Celebration of poetry, creativewriting in Kuching this weekend
KUCHING: The Wordsmiths of Kuching ( WoK) and friends are bracing for an action-packed weekend with a series of spoken word poetry and creative-writing events run especially for adults of all ages.
As part of What About Kuching ( WAK) 2018, the earliest of their events rolled out last Sunday, with storytelling workshop ‘Suara Hati’, and a showcase ‘Gema’ with Malaysian spoken word poet Jamal Raslan, co- organised with Kamek Kitak Stories.
In the five-hour workshop, Jamal helped participants identify a topic close to their heart and develop an outline that can be fleshed out into poetry or prose.
Some of the participants later went on to ‘Gema’ to read a version of what they had written in the workshop, or another piece they already had.
Exposure to poetry and creative-writing continues with Singaporean poet/photographer Marc Nair’s ‘ Picture This! Workshop’ this Oct 6, commencing at 10am in Indah House Cafe; and Malaysian novelist Gina Yap Lai Yoong’s ‘Writing Brilliant Stories Workshop’ at 2pm on the same day.
Nair will cover the fundamentals of composition in both photography and writing. The session will also provide an opportunity for participants to take to the streets and put they have learnt to practice.
Ticket price for ‘ Picture This! Workshop’ is RM85 per student and RM95 per adult.
Yap will help participants tap into the secret of brilliant storytelling so that they can write the kind of stories that the readers can relate to.
“I’m not teaching writing. I’m teaching how to create or produce a brilliant story – so we will touch on what makes a story a story, story structure and elements of what draws people into the story,” she said.
Ticket price for ‘ Writing Brilliant Stories Workshop’ is RM65 per student and RM75 per adult.
Should you be interested to attend both Saturday workshops, the package price is RM150 for adults and RM140 for students.
If being a spectator is more your style, Nair’s solo show based on his new book ‘Vital Possessions’ will be staged at the Old Courthouse here this Oct 6, commencing at 8pm.
‘Vital Possessions’ contemplates how city- dwellers negotiate their uneasy relationship with nature in a world where growth is both man-made and natural. There, Nair will be performing poems from the book as well as songs and other monologues specially crafted for the occasion.
Ticket price is RM40 per person – or RM70 with a copy of the book ‘Vital Possessions’.
On the evening of Oct 7, Jamal returns with his spoken word show ‘ Between The Lines’, to take place at and hosted by The Sadau Rooftop Bar @ Singgahsana Lodge, commencing at 8.30pm.
In two 30 to 40-minute sessions, Jamal will share how he learned to read and write between the lines, and how ‘one can live between the lines, despite losing oneself in translation’.
Apart from these events, there are also talks and WoK’s regular show ‘ Word of Mouth KCH Special Edition II’ together with Malaysian Writers Festival 2018 ( MYWritersFest18) on Friday night at Le Cafe Rouge. This showcase will provide a first taste of the weekend’s events.
For more information or inquiries, visit fb.me/ wordsmithsofkuching or send emails to wordsmithsofkuching@ gmail.com.
For a full calendar of WAK 2018 events, visit aboutkuching.com.
I’m not teaching writing. I’m teaching how to create or produce a brilliant story – so we will touch on what makes a story a story, story structure and elements of what draws people into the story. Gina Yap Lai Yoong’s, Malaysian novelist