REGARDING my online poetry workshop, I will not ask for tuition or workshop fee. But I might encourage you to pay as you are able; pay as you can.
I’ve watched plays and world class performances with that scheme—“pay as you can”.
Just thinking about it at the moment.
But why not, if you can afford it.
Send me a donation for the workshop. If you can afford it.
I mean, that will pay for coffee while I stay up reading and evaluating your work.
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But for now, don’t worry about money.
If this happens, it will be voluntary contribution.
I want you to invest on this.
I am not poor. I really do not need your money.
But you can show me love by buying my coffee.
I mean, especially if you think I’m doing a good job teaching you.
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You will write poems in your language.
But if you want me to understand and evaluate them, they better be in English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon.
My Kinaray-a is not great. But you can still join if you want.
I mean, your works will be shown to, and discussed in, the group.
I’m pretty sure there will be Karay-a speakers who can help evaluate your work if I can’t deliver a good job in the language.
But I’m pretty confident in my English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon.
I am god!
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This is a workshop.
Its greatest value is my critique and evaluation for your work.
Sometimes, I deliver my critiques in the meanest way possible.
The reason for that is I really want it to hurt.
I want you to feel pain,and not like it.
I want you to promise yourself you will do better so that you are not hurt that way again.
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Yeah, my divine insults have a great purpose.
It is meant to wake you up.
To make you want to be better. To do better next time.
If you can’t take insults from a god, this workshop is not for you.
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But you know what, getting an insult from god is a great thing.
We sometimes think god does not see or hear us.
Well, if god insults your work, what greater proof is there that god reads/sees you, and understands your work?
God probably understands your work more than you do, so god is pissed that you are not delivering the work at its best!
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On the other hand, as a great teacher, I am really wonderful in pointing out what is beautiful in a work.
I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime.
Even things that a woman ain’t supposed to see.
Yeah, I’ve been to paradise. To Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run.
I am pretty well read.
So, I generally know what I’m talking about.
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My workshop is not meant to be a mutual admiration society.
It can go there. But that is not my goal.
So, if you can’t take the bad as well as the good, goodbye. Drop me. Do not join this workshop.
Things like these can be said in this workshop: “I don’t like it at all. But I’m sure someone will appreciate it down the road. It’s not just for my taste.”
So yeah, my taste will dictate this workshop.
Make no mistake about that.
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Can you trust that I will be fair?
You bet.
I mean, I’m doing this as a public service.
Why would I try to do you a disservice?
Why would I be unjust to you? What evil things have you done to me to deserve it?
It’s just unthinkable!
Even if my current taste and state of mind does not like your writing, I will always tell you somebody would need it somewhere, somehow, someday.
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I am just saying, If you trust that my poems are great, I can lead you to such greatness, too.
Even if you think my poems are crappy, I can still lead you to greatness.
At least, my idea of what’s great poetry.
If you disagree with me totally, just drop me.
I will not take it against you.
We just have different tastes.
We are listening to different angels of inspiration, different drums.
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So, thirty poems in thirty days?
Yes.
Understand now that all your thirty will not be great.
I mean, we can pray for a miracle.
But if we be honest, you will be lucky if you can produce ten that you can be very proud of.
Nothing done under duress results to greatness.
Well, that is not true.
Some great works are done under tremendous pressure.
I just can’t name one right now. Haha!
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One poem a day. For all the thirty days of June.
That’s right. That’s the requirement.
But you can drop out if you are not up to it.
Glory only awaits the true winners.
And quitters never win.
Okay, somebody said winners never quit.
I hear that. And I tend to agree.
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When do we start?
Ah, June 2018? As in June 1st?
You start writing June 1st.
But we prepare a few days before, like May 28th, to clarify how to proceed.
You can ask questions. I will answer them.
You will learn a few things about me.
And about other participants.
You get a chance to make up your mind.
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You can change your mind.
But on June 1st, I will expect you to do exactly what I want.
Do not cheat. Do not start writing now.
I will provide the prompts.
I will post the next day challenge only the day before.
If you do not comply with the challenge, you die. (To be continued on Monday) (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
