Several years ago, Bonnie Nish the
long-time executive director of Pandora’s (literary art) Collective came to The
Grind Writers Group to do a mini-workshop with us. She brought along her
Pandora’s Box full of 3D writing prompts. I had also attended a regular evening
her co-ED Sita Carboni hosted called Word Whips* where people got together and wrote
to a prompt she brought. Sita set the timer
for 15 mins. and gave us a prompt (a coat-hanger).
She explained to us a Pandora's tradition that, since these were free-writes we were welcome to read our output but we would not be getting feedback on what was read, since it was material we had just written – or, what local writing coach Sylvia Taylor amusingly calls a “barf draft” or a “shaggy first draft.” Anne Lammot (Bird By Bird) calls first output “shitty first drafts.”
It’s important that distinction be made.
She explained to us a Pandora's tradition that, since these were free-writes we were welcome to read our output but we would not be getting feedback on what was read, since it was material we had just written – or, what local writing coach Sylvia Taylor amusingly calls a “barf draft” or a “shaggy first draft.” Anne Lammot (Bird By Bird) calls first output “shitty first drafts.”
It’s important that distinction be made.
So many non-writers (including some friends and family members) seem to think that the Writing Greats just sat down and poured out War and Peace, Pride and Prejudice, or The Grapes of Wrath in one go. And the first thing most of those people ask even a fledgling writer is, “So, have you published anything?” as if good writing just rolls out like sheets on a roll of paper towels.
Sita explained at Word Whips that night that when someone finished reading we would just tap the table with two fingers
(softly, because we were meeting in the library) to indicate our support and
admiration for one of us having had the courage to share their first-output material to a bunch of strangers. And that’s what we did. In turn, we have carried on that fine tradition at The Grind
Writers Group.
Nothing new here. Except today I was reading a book, All the Tea in China: History,
Methods and Musings (Wang Jian). And I came across this “lovely ancient Chinese
Tea Story” Jian recounts:
One day, the emperor Qianlong visited the Dragon Well tea area in disguise and took tea in a small tea-house where the attendant, unaware of the emperor’s identity, gave him the tea-pot and asked him to serve his entourage.
Unwilling to divulge his identity the emperor poured tea for his followers. This frightened his entourage out of their wits and, in their anxiety they began to tap on the table with their fingers bent to show that they were “kneeling on both knees ke tou continuously” (ke tou—to knock one’s head on the ground in obeisance).
This story later became wide-spread and “tapping the table in respect” became part of the etiquette of drinking tea even up to the present day. When the host presents his guest with a tea bowl and pours water for him the guest slowly and rhythmically taps the table with the bent middle and fore fingers of the right hand in a gesture of respect to the host for having been served tea.
I don’t know if Sita or Bonnie had ever heard this ancient story. But
now we’ve got a name for the tapping and I am totally down for giving ke tou to people who’ve had the courage
to share what has just rolled out of
their pens.
..................................................
Goodreads review:“I love tea and bought this small book while at the Ai Weiwei According to What? exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario today. The book was written in China and translated and beautifully presents the history of the use of tea in China through a long list of dynasties, describes the different types of tea, where they are from, when they are picked, how tea is prepared, the tea rituals and spiritual significance of drinking tea - even recommending with how many people tea should be enjoyed. Poetry, brushing drawings and stories tell the story.”—Nancy
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