MULTI-hyphenate artist Ronelo S. Ladiao interviewed me once again for his blog.
Of course, I said yes. Because he blogs, and I don’t.
But the interview was about my Peter’s Prize Short Story contest, so I said, why not publish the interview so that newspaper readers who don’t access his blog can be enticed to join?
That’s the only reason why I’m sharing this interview. Thank you, Ronelo, for the questions.
*
RSL: Tell us about the vision of Peter Solis Nery for the 2020 Peter’s Prize Short Short Writing Contest.
PSN: Well, this is the first time we are running a contest for short story that requires a minimum of 5,000 and a maximum of 7,500 words. In our previous story writing contests, our requirement was only around 500 words, which is of course, the definition of flash fiction. I always veered away from the traditional short story of 5,000 words and above because I thought that we got the Palanca Awards Hiligaynon Short Story category for that. I didn’t want to compete directly with the Palanca. But people were insistent, they told me, they didn’t want to join the Palanca, or they weren’t ready for it. But they’ll gladly enter in the Peter’s Prize contest if I open the category in traditional short story. And so I announced last March that the category will be opened in May. Then, maybe by destiny, the Palanca cancelled their contest this year, and announced it in April. So, the Peter’s Prize is the only prestigious short story contest this year. Haha. That’s so funny, but true.
*
RSL: Tell us how to join the PSN short story writing, and what are the important things participants need to remember?
PSN: I released the contest rules and guidelines in social media around March 15, and shortly after in the newspaper Panay News. The deadline is May 31. I might extend, but maybe not. It all depends on the number and quality of submission by May 25. We started accepting entries last May 1. It is only online submission so they need to send it to our email: 500tinaga@gmail.com before the deadline. The theme is open, so you can write on any topic you want, the language is Hiligaynon, and the word requirement is 5,000 to 7,500 words. Yes, I count the words.
*
RSL: Seriously, what are you looking for in a great and compelling short story for it to win?
PSN: Unfortunately, I’m not a judge in my contests. Haha. But as a first reader, I always look for signs that the writer knows what s/he is doing. I call that masterful authorial control. As a creative writing textbook writer and teacher/workshop director, I look at the usual elements of character, setting, plot, conflict, theme, POV, et cetera. So, a unique character really grabs my attention. Or if the writer exploits the setting, and maybe use local color. It is sad that the setting is often neglected in stories. As for plot, of course, I’m always up for something that subverts expectations. I think that my own stories are interesting because I always write “the different” or alternative endings that readers don’t expect. I can write about Adam and Eve, but I’ll have the snake choke on the apple.
*
RSL: If you can share with us the most important tips on how to write winning short stories from your experience, what would they be?
PSN: Personally, I’ve seen all sorts of plots. And I really believe that there are only seven or nine plots that are used over again and again. Cinderella (rags to riches), Romeo and Juliet (love against all odds), The Ugly Duckling (hidden beauty, late bloomers), Beauty and the Beast (love and attraction for monsters, haha), The Prodigal Son (lost and found, return counter). So, my most important tip would be the creation of a totally new, original, unique, memorable literary character that no one has ever seen, or read about, before. If you look at my list of plots a few sentences back, you’ll notice they’re names of characters—unforgettable, and archetypal, characters! From my own canon of literary works, you can count Lirio the Mute, Donato the Hunchback, Candido (who believed in talismans), Padre Olan (who asked for rain), Paolo seminarian (who heard God), Rafael del Valle (who investigated aliens in a mental hospital), and Jovita Fuentes (the lovelorn diva). These are Palanca winners so I rest my case here on that note of winning stories.
*
RSL: Are you planning to compile or release a collection of these short stories in the near future?
PSN: That’s always the plan even if The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc., which is the sponsor of the Peter’s Prize contest, has no money. But I’m not going to publish a thin booklet. So, if there are enough submitted works that could fill a respectable volume, why not? I always support new writings in Hiligaynon. That’s why I’m in this business of encouraging people to write stories, poems, and everything else. My foundation has produced a few books from materials sent to the contest already. (To be continued) (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
