Extra Special BitterApr 9

@NaraMoore @MarkBrigham @stevendbrewer @asakiyume

One attraction of the collaborative poem (renga, renku, etc.) is that it can be as methodical or as lose as the participants decide it should be. When the MWRA had its monthly meeting, we had a sheet listing the 24 links, starting with the hokku (always written by the host - preferably in advance), ending with the dageku and split into 4 groups of 6 links, representing the four seasons. We concentrated not only on linking the subject matter, but also shifting the focus ever so slightly so as to continue our walk through the seasons.

In the digital era, I've noted that it's difficult to sustain engagement for 24 links. Newer forms such as the "rengay," composed of 6 links of 3-2-3-3-2-3 lines for 2 people, or 3-2-3-2-3-2 for 3 people, might be more manageable. Thoughts?

https://haikupedia.org/article-haikupedia/rengay/

Show threadAsakiyume

@extraspecialbitter @NaraMoore @MarkBrigham @stevendbrewer

Conceptually, I like the idea! Right now I'm too scattered to read the rengay article, but I've participated in renga before (and read them in Japanese), so I understand general principles.

If everyone who wants to participate agrees in advance, so that all participants are known, and then we have a set order, then each person could just add their ku as a reply to the preceding one.

Apr 9 at 2:09pmWeb
Show threadMarkApr 9

@extraspecialbitter @asakiyume @stevendbrewer @NaraMoore

As for formalizing a renga/renku collaboration—I feel it would be more fulfilling, inspiring, & collaborative if it could be done live and in person. But lacking that, I’m open to collaboration on the Masto, informally and possibly in a more structured format.

Y’all are more experienced at this than I am.

Show threadNaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at FediApr 9

@MarkBrigham @extraspecialbitter @asakiyume @stevendbrewer

I am up for any of it.

I skimmed the article. Some of it went over my head, but it sounded alright.

No need to stop the spontaneous renku if we did it.

If we did it, I suggest passing the organizing between a set number of people so it doesn't get to be too much. They could set any rules, such as prior theme vs. spontaneous theme.

Show threadSteven D. Brewer 🏳️‍⚧️Apr 9
@MarkBrigham @extraspecialbitter @asakiyume @NaraMoore Live, in-person, and liberally lubricated with alcohol (at least in my case. :-)
Show threadExtra Special BitterApr 9

@stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume @NaraMoore

The first meeting of the MWRA was accompanied by homebrew IPA. Subsequent meetings routinely featured craft beer and good food.

Show threadNaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at FediApr 9

@extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

Food is good. I don't drink, so too much alcohol indulged in by others can be a problem.

Show threadExtra Special BitterApr 10

@NaraMoore @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

Given our geographical distribution, an in-person meeting seems impractical, and given tools like Zoom, unnecessary. We could set up a Zoom renku meeting apart from the seasonal meetings, and do it over coffee or tea instead of alcohol. No one should feel slighted or excluded over something that should be, above all, fun!

We could agree on partipants, timing, intervals between meetings, themes and formats ahead of time - on Mastodon - so that our Zoom time could be focused on writing and collaboration.

If we could meet in person at some point, even better!

Show threadNaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at FediApr 10

@extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

I liked the idea. I hadn't even considered online face-to-face.

Show threadExtra Special BitterApr 10

@NaraMoore @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

Even though I lived about 25 miles from my workplace campus, I had no office after March 2020 until I retired in December and therefore worked entirely from home. My team was distributed - some in remote offices and others on research vessels. The common denominator was the use of technology to communicate. Now imagine doing this for fun. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Show threadMarkApr 13

@NaraMoore @extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @asakiyume

For me, live has a couple draws.

1. Placing collaborators in a single scene. Especially if the M.O. is to observe, immerse, reflect & write, inspired by that scene. Inferences are inspired by the here & now, not expectations of how the scene will change temporally.

2. Community. Getting to know collaborators a bit more may enhance enjoyment & the outcome.

My $0.02

Show threadNaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at FediApr 13

@MarkBrigham @extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @asakiyume

I am open for it any day but Wed. or Fri.

Not going to organize this one, though.

Show threadExtra Special BitterApr 13

@NaraMoore @MarkBrigham @stevendbrewer @asakiyume

I feel that we can preserve a spirit of playfulness with our rengay exercise without making it into a writing assignment. Someone would start things off - or spot a haiku that could serve as a pivot for a second link. I'm ambivalent about titles, but in journals I've seen rengay and longer renku employ the first line as a title.

Should we wish to get serious about our efforts at some point, someone would oversee the links, determining if one doesn't fit - or too closely duplicates a previous link - but I've seen that backfire and stifle spontaneity.

In short, I'm happy to see this evolve organically and plan to enjoy the ride.

Show threadMarkApr 13

@stevendbrewer @asakiyume @extraspecialbitter @NaraMoore

That sounds good. I’ll leave it to the hokku author to provide a title, or not. I’m ambivalent as well.

For “live,” I’ll probably seek or create a local, in-person session.

Zoom would be fine & I’d join one. But there are some things that would benefit from in-person, live, à la en plein air. Especially for nature-inspired verse anchored in the moment.

Show threadMarkApr 10

@stevendbrewer @extraspecialbitter @asakiyume @NaraMoore

Agree. The live, in-person experience is an end member; an ideal.

I’m open to options: simple & crude & as people can respond on the Masto; & organized live video chat.

I may participate in either or both. A coalition of the willing.

I’ll dip my toes first, maybe host a virtual meeting later.

#LinkedVerse #renga #renku #RengaThis #hokku