Are you an aspiring author?
Seasoned writers will tell you that the best way to hone your craft is to read a lot and practice writing whenever possible. There is no substitute for those two steps. However, there are other ways to improve your craft. One of those is to join a writers’ workshop.
Why Writers’ Workshops Are Important
There are plenty of reasons why writers should join workshops. First, it gives them a chance to receive constructive criticism from peers and instructors, which helps them see their work from different perspectives. This feedback is crucial for identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
Workshops offer focused sessions on various aspects of writing, such as plot development, character building, dialogue, and style. Writers can hone specific skills through targeted exercises. While writing can be solitary, workshops provide a sense of community. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals offers emotional support, motivation, and encouragement.
It is also a great opportunity to build networks. The writing community in the Philippines is quite small and the opportunities are few and in between, at least compared to other countries. By building a network of writers, you are opening up doors of opportunity.
You can also get feedback on your writing from other writers after the workshop. Even when the workshop is over you can still get feedback for your writing from the writers that you have met there. That’s why it’s important to build personal connections during the workshop.
Writers Workshops in the Philippines
There are plenty of writing workshops in the Philippines that you can try. Some workshops are regional, meaning you have to live, study, or work in a specific area to qualify. One example is the Valenzuela Writers Workshop, which caters to writers who live, work, or study in the city. However, others do not have that sort of restriction.
Here are some of the writing workshops that you can apply for:
Silliman University National Writers Workshop
The Silliman University National Writers Workshop is the longest-running writing workshop in Asia. It is one of the most prestigious workshops in the country, founded by Edilberto Tiempo and National Artist for Literature Edith Tiempo. The workshop is mainly for writers in the English language. In recent years, the workshop has opened its doors to writers from other countries in the region.
UP National Writers Workshop
Organized by the UP Institute of Creative Writing, the UP National Writers Workshop is aimed at writers in mid-career. Participants are required to have won national awards or have published their works to qualify. Fellows of other workshops run by the UP Institute of Creative Writing can also participate in the workshop. Some of the country’s most prominent writers join the workshop as panelists.
UST National Writers’ Workshop
Organized by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, the UST National Writers’ Workshop is also one of the more prestigious literary workshops in the country. Since 2024, the workshop has been replaced by the UST Writing Fellowship. The fellowship is for more advanced writers since one of the requirements is having been published.
Ateneo National Writers Workshop
Organized by the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices, the Ateneo National Writers Workshop explores different possibilities in writing. For the 21st iteration of the workshop, they focused on romance writing.
Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA)
Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) is the oldest organization of poets in the Philippines. Founded by the National Artist for Literature, Virgilio Almario, LIRA runs an annual poetry workshop that spans several months. The workshop is for poets who write in Filipino.
These are just five of the national literary workshops in the Philippines. There are more which are open to writers from all over the country.
