Two
women, driven by the power of the pen, decide to write things that mean a great
deal to them. But as we look at their work closely we realize the amount of
courage that these two have in jotting down on paper what they truly believe in,
indeed the legacy that makes up not only what they are as individuals but also all
of us as Papua New Guineans.
In
their musings these two women, Emma Wakpi and Regina Dorum, remind us of the
musings of that other woman writer, the Australian Drusilla Modjeska, who says
that in order to write good literature one must have “the courage to write from
the heart – and to return to draft after draft.” That is their craft. That is
what they maintain as truly their own and in so doing make the rest of us
proud.
Storyboard
is pleased to bring to its readers parts of these women’s work. Emma Wakpi wrote about three men of influence in her
life. Only one of them, the uncle, is represented in this article.
What my uncle taught me
The most fun you will have in your life is when you take the time to
make life fun for others.
BY EMMA WAKPI
AT
A TIME WHEN THE FOCUS of the world is upon Papua New Guinea and its attitude
toward women, I have been reflecting upon the male influences in my life.
I know there are good men in PNG and
we need their support and encouragement in order to create a safer more
equitable society for both sexes. I want to introduce to you three such men who
have impacted my life - my grandfather, uncle and father.
These men influenced me in unique ways
and the lessons learned were not from longwinded lectures (although they were
prone to those too) but rather from observing how they lived their lives.
My uncle Dau was always looking for ways to make life interesting and fun
for the children in his family. He didn’t need money or sophisticated
gaming devices; his props were long bamboo sticks, an old trap made from a
mishmash of chicken wire and wood and his own self.
I recall on twilight evenings squealing with glee as he would cut bamboo
poles to our size and race around wildly with us hitting at small bats that
came out just before dusk, flying low over our huts. If we were successful in
catching any he made them seem like the best “snacks” we’d ever had.
Other times we “helped” prepare his trap and he would make a great ceremony
out of it. We would take it to a “special” place and stand some feet back
whilst he would sneak further with exaggerated caution then dramatically chant
a loud rhyme (usually thought up right there) and set it.
The fun was in preparing the trap, if he caught something we all rejoiced if
he didn’t we were disappointed but it was always the affair of the preparation
that got us all excited. And oh he could tell stories.
His stories engrossed us. Some were fables and rhymes, others he just
thought up but it had him singing, crying and gyrating in the dim smoke filled
hut grabbing our imaginations and flinging them to far of places where mythical
beings and men lived, fought and died.
Sometimes his stories were epics and would be told night by night. At such
times he could get us to do anything to ensure that the story would be
continued in the evenings.
Like my grandfather he too has left us but the simple act of bringing fun
and wonder into the lives of others is a legacy which I
cherish.
A
tribute to Papua New Guinean writers of old
BY REGINA DORUM
MOST
OF US TAKE THIS COMPUTER AGE for granted. I couldn’t help but admire those
authors from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Man, talk of using typewriters and
handwriting drafts! It must have been a pretty mega headache with more time
spent on dictionaries and libraries.
They are hardworking and committed people and we the current generation must
appreciate their work fully and truly. For such men as Vincent Eri, Sir Paulias
Matane, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Ignatius Kilage, John Kasaipwalova, Russell
Soaba and others where English is but a second language, I cannot help but
admire them.
As Papua New Guineans, we truly should be proud of them. They thought and
thought and searched and searched. The library became their home and the
dictionary their bible. The countless hours of work they did for us, their
future generations, so we could have an insight into their lives and appreciate
their work.
I always thought that writing a book is easy, just like reading
it—especially fiction. Now I will never look at it the same way again. You
simply have to appreciate every word written, its uses in descriptive writing
that captures your imagination and draw the authors view into your mind.
Most times when I read books, I just read for the story that it tells but
not with a writer’s eyes. I never really valued their evocative words
that embed the picture into my mind.
Now that I am almost in the middle of my book, I went back to re-reading my
novels— this time with a writer’s eyes— and I am overwhelmed with the play of
words and their proficiently in the turns and twist of events.
The first time I entered the Crocodile Prize, I mentioned that anyone can be
a writer, but I take back those words. Anyone can, but you have to learn and
grow each time you write.
You have to put your thinking caps on and express yourself in a way that
your readers will fully comprehend what your intentions are. Anyone can be a
writer, but then, not just anyone. It takes a lot of self-discipline and
courage and a lot of brain-wrecking moments.
When I started writing my book, I just wrote as the words came and I was
sort of full of pride—at first. But then as I wrote on, pressure built up. I
had to research to describe everything from my character’s clothes to their
houses to food to everything that we take for granted.
Man, it was hell of a job and still is. Sometimes I would stare into space
for hours just thinking and looking a bit lost, even in between conversation.
My friends thought I was on my way to Laloki Mental Institute!
I went back on re-reading my books; I found out that my first ten thousand
words were rubbish! Yes, I got the story, but hell, I was not descriptive
enough! I had to re-read, rewrite and re-read and re-write! And as I wrote on,
new characters entered and my location changed and villages had to be made into
cities and east had to be west! Directions and maps gave me the biggest
headache.
From one article I read on writer’s guidelines, there are no laws when you
write a fiction. You can write whatever you please but you cannot lie or break
your own rules either. Some things had to be true so that you capture your
reader’s attention and make them want to find out more. I had to make my
characters and their lives real and it is very frustrating.
Once I was reading a Stephen King novel and at the end, he gave insights
into being a writer. He mentioned how he had to write his drafts thirty times
to finally get it right. God help me if I will write my book thirty times! I
have not even completed the first draft!
I would like to thank the writers of the past for this inspiration and hope
that many Papua New Guineans use the opportunity we have and be like them, or
even greater. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to PNG Attitude
for giving us modern and young PNG writers inspiration and assistance. No
dream is bigger than us.
You play with words, in your minds.
So that we may comprehend
You wrote them down
So that we may recollect
You put inspiration into our hearts
So that we can be like you
You sat up sleepless hours
So that your dreams may come into life
Now you are our shining star
So we are grateful
Thank you.
Thanks to PNG Attitude for permission to reproduce parts of Regina Dorum's and Emma Wakpi's work here.
