PETER Solis Nery’s February 2019 Master Class in Creative Writing over Facebook started a little earlier than projected.
On the morning of January 27, fifty-seven participants have registered.
By the end of the day, the number has climbed up to 69.
I think 69 is a good number.
I like 69.
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But January is my birthday month, and I wanted to be a little generous.
So, I said, maybe I’ll open more slots to accommodate 75.
When I announced the available slots on Facebook, I reached the 75 quota in just 30 minutes.
So, I chilled, and said, I’ll sleep before I make another decision.
When I woke up the following day, there was an avalanche of requests to join my class.
I decided to be accommodating.
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After I have approved the pending requests, our number totaled 90.
So, I said, since we are almost there already, why not open it up to 100 participants?
The ten slots were gobbled up in two days.
To make the long story short, by January 30, the registration has reached 140 participants.
And that’s when I had to put my foot down, and say No.
(I turned down three requests on January 31.
And four more between February 1 and 2.)
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So as not to lose the momentum, I began the workshop on January 30.
I mean, my heart is broken for the late registrants.
Some of them are long time fans.
But I told them, I announced the free workshop on January 23.
If you are one week late, maybe you are just not meant for it.
And with that thought, I can sleep soundly at night.
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But there is no sleep for Peter Solis Nery.
If I’m not designing activities, and improvising for the workshop, I’m busy writing materials for the participants to read and reflect on.
Now, this can get in the way of my column writing for Panay News.
But again, I’m thinking, since I’m being generous and accommodating, why not open up the class in the newspaper?
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And so you will get bits and pieces of my Master Class in Creative Writing here at Panay News this February.
(Or it can go on until March. Who knows?
I’m Peter Solis Nery. And you adore me because I am unpredictable. Even at 50!)
If you feel what I share is not complete, whose fault is it that you are not in my free online class?
If you feel you are getting the right dose, well, that is my idea.
If you feel you are getting some idea, Bravo. There’s hope for you yet.
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One of the preliminary exercises for my master class was the invention of a pseudonym.
I was gunning for deep creative thought that would make the participants invent a name that would speak of their temperament and writing aspirations.
This is the complete Facebook post for the instruction—
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“Fancy Name.” In my first memoir (The Essential Thoughts of a Purple Cat, 1996), I identified myself as Purple Cat.
Twenty-three years after its publication, I still identify myself as a purple cat.
I like the androgyny of purple (the masculine red plus the feminine blue).
And I like the seeming specialness, the aloofness, of a cat—as compared to the familiarity, and the I-will-follow-you doggedness of a dog.
What is your fancy name as a writer?
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I think that deciding on an alter-ego (or even just a pseudonym) forces us to look into ourselves.
Analyze our values.
Project our hopes and aspirations.
And if we are lucky, define who we are, and who we will become.
Again the question, Who are you?
What is your fancy/poetic name as a writer?
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If you don’t have one, this is probably the best time to invent one.
You may actually change it at any time; even during, or after, this class.
But who knows, you may stick with it for 23 years, or more.
Like I did with my nom de plume, Purple Cat.
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You have a choice to simply give your fancy name.
(It is imperative that you give one to proceed with the class.
And also so that the group can help me psycho-analyze you. Haha.)
Or, you can write something to explain the choices that you make.
Write to be understood!
(Go, psycho-analyze yourself!
But observe a word limit of 3,000 words maximum.)
Post separately (so we can focus on your work, and your work alone).
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Only 45% of the class benefited from the exercise because many are stubborn and lazy.
They chose to simply explain that they already have a pseudonym from their long history of writing and publishing.
They explained how these invented names came to be.
And I just didn’t have the heart to bitch that a name spelled backwards is a stupid name to use as a pseudonym.
And how do you criticize someone for choosing Seraphim as a pen name after explaining that “seraphim” is the plural form of “seraph”.
I mean, if some people are called Bubbles, or Pebbles, or Peaches in real life, can’t a writer be allowed the fancy name Seraphim? (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
