Soaba: Publishing a big problem for PNG writers

Caption:  Russell Soaba

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, September 24, 2014 (PNG)

ONE of the country’s most prolific writers and senior literature lecturers at the University of Papua New Guinea, Russell Soaba, says that one of the biggest problems that Papua New Guinea writers face today is the ability to publish their works.

His comments come in recognition and praise for the Crocodile Prize Awards held last week- something which he said was providing the opportunity to expose the PNG writer.

“I think it is good because writing needs some kind of encouragement- the good thing about this program (crocodile prize) is that they publish, unlike us at the university, we do a lot if writing but then we wonder on publishing aspect of the process, whereas with this program the opportunity of publishing is open and easy,” Mr Soaba said.

“Everyone has that chance of seeing their work in print which is a very good thing- the other good thing about the program is that creative writing is alive and it gets nicely edited something that many of us lack.”

“There are quite a few PNG Writers who publish their own, but even so it’s a very lonely kind of affair.”

The author of some of the country’s earliest novels like ‘Maiba’ and ‘Wanpis’ was optimistic of the support shown by the governments and politicians in the literature scenes to bring the art form to the levels it once flourished in during the 1970’s.

“I think seeing the number of important people involved like Ministers for Culture and Tourism Boka Kondra, and the Planning minister Charles Abal and Garry Juffa and of course the elites of some of the biggest companies here are doing something very positive,” Soaba said.

“When the awards started four years ago it was small and the crowd was not to this level of growth, with the representation of government was very little because back then it was not well known, but now we can see the type of impact literature is having.”

“I think the way things are going, we’ll see how writers respond to social issues and some of the political issues, I still have to read the anthology, but I understand that there is a strong political content, so that is sign enough that there is bound to be some boom looming.”

He called on young people at the universities who do creative writing and study literature to be actively involved with opportunities given by the awards.

“And to those outside learning institutions who don’t have much chance of writing and publishing- I would just like to advise them that you don’t have to have a degree and a good education in order to express yourself- there are so many young people out there who I am sure can write good stuff.”