Photo (c) Designed by Words Writers' Workshop, 2012. Quoted lines from "Seven Bowls of Tea" by Lu Tong translated by Christopher Nelson, cited in www.sevencups.com

In honor of Chinese New Year, let’s savor the flavors of these two tea-related poems from the Tang and the Song dynasties. According to Cha Dao, a journal of tea and tea culture, tea and poetry are intricately connected in Chinese culture.

We love how soothing it is to prepare and drink tea, even more when translated as a poem. The first one is a popular excerpt from a longer poem written by the hermit and poet, Lu Tong, in gratitude for a gift of purple bamboo shoot tea given to him by Meng Jian Yi a local official during the Tang dynasty. Most of Lu Tong’s poetry celebrated the tea and tea ceremony.

Here is the “Seven Bowls of Tea” (translated by the poet Christopher Nelson, author of Blue House):

The first cup kisses away my thirst,
and my loneliness is quelled by the second.
The third gives insight worthy of ancient scrolls,
and the fourth exiles my troubles.
My body becomes lighter with the fifth,
and the sixth sends word from immortals.
But the seventh—oh the seventh cup—
if I drink you, a wind will hurry my wings
toward the sacred island.

Source: Seven Cups Fine Chinese Teas which cited the translated poem and Lu Tong’s story; Wikipedia for additional bio of Lu Tong.

The second poem was written by Zhu Xi, a Chinese philosopher from the Lixue school of thought (Neo-Confucianism). According to LaoChaGui*,  Zhu Xi’s poems centered on the tea and tea gardens of Wuyi Mountains (inscribed in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1999) in the Nanping prefecture.

Here is the “Tea Stove” by Zhu Xi:

Stone stove left behind by immortals,
Lies crooked in the center of the stream.

Tea finished, two boats drift on abreast,
Tea smoke; wafting delicate fragrance.*

*Source: “A Song-Dynasty Tea Poem: Zhu Xi’s “Tea Stove,” an article written by LaoChaGui (a professor of American Culture at Wenzhou University, southern Zhejiang) and posted on the Cha Dao Journal on April 15, 2009. Read more here.

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If you thirst for more poetry that soothes the soul, join us on March 24, 2012 for “Verses to Nourish the Soul: A Poetry Appreciation Class.” For more details, please click here.

1 The Q&A
With yourself as the subject, come up with five to ten questions on a particular subject then answer them as if you were being interviewed. It’s a fun way to put your thoughts down in writing and record how you feel and think about topics relevant to your life.

It can be in the realm of writing itself—books, literature, creative process, writing goals, favorite authors, etc.—or more personal as goals, love life, places to visit and why, etc. Imagine yourself as an interviewer and develop interesting questions and have fun (or be serious) writing your answers. You can reply in as little as one to three sentences or as long as you like (if you have time).

TIP: You can do this also when you’re developing character sketches for your novel or short story and you want to find out what motivates them, what they’re thinking, etc.

2 Wikipedia Plot
We use Wikipedia to look things up, especially when we’re pressed for time. This informative site is written by the public, for the public. Everything’s almost there (although our teachers and editors would prefer us to use other sources for our assignments).

For most of us, it serves as a jump-off point to deeper research because Wikipedia entries provide a general background (some with online citations or references!) and a bird’s eye view about a particular subject.

For this exercise, consider the entries for movies and TV shows, which contain comprehensive plots and character low-downs. Why not create your own little Wikipedia entry for your story, especially if you’re having trouble with the plot or with where your story is heading. Summarize what will happen in your story the way Wikipedia writes it—action-packed, informative, comprehensive but general, easy to read.

You can spend as a little over 30 minutes condensing things encyclopedia-style or hours plotting your story with the format of this site as your parameter or framework. Then when you feel you’re back on track and your story is beginning to shape, write your story down.

But just like the warnings by our teachers, your little Wikipedia writing exercise is not a substitute for actual hard work. Use it only when you want to explore your story and find out before hand where you want to take it.

And then find the time to really write.

Guardipedia screencap

The Guardian Newspaper had an interesting, back-to-basics alternative to the Wednesday blackout of Wikipedia—that all-mighty repository of interlinked, comprehensive, public-written and free information. [The blackout was in protest of the impending, highly probable passage of the U.S. anti-piracy laws.]

They offered to answer readers’ questions with the help of a 1989 set of Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Of course everyone was aware of the limitations of the Jurassic set of doorstoppers, but “Guardipedia” editor Patrick Kingsley tried his very best to answer the questions, from who is Maria Moliner to how turtles breathe underwater. He had to thumb through the index and find the right volume to be able to get to the facts.

It may be tedious to be thumbing through books to look for information nowadays but boy, did it remind me of the fun I had way back in college when databases, electronic journals, Google and good old Wikipedia were in their early stages (if they even existed at all). We had to rely on books alone, manually cross-referencing, actually using the indexes printed at the back pages, checking and counterchecking and citing the right sources with the right formats. We pay visits to the library instead of clicking online. It was also free.

The work was slow and tedious, but it gave me time to really think about the subject I was writing about (mostly research papers about Philippine arts and culture). I would copy passages down on my notebook (!) instead of copy-pasting information straight to the word processor. I loved the joy of hunting for information like a crime scene investigator or a museum researcher.

The only difference back then was that I had to go through musty old books and files, thick tomes, and the good old CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art (before it had a CD version, which in circa 2012 would again seem outdated—my sister’s laptop no longer has a CD-DVD player, for crying out loud!).

It was an adventure to locate information that way, especially for my nerdy seventeen year old self. When I find related books and articles, I was in heaven. Heck I even knew how to use the card catalog long before it was fashionable to type titles and topics on an online public access catalog. And most of all, I knew how to really use a library. Throw me right in (even the National Library in Kalaw, where I am a proud card-holder, sort of) and I will find my way back, with information you’re looking for.

All the “investigative” techniques and research skills I honed during those years I still use today when I write my feature articles. Most of the time I prefer citing books written by reputable sources, using Wikipedia only as a jump-off point and as a guide (like an informant bearing leads or tips).

Everything was enhanced when I discovered the power of databases (we were building a prototype where I tried to link sources and tidbits of related data to each other). When Wikipedia finally came into the picture in 2005, searching about information became a lot easier.

For writers and researchers who use it as an initial portal, it possessed speed, accessibility, relevance and readability that an ordinary book, even a printed encyclopedia, can only dream of having. (But then again, there’s the e-book which is a different animal altogether).

Do I miss Wikipedia as I write this post? Maybe.  And it’s disconcerting to be looking at sites where the words are blocked out (even WordPress’ Freshly Pressed), in support of the awareness campaign about the anti-piracy laws. Imagine if that would happen permanently, unlike the 24-hour blackout of Wikipedia.

Amidst the important debate on censorship and copyright [In protecting the rightful owners of content, online, we inadvertently step on so many interlocked boundaries and connections that the internet has created in its wake.], let us for a moment remember how life was like when the library was actually useful if one was writing a research paper and how fun it was to dig and do the digesting of information ourselves.

In this “Writing for Busy People” series produced by Designed by Words Writers’ Workshop, we’ll show you how you can incorporate writing even if you’re deluged with a dozen different deadlines and demands from your work, family and personal life.

This is not writing for busy people, but it’s for you writing even when you’re busy.  Of course it will not produce a masterpiece but it will get you writing, even in little bits and pieces or in 10 minutes a day. These tips are meant to jumpstart your creativity so you make the time to keep the pen moving and your words planted on the page.

These are writing exercise/practice pieces, data gathering and idea generation ideas that will hopefully rescue you from making excuses about not having the time to write. Try to integrate writing into your daily life even if you’re not a full time writer, or just want to infuse your life with a little bit of creativity.

Be realistic about your goals—keep them simple, achievable and manageable.

1 One Sentence A Day
Open your notebook or planner and condense everything that happened to you in just one long sentence. The format could be: [“I started in the morning, did this in the afternoon and ended in the evening.]

For example: I was late today because the MRT broke down then my boss gave the best project in the house to the least efficient person on my team, but when I got home later, mama prepared my favorite pancit molo and handed me an envelope with my grad school application acceptance letter.

Tip: Later on, you can turn this into an idea notebook for a story, how-to article or inspirational essay. Writers “gather” snippets about daily life and use them as material for their pieces. That’s the main goal of this exercise, aside from documenting your life (like a short version of a journal) one day at a time.

2 Today’s Top Three of Anything
Lists help in making sure we don’t forget anything. It’s selective too, so when you want to write about specific things, you can choose only those things that matter. In our case, it’s today’s top three of anything. List them down in your notebook and expound on them a little bit more. Don’t forget to include a catchy or informative title to help you remember what the list is all about. One day of ‘writing’: done!

3 For New Mom Writers
Write a few sentences about one funny or interesting thing that your baby or toddler did today. In a year, you’ll have 365 nice things to remember about your child. Keep at it for the next sixteen years or so and you’ll have a special gift when your child enters into adulthood.

More tips to follow soon! Let us know what you think on the comments below.

[Read part two here.]

On the importance of writing and readership, he says:

“What is important for me as writer is the actual work: sitting on the chair, typing away, producing something. You can attend workshops, readings and all those things but the ultimately work should still be the writing—and the reading, of course, which is crucial to the creative process.

I have given up on trying to reach for an audience. People who love, or at least have a temperament for, poetry will find ways to gravitate towards it, as other people would to ikebana or homeopathy. It’s this audience that I primarily seek, but only after the fact of the book as already published.

If ever people should encounter poetry, it should be in classrooms that feature, one hopes, the climate of information-gathering, learning and knowledge appreciation. I don’t think that anyone is born allergic to the art form. It is important, however, that we have teachers who are equipped to teach poetry to students and not destroy their potential enthusiasm for it. To be honest, I’ve seen people who live decent, respectable lives without poetry. But why stop at decent if, by reading a poem, you can spiritualize your life in a way that no religion could.“

Read more of the interview here.

Would you love poetry more if you knew how to read it? Learn more on March 24, 2012 when we hold “Verses to Nourish the Soul: A Poetry Appreciation Class” to be led by Mr. Daoana. High school literature teachers very much welcome.  To register and for more details, please read more here.

We recently joined Read Philippines, a community created for and by Filipino readers. You can join the forum at http://www.ReadPhilippines.com and discuss your favorite books, find out tips on book sales and book launches, showcase your book collection (and shelf!), with other kindred readers.

Reading poetry can be one of the most inspiring activities, if only more people knew how. Designed by Words Writers’ Workshop, in cooperation with Sugarleaf and MEDICard Lifestyle Center, will hold Verses to Nourish the Soul: A Poetry Appreciation Class on March 24, 2012, Saturday, 2-5pm, at the MEDICard Lifestyle Center.

The poetry appreciation class aims to demystify the elements of poetry so the reader can focus on taking inspiration from the poems. Poet Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, author of three collections, including Clairvoyance recently published by the UST Publishing House and The Fashionista’s Book of Enlightenment, a finalist at the National Book Awards, will lead the class in this enlightening afternoon of readings, discussions and a fun writing exercise even non-writers will enjoy.

Selected poems on creative inspiration as well as poems from Mr. Daoana’s books will be read, discussed and enjoyed. Class is open to lovers of literature and people looking into learning how to appreciate poetry beyond the textbooks. To complement the nourishing aspect of the class, Sugarleaf Makati will serve healthy merienda and share how foods at Sugarleaf nourish the body.

Registration fee is only Php800. Pre-registration is required. Download the form here and email to dbw.workshops@gmail.com by March 20, 2012. Payments may be done through cash or credit card at Sugarleaf Makati (please bring completed registration form) or through bank deposit. For more details, email dbw.workshops@gmail.com or visit www.designedbywords.com.

Sugarleaf Makati is located at the G&2F of the MEDICard Lifestyle Center at 51 Paseo de Roxas corner Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

Be this butterfly and make your writing fly!

This is the year you shelve “frustrated writer” out of your vocabulary.

It’s time to finish the vignettes and story sketches you started and turn it into an essay or short story. Complete the lines and make your verses into a poem.

Take out that story filed inside a desk drawer or a notebook. You might have created that something in a fit of creativity or as a response to what you have read or felt.

Perhaps today is the day you really write it in its full glory with the same focus as someone learning the piano or the guitar beyond the simple chords and actually learning to play a real song.

Don’t be half-hearted or dispassionate about it. Don’t look at it as something occasional and always filled with frustrations and excuses. Take your writing seriously and not just a hobby.

If you want to write better or get published, finish something and send it out. Revise, rewrite, re-envision. If you’re not happy with it, rip it out and start over. Polish it till it gleams. Show it to a trusted writing teacher and listen to what he/she says.

Then send it out into the world—a magazine, blog, the Palanca awards, anything that will get your work out there. Take your writing seriously. If you feel you have it in you, release it and write. Steal time to do it if you must.

Make it real.

Photo credit: La Moderna Bakery of Pampanga

Another kind of press release is like the holidays—it’s seasonal and relevant only for a period of time.

When you have special products slated for the holidays, for example, it’s best to write a seasonal story. Whether it’s fruitcake, special ensaymada, vegetarian or fish dishes, or heart-shaped cakes, a story that anchors itself to a given occasion makes your potential customers be aware of the products they could buy for the season.

The press release should include what makes your product special and perfect for the season. It could be:

• the story of how you created your product (especially if it’s heirloom, artisanal, or regional),
• a suggestion to your customer’s family menu
• special ingredients and techniques used
• historical relevance (like a price rollback perhaps) and/or tidbits
• or a whole new way to celebrate the occasion featuring your food product.

The upcoming season of hearts, graduations, mother and father’s day school openings and more are reasons enough to write a seasonal press release.

Learn how to write the seasonal press release. Join our “From Plate to Page: PR Writing for Food Business Owners” on February 11, 2012, 1:30-5:30 pm at Sugarleaf-Makati/MEDICard Lifestyle Center in Makati City. Read our own news release about the class here.

Writing a press release and getting it published helps generate interest in your food business—be it a new product, a new chef or a new packaging.

The press release becomes a gateway to information about your business and product. If you write it well (meaning, your news release is relevant to a newspaper or blog’s readers), then the bigger your chances of having an editor or blogger interested enough to publish your piece.

Later on, you’ll have a bunch of media mentions you can post on your social networking sites, earn you some new customers along the way, and add prestige to your brand. Here are some examples of the kinds of press or news releases you can submit to the media:

The personality profile – a short feature about the owner, chef, cook, baker, cake designer, and any other expert or specialist belonging to your food business. The story can just be an announcement of new appointees or retirements or a full-length interview/feature that’s angled towards the specialization and background of the personality. If he/she gained an award in behalf of the business, that’s another story too! This is a good news release for restaurants, artisanal food producers, and the like.

The new product or promo release ¬– if you have a new product line, new flavors, new shipment of limited edition goodies, or discounts and promos, you can write a news release about it. The length depends on your purpose:

• If you want a short announcement – one or two paragraphs are enough; you can also write an extended picture caption story, which accompanies the photograph of your new product. The caption describes what’s new, what’s great about your product, and where can people buy it.
• If you want to explain further, especially for promos and contests – it can be one page full with the mechanics clearly laid out. 
• If you want a full length, feature-type story – write it like a feature article, complete with an angle or focus plus quotes from you (the owner), or anyone from your food business.

The background story/history – this kind of release focuses on the story of how your business started, especially if it’s interesting and unique (like your bakery or ice cream recipe had been passed on through generations in your family, etc.).

To learn more about how to write an effective press release and deal with media interest in your food business, join our “From Plate to Page: PR Writing for Food Business Owners” on February 11, 2012, 1:30-5:30 pm at Sugarleaf-Makati/MEDICard Lifestyle Center in Makati City. Read our own news release about the class here.