Writing: a personal walk reinforced by coming together
11 August 2015
JOHN KAUPA KAMASUA
PEOPLE write for many reasons. For Papua New Guinean writers, especially those who have participated in the Crocodile Prize, I’m sure the first reward was seeing their work being published, read and commented upon for the first time in PNG Attitude.
Getting one’s work published in PNG Attitude and in the annual Crocodile Prize Anthology of the best PNG writing are very positive reinforcements. And the Prize contest itself is very important.
But, as you all know, writing does not stop after the award of prizes. It is a personal walk that continues for each of us for as long as we desire and for as far as it can take us. Indeed it may take us into areas where we have never dreamt possible.
I write to continue to improve my writing skills and sometimes amaze myself with what I can create.
We need to provide many other avenues and opportunities to writers apart from the annual Crocodile Prize competition.
This is where, for writers in Port Moresby, the movement for writing that a few committed people and I are driving, aims to broaden the scope of involvement for writers as well as increase incentives for their writing.
Opportunities must be provided for writers to showcase and sell their work while receiving continued assistance to improve their skills. In a nutshell, writers need to be engaged throughout the year while participating and writing for the Crocodile Prize.
Writers must also meet and congregate regularly for the positive synergies that this association creates.
We intend to accommodate these matters as part of organising writers in Port Moresby.
I am thrilled that some of the winners of 2015 Crocodile Prize are Port Moresby-based. There are many more out there who need to be brought into the picture to participate.
It all makes for a vibrant and promising group in Port Moresby.
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