balde, and vlad gonzales. they're all writers in filipino, but this doesn't mean we're not open to books in other languages. the previous issue included jose dalisay's novel in english, soledad's sister.

Ang Bulawan Online ay isang lathalaang pampanitikan at nakabukás nang pangunahin para sa mga makata, kuwentista, at tagapagsalin ng tula at maikling kuwento. Nakabukás din ito sa mga pagsusuri ng aklat pampanitikan at pagtalakay sa mga paksang pampanitikan. Tuwing dalawang buwan, ilalabas sa lathalaang ito ang napilìng katangi-tanging tula, maikling kuwento, at salin nang may kalakip na komentaryo.

Sa ganitong paraan, nais ng lathalaang ito na pasiglahin ang mga makata’t manunulat at makatulong sa pagpatnubay ng pagsulong ng panitikan ng Filipinas, lalo na ng panitikang nakasulat sa wikang Filipino. Hinahangad din ng lathalaang ito na makapag-ambag ng mahusay na babasahing pampanitikan para sa mga estudyante’t guro ng wika at panitikang Filipino. Ang pagbibigay naman ng pagsusuri sa mga ilalathalang akda ay isang paraan ng paglinang sa kritikal na pagbása ng panitikan at pagdudulot ng gabay hinggil sa iba’t ibang paraan ng pag-aaral sa isang akda. Sa kabuuan, nais ng Bulawan Online na magtaguyod ng Panitikan para sa Dangal ng Bayan.

Ang lathalaang ito ay handog sa bayan ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Virgilio S. Almario. Nanunungkulan siyang Punòng Editor at kasáma sa Lupon ng mga Editor sina Roberto T. Añonuevo, Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., Michael M. Coroza, Vim Nadera, at Fidel Rillo. Mga Kagawad sina Phillip Kimpo Jr., Sophia Lucero, Eilene Narvaez, Ernanie Rafael, at Jose Claudio B. Guerrero.