Literary Residency Program: Bringing Stories to Life
[Reporter: Shin Hye-sun]
The 'Literary Residency Program' turns the daily lives of residents into stories.
On a Saturday morning in August, amidst a heatwave, people gathered at the Gyeonggi Provincial Library's book workshop, engaging in discussions and writing while forgetting the sweltering heat. What brought these book lovers together? They came to participate in the 'Literary Residency Program' run by the Gyeonggi Provincial Library, which offers various programs until November that allow residents to read, write, and connect with literature closely through resident authors.
What if an author stayed at the library?
The term 'Literary Resident Author' may sound unfamiliar. A Literary Resident Author is a writer who stays at literary facilities such as libraries or literary museums for a certain period, engaging in their creative activities while also conducting literary programs for the public. This role connects writers with readers more closely.
The literary residency support program, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, aims to support the creative activities of writers while helping local residents enjoy literature through reading, writing, workshops, and book talks.
This year, Gyeonggi Province is hosting Literary Resident Authors at 17 libraries and literary museums. Among them, the Gyeonggi Provincial Library, the representative library of Gyeonggi Province, is actively running its Literary Residency Program. The library aims to activate the creative activities of residents through literature and create a literary ecosystem where individual memories and stories become part of the region's literary heritage.
This year's Literary Resident Author at the Gyeonggi Provincial Library is novelist Park Ji-young, who debuted through the Chosun Ilbo's New Year Literary Contest and has published works including 'The Lonely Death Workshop' and 'The Neighbors of This Month.' The library has designed programs that allow a wide range of participants, from those encountering literature for the first time to aspiring writers preparing to create novels.
The first program, 'Creating with a Reading Body,' took place from June 20 to July 11, consisting of four sessions where participants selected books suitable for them, engaged in transcription, wrote reading notes, and shared their impressions. They discussed their favorite books and learned about each other's reading preferences. It was a time not only to read but also to express what they had read in their own words. Following this, 'The Lonely Narrative Workshop' and 'The Open Ending Closure Novel Club' were introduced.
On August 8, at 10:30 AM, I attended the second session of the 'Open Ending Closure Novel Club' at the book workshop. Arriving a bit early, I found Park Ji-young preparing for the class. As participants began to take their seats, the atmosphere transformed into one filled with stories and laughter. In this session, participants shared the stories they wanted to write based on the materials read in the previous session, discussing plotlines and synopses while actively asking questions about character development and the direction of their novels.
Park Ji-young listened to each participant's story, sharing her own experiences and insights about writing novels. Although the class was serious, the mood was light, with the author and participants exchanging questions and laughter.
Completing a novel in just a few sessions is unlikely, but having the opportunity to share one's story and receive direct advice from a working author is invaluable for any writer. Especially on a Saturday morning, the enthusiasm of the participants showed their genuine desire to write stories. After the class, I spoke with Park Ji-young about the program.
"The goal of the 'Open Ending Closure Novel Club' is to complete a novel. Some participants are starting their first novel, while others have experience. Often, writers give up midway, so we set deadlines together with fellow writers to encourage completion within that timeframe," she explained.
Park Ji-young emphasized that the program is not just about learning how to write well but about finishing a complete work. She also noted that participants had diverse story ideas, from those wanting to write science fiction to those with unique personal narratives. She highlighted that everyone has some familiarity with story structure, even if they are new to writing fiction.
"Currently, I focus more on storytelling rather than specific writing techniques, as many stories are now adapted into various content forms. We discuss how to apply different techniques based on the stories participants bring," she said.
Park Ji-young's insights reveal that this class is not merely about learning to write novels but about discovering and developing personal narratives into cohesive stories. She shared her excitement about the program's design, emphasizing the importance of fostering a community of readers and writers.
The Literary Residency Program is not just about reading and writing but about creating a space where voices can lead to new stories and programs. As the program continues, it evolves from individual storytelling to community narratives, enriching the literary landscape.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224374945228
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