(Song) Writing Workshop with

Bartika Eam Rai

Prologue
“A writing workshop in 2011 redirected my approach to writing entirely. It was
led and conducted by Muna Gurung, a fantastic writer/editor. Despite the increasing number
of writers in Nepal, writing workshops are extremely rare to find. A lot of my listeners who
write have reached out to me over the years asking feedback on their work. I have been
planning a writing workshop for a while now with a short-term intention of bringing emerging
writers together to share and workshop each other’s work while hopefully getting a better
sense of their own approach and relationship with writing. A long-term intention and hope is
that this workshop creates a community of writers who can look out for each other
(reviewing work, writing together, continuing workshops and strengthening the scene).”

Note: This same 2011 workshop paved the way for “Word Warriors”.

Background
Many musicians pick up instruments and vocals as a tool, and don’t consider themselves to be
“`writers`” or “`lyricists`” and vice versa. Furthermore, those who do, find writing in Nepali to be a
tough task and opt for writing in English for the same. This workshop will be targeted to a limited
number of aspiring writers for breaking down that “language” barrier as well for those who lack
the initial push and confidence required. Thoughts do not have languages and this informal
session looks to break inhibitions while expressing oneself. Moreover, the importance of writing
and the importance of Nepali as a language will be focused on. Best of all, while there are no
“shortcuts”, this growth process can start with some very simple concepts. Even seasoned
writers often find themselves looking for new ideas. There is a lack of writing workshops in
Nepal. Songwriting workshops are even less heard of. A writing workshop with a focus on
songwriting and writing in Nepali for all aspiring writers who are open to grow can and will be
beneficial for generations to come.

Bartika Rai, performs as Bartika ‘Eam’ Rai, is a multilingual singer-songwriter and musician of
Nepali descent currently based out of New York, U.S. Rai is considered the pioneer in her
generation to revive the way music is written and sung in Nepali, a language that is minority in
the world map. Rai is one of the frontrunners in introducing Nepali to New York's multicultural
music scene. Her songs have been broadcasted on all major radio stations and television media
in Nepal and podcasts/online magazines over the world. She is increasingly performing in
Nepali to both Nepali-speaking and non-Nepali speaking audiences. Wrapping up her current
“Ghar” tour and bagging her third Hits FM Music awards this year including “Best Lyrics”, she
 plans to delve into the territory of songwriting and writing in general to break the dogmas and
taboos surrounding it.

Objectives
|| Writing Redirection || Approach to Critique || Evaluating Your Own Work || || Breaking down
mental barriers making it tiring to write in Nepali language ||

Scope
This will be mainly for aspiring writers who are willing and open to grow and will continue
meeting every few weeks or stay in touch and create something. A selection criterion will be set
up for the 15 participants

Target Area: Ktm (in and around)

When?
March 5-7 (Workshop I) 1 to 3 P.M || March 12-14 (Workshop II) 1 to 3 P.M

Where?
BEERS N`’ CHEERS, JHAMSIKHEL, LALITPUR

Why?
Beers N’ Cheers apart from being a pub has been silently supporting the original music scene
in an intimate environment not opting for cover artists (not saying anything is wrong with that)
but truly supporting original bands and artists by giving them a proper live music setting to
perform. From notable indie bands to punk lineups to even the recently hyped up Dibesh
Pokharel (Arthur Gunn) had his album launch here. In coordination with this notion of
“originality”, this specific venue was chosen.
 Expected Outcomes
|| Redirection of One`s’ Own Writing Style || Approach to Critique || Evaluation || || Confidence
in writing in Nepali || Propagation and growth of writers ||

What’s in it for the Sponsors?

|| Association and social media branding with Bartika Eam Rai || Media partnership and visibility
|| USP of a one of it’s kind workshop in Nepal || Brochures and Visual
Materials || Paid online promotion from Oscar Events and Beers N’ Cheers || 7 days’ promo
and constant visibility ||

MEDIA PARTNERS
|| KATHMANDU POST ||
|| HITS FM ||
|| KANTIPUR TV HD ||
|| KANTIPUR FM ||
|| NAGARIK ||
|| PARTY NEPAL ||
|| MERO 2 PAISA ||
|| HIMALAYA TELEVISION ||
|| BANNERS?? ||

Overview of Sessions
Day 1 (2 hours):
Intro – Rant – Exchange-Inhibitions-“Najeek” – Dissection-Word List

Day 2 (2 hours):
Intro-Collaboration-Descriptive Nepali-Reflection-Word List-Criticism-Rewrite

Day 3 (2 hours):
Intro-Nepali writing-Breaking the prose-Melodizing-Reread-Rewrite-Reflection
 Proposed Budget
A quota of total maximum 7 sponsors with equal visibility, mentions and a potential 200,000
reach
Rs. 30,000/- average each (and any other support in kind)

Budget Breakdown
(Song) Writing Workshop with Bartika Eam Rai
Particulars Proposed Remarks

Artist Charge 240,000 40,000 per session (2 workshops – 6 sessions)

Participants - No entry free/ Selection and shortlisting of aspiring writers

Stationery 15,000 500 per participant (Total 30 participants)
Kathmandu Post/ Hits FM/ Social media/ Kantipur TV HD/
Media partners - Kantipur FM/ ASM/ Party Nepal/ Magazines/ Mero2paisa/
Kookie dunk/ Word Warrior/ Creative Makura
Event partner
(Oscar Events
10 years of National and International Events (including
and -
‘Bumblefoot’, Chris Adler, etc.) – Portfolio attached herewith
Entertainment
Pvt. Ltd.)
Venue partner
(Beers N’ 24,000 4,000 per session for Sound/ Space/ Marketing placements
Cheers)
Total 279,000 In words: : Two Lakhs Seventy Nine Thousand only
INITIAL RESPONSES