Writing that makes a difference: an author doing his own thing
JORDAN DEAN
That’s when I started writing about my experiences, reflections, perspectives, feelings, emotions, dreams, aspirations and everyday issues: issues capable of depriving us of our freedom.
As a student at that time, I saw writing in English as presenting the kind of empowered voice of resistance that literature had offered throughout the post-colonial world.
Jordan Dean has not only been quietly writing short stories and poems and publishing them using CreateSpace for a while now, he has also been helping other authors do the same thing. So far Jordan has published a collection of short stories and two collections of poetry. A fourth book is nearly complete. His independent approach is inspiring and we hope other Papua New Guinean writers will follow in his footsteps – PF
I’VE BEEN writing poetry and short stories for over a decade now. After completing my primary and secondary education in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, in 2003 I was selected to study Bachelor in Arts, majoring in literature at the University of Papua New Guinea.
My lecturers were the Papua New Guinean literary legends, Professor Steven Winduo, Russell Soaba and Dr Regis Stella.That’s when I started writing about my experiences, reflections, perspectives, feelings, emotions, dreams, aspirations and everyday issues: issues capable of depriving us of our freedom.
As a student at that time, I saw writing in English as presenting the kind of empowered voice of resistance that literature had offered throughout the post-colonial world.
Writing was a significant medium for empowering Papua New Guineans to reassert and validate their identity. It was also a powerful weapon in resisting and challenging colonialism and exposing the biases of imperial discourse.
Writers reflect what their society is thinking. Without writers and writing, a country lacks soul. Writers are important people. They see the world differently and have an obligation to write about it.
It was unfortunate that I flunked the course in my second year, 2004, and had to take up accounting and management. But I still write as a hobby.
I’ve recently self-published three books through CreateSpace, which provides a print-on-demand service: the book is only printed when someone orders it.
This is quite convenient; when you order one of my books on Amazon, it doesn’t yet exist but a copy is printed within a few hours and shipped to you immediately.
I’ve just signed an agreement with the University of Papua New Guinea Press to republish my three books, ‘Tattooed Face: A collection of Poems’ (2016), ‘Follow the Rainbow: Selected Poems’ (2016) and ‘Stranger in Paradise and other Short Stories’ (2016).
My fourth book, ‘Silent Thoughts: A collection of Poems’, is almost complete and will be published soon.
I believe that we aren’t hapless creations put on the earth just to eat, talk, work and die.
I feel we were put here for a purpose, to make things better. We are here to change the world and leave it a better place than we found it. I want to contribute something to this nation and world that goes far beyond me. I hope my writing does make that difference.
I want to write as an authentic voice about life in contemporary Papua New Guinea; our experiences, struggles, fears, dreams and successes. Writers can provide a diverse and ambitious voice in our exploration and social observations of the multifaceted nature of modernity.
My poems and stories are based on real life experiences and show our incredible spirit of resilience and the voices of hope that have emerged from corruption, moral breakdown, inequality, injustice, poverty and struggle.
It is my sincere hope that my writing gives people some insight and perspective of our world. May our voices be heard!
Source: http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2016/11/writing-that-makes-a-difference-a-writer-doing-his-own-thing.html
Writers reflect what their society is thinking. Without writers and writing, a country lacks soul. Writers are important people. They see the world differently and have an obligation to write about it.
It was unfortunate that I flunked the course in my second year, 2004, and had to take up accounting and management. But I still write as a hobby.
I’ve recently self-published three books through CreateSpace, which provides a print-on-demand service: the book is only printed when someone orders it.
This is quite convenient; when you order one of my books on Amazon, it doesn’t yet exist but a copy is printed within a few hours and shipped to you immediately.
I’ve just signed an agreement with the University of Papua New Guinea Press to republish my three books, ‘Tattooed Face: A collection of Poems’ (2016), ‘Follow the Rainbow: Selected Poems’ (2016) and ‘Stranger in Paradise and other Short Stories’ (2016).
My fourth book, ‘Silent Thoughts: A collection of Poems’, is almost complete and will be published soon.
I believe that we aren’t hapless creations put on the earth just to eat, talk, work and die.
I feel we were put here for a purpose, to make things better. We are here to change the world and leave it a better place than we found it. I want to contribute something to this nation and world that goes far beyond me. I hope my writing does make that difference.
I want to write as an authentic voice about life in contemporary Papua New Guinea; our experiences, struggles, fears, dreams and successes. Writers can provide a diverse and ambitious voice in our exploration and social observations of the multifaceted nature of modernity.
My poems and stories are based on real life experiences and show our incredible spirit of resilience and the voices of hope that have emerged from corruption, moral breakdown, inequality, injustice, poverty and struggle.
It is my sincere hope that my writing gives people some insight and perspective of our world. May our voices be heard!
Source: http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2016/11/writing-that-makes-a-difference-a-writer-doing-his-own-thing.html
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