Writing Workshop Yogyakarta 2024
Writing workshop specifically designed as a reward and appreciation for VDMI grantees and alumni who consistently submit articles usable for VDMI Newsletter and Magazine. It also encourages them to write and read, emphasizing that “writing” is essential even in today’s digital era. Moreover, by participating in this program, they will have opportunities to broaden their mindset and expand their network. As the commitment, VDMI held the workshop by addressing the theme “Cultural Heritage and Urban Environment: Issues, Experience, and Implication,” the participants of the writing workshop are expected to maximize their abilities in “Sensory Observation.” on February 20 – 22, 2024. This workshop was facilitated by Dr. Zaki Habibi (Author and Lecture of Indonesian Islam University Yogyakarta)
In this era of digitalization with advancing technology, “writing” remains crucial. Writing skills are necessary for collecting ideas and enhancing intellectual capabilities. A proficient writer can create a good start, beginning with morning reading. Establishing a habit of writing and morning reading can open up the new insights and immerse oneself in the stories within a book. An article will be successful when it has the ability to engage readers, prompting them to read it in its entirety. To produce successful writing, writers must possess a sensory observation. The human senses include smell, sight/vision, sound, taste, and touch. It can be beneficial for writers to train the right brain, balancing it with the capabilities of the left brain. Furthermore, facilitator informed by strolling around and exploring the surroundings, sharpening our sensory sensitivity. The process of feeling the details in sensory experiences, especially the sense of smell, can inspire the creation of small notes when ideas arise. So, they can create the habit of “writing as becoming” when they are ready to complete their writing. Afterward, participants were asked to stroll around the workshop venue. They had to identify objects based on their sense of smell. This sensory experience could serve as inspiration for writing a short paragraph during free writing. In this session, participants had a chance to read their writing, and the facilitator provided feedback to all participants regarding the sensory observations they had experienced.
On the 2nd day, participants had a chance to apply an Urban walking methodology by exploring the Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks, as a main topic of writing articles, heritage. They visited four different places: Tugu Golong Gilig, Malioboro street, Titik Nol/Vredeburg Fortress, and Alun Alun Utara to gather ideas through reflection while walking to complete the assignment. After collecting ideas from “Sumbu Filosofi Yogyakarta,” participants returned to the venue to write their articles and did a desk research. These articles will be discussed the next day.
On the last day, participants discussed their articles. Each participant had a chance to tell their story and share their ideas, reflecting on the articles they wrote. The facilitator reviewed the titles, emphasized the focused content of the articles, and provided writing guidance. The writer must be able to captivate their ideas in writing to engage readers. The facilitator reminded participants that the title is a promise from the writer to the readers. In particular, the title of the article must be fascinating and use familiar language. The main key to writing is building the story world and determining the focus of the article. When we write an essay, we are simply presenting the exposure of a single main idea. On the contrary, narrative is about the way of expressing oneself through writing.
