Extra Special Bitter22h ago

@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 threadAsakiyume20h ago

@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.

Show threadMark17h ago

@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 threadSteven D. Brewer 🏳️‍⚧️16h ago
@MarkBrigham @extraspecialbitter @asakiyume @NaraMoore Live, in-person, and liberally lubricated with alcohol (at least in my case. :-)
Show threadExtra Special Bitter12h ago

@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 Fedi

@extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

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

11:39pmWeb
Show threadExtra Special Bitter9h ago

@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 Fedi9h ago

@extraspecialbitter @stevendbrewer @MarkBrigham @asakiyume

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

Show threadExtra Special Bitter9h ago

@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 threadMark7h ago

@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