Creative
Workshops 2006 - June Writing Newsletter
Dear writer
All hail to this mid year. This letter will
be a winter tree - a little barer.
I’ve been thinking of what it means to live
poetically. Herman Charles Bosman said you can tell a poet by how he lives more
surely than by how he writes. Stanley Kunitz, American poet, talks of first
creating the person who will write the poems. How rich we are as we
‘characterise’ each others’ stories. And our own.
Thomas Moore in Dark Nights of the Soul talks of how when we turn our experience – ecstasy, grief,
depression, loss, laughter - into
images, the images give that experience resonance, depth and movement. A love of story, symbol and image enlivens
us. In my last letter I quoted Uvavnuk, an Inuit shaman who echoes this idea. “The
great sea has set me in motion/ Set me adrift/ Moving me as the weed moves in a
river.” The difference between “I’m
depressed” and “I’m in the belly of a whale” is that the image reminds me that
while I’m stuck, the whale is moving me to some shore.
Story Work
Perhaps we are becoming a storied society?
I never know what story work will drift my way. Over
June into mid July, Elma Pollard, Philippa Kabali-Kagwa and I will be working
with two Community Based Organisations (Nelspruit and Upington) who work with
orphans and vulnerable children as they reflect on their stories and prepare for
a conference. I’m also working with
Sayeeda Dhansay in a story workshop for carers at the Tyberbear children’s Unit
(
And touching on corporate writing and stories, I’m
working with Kim Bolton and her University of the Bank and with Quality Life in
the first week of June.
Workshops
…and so to the June 06 workshops. I’ve
changed some to half day. Thank you to all
those who pass on this letter. Please let me know if you don’t want to receive
it.
Sun 5 June
09.00 – 12.30
How do we grow a text, shape it give it
form, create art out of our scribblings and first drafts? Make it more alive?
How do we involve our readers? This workshop will show you how to grow your
writing in a creative, organic way.
Beginner writers are welcome. Bring copies
of texts in progress if you wish.
Somerset West. Shape and Substance: Crafting your
Writing R170
Sun 2 July 09.30 – 13.00
See text under
Sat 8 July 09.30 – 13.00
See text under
(The
The River Journey: Late winter Writing
Retreat at Vaaloewer
Sat and Sun 26-27 August 09.30 -16.00 (R780)
I do not know
much about gods; but … the river Is a strong brown god (T S Eliot)
Explore your life stories through your
connection to nature. We draw images and symbols from the river and the
landscape around it. We create and craft our writing journey. There will be
time for silence, bird watching and for dreaming.
Travelling – 100km ex J’burg. B & B
available at reasonable rates. Book early to secure your accommodation.
And arriving late 06….
The Helderberg Writing Escape
14-19 November (featured
in South Africa Writing Vol 2 April
06)
Johanna Castro and I have created the
Helderberg School of Writing. Johanna is an
international freelance journalist who coaches in the genres of magazine
writing, travel writing and copywriting. This
extravaganza - our
first 5 day joint venture - hopes to attract both local and international writers. We’ll be
writing and mentoring at a wine farm and in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. The
escape will offer five days of exploration and discovery.
So here’s to living the writer’s life. With Canadian poet Kathie Wayne
Do not think
deities who walk, or angels
their high wings heavy with wisdom
are required for revelation.
the usual will do.
May your writing become you.
Dorian
Dr Dorian Haarhoff
021 852 7587 / 082 873 6802
http://dorianhaarhoffwriter.homestead.com
Marais Street