BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Taking the role of teacher and dean at campus, as well as being a mother at home is sometimes challenged by few certain agendas; so it needs a lot more energy and skill to share time for one agenda to another.
However, Dean of Faculty of Art and Literature (Fakultas Seni dan Sastra, FISS) Universitas Pasundan, Dr. Hj. Senny Suzanna Alwasilah, M.Pd always keep her time to be actively productive.
In the middle of her bustles and multi-role activities, she has given birth to a lot of works, both scientific writing, literature, poetry, short stories, articles, haiku (Japanese poetry), teaching materials and other works, both in Bahasa Indonesia, English and Sundanese.
In the talk show in the 7th episode of Unpas Talk Podcast on Friday, 24 December 2021, the Dean, who are as well a President of Asian Women Writers Association (AWWA), shared her tips how to be a productive writer.
She thought that the role of being a teacher is not only about teaching to the students, but also they need to be productive in writing, both scientific writing related to the research, writing for mass media and writing a book.
“I teach a writing course/subject in semester 1 to 6. I always stressed the students to always write and read, starting from the beginning of materials such as writing and reading connection, imaginative writing, essay, investigative writing, as well as academic writing,” she said.
The author of “Pokoknya Menulis” also revealed that there are thousand ways for someone to start writing proficiently.
“There are thousand ways for writing. The first one is read; the second to the nine-hundred-ninety-ninth is also read, read and read. The thousandth, or the last one, is write,” said the Dean.
The Dean also continued that the relation between writing and reading is like sugar and its sweetness, unseparated. If a person often reads, he/she will be able to write as well. She also stressed that ‘A good writer is a good reader’.
Writing also needs to be trained, so it needs to be done continuously. I will encourage a person to be familiar to it. And so does reading, both reading a book and reading the environment condition.
“Besides reading book, being proficient in reading the surrounding condition is a form of self-awareness. And, this is the most important one, ideas for writing might probably appear from our surroundings,” she continued.
The Dean, who are as well member of Patrem (Paguyuban Sastrawati Sastra Sunda) also explained that there is several carelessness when someone is (going to) writing.
First, they often underestimate the time when the ideas suddenly appeared on their mind, but they do not write it on directly. Second, they do not write all of their thoughts, so the writing does not finish, or even increase.
Sticking to the basic of ‘No reason for not working’ makes her always takes time to write every day.
“For me, writing has become a part of life, no matter how busy I am. I always make time to write even if it is only for one paragraph,” she explained.
As for some of the works of Dr. Senny, which has been made into a book, includes Pokoknya Menulis, Ziarah Rindu, English for Middle School, Teching Materials for Teacher Profession Education and Training, Berlian, Heulang nu Ngajak Bangbat, Sketsa Wajah Ibu, Selendang Mayang, Surat Penting Pustakawati, Haiku Nanggala, Mengeja Semesta, Anthology of Haiku of Corona Pandemic and many more.
Meanwhile, few writing of the Dean which has been published in the mass media and journal included Peran Pendidikan dalam Menghadapi MEA, Kota Seribu Misteri, Literary Appreciation Campaigning in Campus, Speech Contest Develops Students’ Self Confidence, Mengapa Ramadan Cepat Berlalu, Petaka Mading, Violeta Dewi, Sakeclak Kanyaah keur Win, Mamah Hoyong ka Senayan, and many more. (Rico)*
