MYWriters to hold three events for What About Kuching 2019
KUCHING: The Malaysian Writers Society (MYWriters) is bringing three events to this year’s What About Kuching (WAK) event, which also coincides with #MYWritersFest2019.
MYWritersFest, which kicked off in 2015, is a month-long festival celebrating Malaysian writers and their writing.
The first of the three events for WAK 2019 is ‘ Write Now, Kuching’ – a four-day, threenight writing retreat taking place at Singgahsana Lodge Kuching from Oct 1 to 4.
This is one of the two writing retreats under #MYWritersFest2019, with the other one happening in Ipoh.
According to MYWriters president and retreat leader Gina Yap Lai Yoong, the idea is to take a few days off from normal routines and concentrate on one’s personal writing project.
“Writers are encouraged to work on their writing with minimal distraction from others. They can also communicate and discuss with other writers within the premises,” she said.
The daily group session, to be facilitated by Yap, is compulsory for every participant as it is to keep everyone accountable in their writing progress.
“You will get some leisure time but do not treat this as a cheap holiday. Our venue Singgahsana Lodge and its owners are offering us their venue because they believe in supporting the arts. So set your writing goals and expect to work hard,” added Yap, who will be assisted by MYWriters Sarawak
Georgette Tan.
Yap has written six books and co-written many others. Her trilogy ‘Ngeri’ is a bestseller, with more than 10 reprints since 2012. Known as a ‘Story Doctor’, Yap is a book consultant and has been mentoring writers in their writing journey since 2014.
Retreat fees are RM210 per participant, which includes accommodations and meals. For more information, visit http:// tiny.cc/kchretreat.
The other two events are talks by Tina Isaacs, a litigation lawyer specialising in copyright law.
She is also a MYWriters committee member and a fiction writer.
Taking place in the afternoon of Oct 5, Tina will cover sessions on ‘Introduction to Copyright Law for Creatives’ and ‘Contract and Payment Terms for Freelance Creatives’.
Speaking on the talks, Tan said while Kuching had no shortage of artistic talents, the lack of knowledge on matters of copyright and contracts would often leave unwitting creative representative freelancers exploitation.
“As creative people, we usually don’t even think about matters of copyright or contracts, until something happens to us. Alternately, we also don’t think about how our casual usage of other people’s intellectual property can hurt them,” said Tan, who is a former journalist.
In ‘ Introduction to Copyright Law for Creatives’, participants will learn how to protect their work and control how it is used commercially, while ensuring that they would not infringe the work of others.
In ‘Contract and Payment Terms for Freelance Creatives’, Tina will walk participants through the legalese of contracts and how to protect their rights as independent creative contractors.
Both talks are not limited to writers. Tan added that these topics should be relevant to all members of the creative community whether they are painters, dancers, photographers, designers, publishers, wide open for scriptwriters; or whether they make music, movies or handicrafts.
“With more and more Sarawakians embracing their artistic side as their primary or alternative income stream, it is worth understanding the legal side of the creative industry so you know where you stand and where you can go,” she said.
Ticket price for the talks is RM100 each – attend both and pay only RM160.
MYWriters members get 50 per cent off the ticket price. Come in a group of five and pay RM400 (RM80/person) for one talk, or RM700 (RM140/person) for both sessions.
To sign up, go to http://tiny.cc/ kchtalks.
This event is part of WAK 2019. For more information or to download the calendar of events, visit www.aboutkuching.com.
Programme booklets are also available for free across Kuching. For updates, find WAK on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under @aboutkuching. Join the buzz by hashtagging #WAK2019, #WAK and #aboutkuching. SIBU: Participants of The Borneo Post 2019 Fun Run can collect their numbers and T-shirts from the secretariat on the first floor of Wisma See Hua at Tuanku Osman Road here.
The collection hours are from 10am to 4pm daily, until this Thursday (Aug 29).
In a reminder, a member of the organising committee Jamie Kong advises the participants to bring their entry fee receipts when collecting the items.
“There would be no replacement should they (participants) lose their numbers, or forgot to bring the numbers during the event this Aug 31,” she told reporters during a press conference here yesterday.
She said those who lost their numbers could still join the run, but they will not be given any medal.
Those with proper numbers, who complete the 5km run within one hour and 15 minutes, will receive finisher’s medals, she added.
“The top 50 runners of each category will receive cash prizes and finisher’s medals.
“Only the top three runners of each category will receive their prizes on stage – the rest will receive theirs at the collection booth during the event,” said Kong.
The categories of The Borneo Post 2019 Fun Run are Men’s 5km and Women’s 5km.
The organiser expects some 2,000 runners to take part this year, with the flagoff at 7am, Sibu Town Square Phase 1.
According to Kong, those wishing to change the names of the participants for the run could do so until Aug 29.
“We will not entertain any request for name change after Aug 29,” she reminded.
Kong also said every registered runner will be entitled to take part in a lucky draw to be held after the run.
“The lucky draw numbers are based on the names registered and also their numbers.
“Those who have lost their numbers can still participate in the lucky draw. Just show your Mykads,” she said, adding that the grand lucky is a Gree airconditioning unit.