The Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) held another session for its author series, with the most recent forum entitled Bagtas: Ang Pangahas sa Kuwento at Komento. The forum featured Assoc. Prof. Chuckberry Pascual, PhD, Assoc. Prof. John Jack Wigley, PhD, and Prof. Augusto Antonio A. Aguila, PhD. It was held last October 18, 2017 at the Tanghalang Teresita Quirino, Benavides Building.
Aguila said Carnival of Hate, his second book, tackled all kinds of waiting, “What makes this collection [of stories] better than the first (Heart of the Need)? After writing a book, I do not write. I read books for a year or two because it is the only way to make me a better writer or probably a better teacher.”
For Wigley, the rules of good writing are still applied in all genres especially in humor, which is an important element to his book Lait (Pa More) Chronicles. “Show, don’t tell,” he said as he gave tips in writing humor. “Una, huwag mong sabihin sa mambabasa na magkukwento ka ng nakakatawa […] Pangalawa, gawing malaking joke ang sarili […] Pangatlo, maging spesipiko. Ang panlalahat o generalization ay nakakatawa na pero mas nakakaangat kung ito ay mas spesikpiko.” Moreover, he urged the writers to explore various genres and avoid limiting one’s self with what “should” and “should not” to be written.
When writing in the genre of mystery, as a general rule, Pascual underscored: “Dapat masosolve siya. Dapat laging may resolution.” Pascual also highlighted that gay characters can be protagonists, as evidenced in his fiction: “Bakit laging mga heterosexual ang bida?”
Ang Nawawala started as a One-Act Play then developed as a collection of short stories.
The CCWLS Author Series has featured both Thomasian professors and guest lecturers. It aims to provide a venue for the writers to help guide would-be writers, particularly students, in honing their craft. Among the writers featured are Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard and Eugene Gloria.
