Creative
Workshops 2007
Jan/Feb
Writing Newsletter
Dear writer
As the earth spins another turn on the
dance floor of the Cosmos Club, may words fill your moments and days. I wish
for you, what Irish poet, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, wishes for her native tongue:
Ceist na
Teagan (Language Issue)
I place my hope on the water
in this little boat
of the language, the way a body might put
an infant
in a basket of intertwined
iris leaves,
its underside proofed
with bitumen and pitch
then set the whole thing down amidst
the sedge
and bulrushes by the edge
of the river
only to have it borne hither and thither,
not knowing where it might end up;
in the lap, perhaps,
of some pharaoh’s daughter.
I love this desire to save the child
through the skill of crafting (pun intended) our floating baskets as we
intertwine words. So the current takes us to the palace of the imagination and
into the lap of the gods.
Poem Poem Poem (PPP) Making Poetry
A reminder about the new email four-month
poetry course (March-June 07) Bob Commin, poet, writer, storyteller, pastor, and I
will be running this. There will be a
syllabus (poets to be savoured), input on poetic technique (rhythm, image,
cadence, metre, rhyme), an assignment section and group conversations around
your work. Some twelve folk have expressed interest so far. We’ll email the
flyer by 20 Jan.
Write Write Write:
Writers’ Development: Email Course (WWW)
The second WWW course ended in Nov. Thank you to those fifteen folk. Lol writes:
The experience
of the course has brought me into a much greater awareness and acceptance of
the personal past. My perspectives are sharpened and at the same time
softened. It has brought me into a much stronger sense of ‘alive and
present.’ I pulsate with the sense of BEING.
The third WWW (Write Write Write) course
runs Feb- May 07. Elma Pollard works with me on this, She also offers life coaching. (Elma’s
email starlight@wol.co.za. 084 868 2908)
My Work
Some story-telling workshops in business
coming up. I’m working with Graham
Williams, co-author of our book, The Halo
and the Noose: The Power of Story-Listening/Story-Telling in Business Life.
Due to be published first half of 2007.
I’m working at two schools – Reddam House,
talking on creative stress with the staff and then I’ll spend two Jan. days as ‘Writer in
Residence’ at St Mary’s DSG, in Kloof.
Launch of Drawing Water
Come 31 Jan., if you are anywhere near the
Workshops
Somerset West, Egoli and
The River Journey: Using Images to Enrich your Writing
Keep writing in the dark…
Words that may have the power
to make the sun rise again
(Denise Levertov)
As human beings we are forever comparing.
(“My love is like a red red rose.”) And when we compare, we stumble on hidden
connections.
This workshop is about using imagery in our
writing. An image is a bolt of energy from the writing blue. It’s about
developing a new way of seeing that opens to adventure. For images are about
the unexpected. We consider how words create new realities.
Beginner writers are welcome. Venues to be announced
Dates:
Egoli Sun 4
Feb R420
Men, Women and Masks (with Bob Commin)
16-18 March Fri eve
to Sun after lunch in the hills of Ixopo…
KZN Ixopo Buddhist Retreat
Centre 039 834 1863 brcixopo@futurenet.co.za
The true purpose of masks is not
concealment but transformation. A culture of masks is one that understands the
process of metamorphosis (Salman Rushdie)
This journey involves mask
making, writing, story-telling, poetry and land art. We explore
the masks that we wear in relation to each other. Over this weekend men
meet men, women meet women and then men and women meet in
dialogue. We will seek in nature items to adorn our masks.
Please bring crayons, pastels, glue, masking tape.
Looking into autumn…. The Helderberg
Writing Escape (Helderberg School of Writing) 1-6 May
07 (see
Nov 06
Jo Castro and I had much fun with the 2006
group. Join us for our five day writing extravaganza. Once again, we’ll be writing and mentoring at a wine farm and in
the Helderberg Nature Reserve. The escape offers exploration, discovery and personal attention as we live the life of writers. Jo is an international
freelance journalist who coaches in the genres of magazine writing, travel and
copywriting.
Mentoring
Oh the joy of people reflecting, sourcing,
creating stories fictional and ficto-personal (I’ve just coined that heavy word)
Pushing their Moses baskets into the river. I so enjoy watching these craft
float.
Tredicis in the
If you are wanting to write, seek the
company of writers. Paul and Fadelah host Hugh Hodge’s Off the Wall Poetry readings – mid and last Wed of every month.
(hahodge@gmail.com). I host Between the
Covers Story-Telling evening first Thurs of every month. Both these
evenings begin with an invited poet / story-teller then it’s open mike. Bring
your words or come and listen.
May Pharaoh’s daughter await your words.
Dorian
PS Thank you to all those who circulate this letter. Sign off if you need to.
PPS. Anyone
read The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier? The book intrigued Margaret Laubser (mlaubser@eartheart.com) so she would love to discuss it.
PPPS. May I share some personal news? I
celebrate my youngest son, Adam, who was placed 10th in Western Cape
Matric exam. Not a writer he. Here comes an astro–physicist.
Dr Dorian Haarhoff
021 855 3937 / 082 873 6802/ fax 086
511 4751
http://dorianhaarhoffwriter.homestead.com