Creative Workshops 2006 - March to May
Writing Newsletter
Dear writer
We are Written
This newsletter is a little early to catch early March events. I trust
it finds you well and writing… and open to being written. I found this Octavio Paz poem in The Book of Dreams by Elzan Frank. A fine book for writers.
I am a man and I don’t last long
and the night is enormous
but I look up. The
stars write.
Unknowing I understand
I too am written
and at this
very moment
someone spells me
out.
Here are two poems coming out of a Feburary
Durban workshop where we gazed at our thumbs (I’m dodging the pun) and wrote. Charl Fregona’s poem arrived
spontaneously. (Wow Charl.) Mine is a third version.
What if you stick your thumb
under the
microscope
and find out it
isn’t there?
That you can take something
so for granted, that
it takes its
reality from that,
and not from its
skin and bone and sinew.
Like Kirlian
photography.
When the picture’s
developed.
There’s the outline of the thumb,
amputated.
Like Mrs
Ambrose getting
frustrated
with Tony in my class and yelling,
What’s the matter with you, boy?
Haven’t you
got any thumb?
And he looks up at her and says,
No I haven’t.
And he holds up his
two four-fingered
hands.
Charl
Scale
and Thumb Nail
I observe cuticle and curve
cut to the quick.
the boy who
gathered shells
one beach day,
surfaces.
he wedges them
on each fingernail
then crawls his hand
in the spume.
a marine creature
scuttles
with shell tentacles
on the sandbed.
plectrums pluck waves.
though I have evolved
from fin to fist, scale
to nail
still at finger and toe tip
the life of the sea
still laps.
Dorian
Workshops
…and so to the Feb - May 06 workshops. Muchas gracias to
those who pass on this letter. Please let me know if you don’t want it.
Two new March stop press w’shops sail in
on rain clouds.
Please let your
Writing Yourself Alive: A Life Story
Workshop
Sat 4 March 09.00 – 17.00 and Sun 5 March 09.00 – 13.30
(R580)
In this workshop we explore our creativity and imagination and find
the words to tell those stories… to make them more alive. We travel in search
of our personal myths- the stories that energise our lives. The workshop also
focuses on how to be present in our writing and engage the reader.
Vivienne Mofsowitz is the enthusiastic
local organiser. Book through me
The River Journey: Writing Retreat at Vaal-Oewer
Sat and Sun
18 and 19 March 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.
Contact: Dorian
or Sandy Drew tdfsys@pixie.co.za 016 987 8194
Write that Book (Somerset West)
Sun 12 March 09.30 -13.00 (R210)
Now is the time to start
that book that has been hiding inside you for too long. This mini workshop
morning will show you how.
Words,
You and your Story - A Creative Writing Workshop (Noordhoek) (R210)
Sat 1
April 14.00 –17.30 (half day)
This mini-workshop is about getting in touch with the writer inside
you. We explore our creativity and imagination and find the words to tell those
stories… to make them more alive. The workshop also focuses on how to be
present in your writing, find your voice and engage the reader. For beginners
and for those who wish to reconnect to words. People working on life stories,
poetry, fiction, articles will benefit.
and
squinting into the
distance …May…
Hermanus (Volmoed)
Walking with your Story: A Creative Retreat
(with Bob Commin)
5-7 May (18.00 Fri. – Sun 14.30) R 780*
We explore our life
stories through our connection to nature. We visit waterfall, dark wood,
mountain, grotto, lily pond, meditation hut and chapel. We draw from these
places the images, symbols and themes for our life journey.
(The
price includes 2 nights accommodation shared (single supplement)
R600*
for locals where no accommodation is required)
Zen Men Breath and Words (with Bob Commin)
19-21 May
Ixopo
Buddhist Retreat Centre 039 834 1863 brcixopo@futurenet.co.za
During this weekend we live and breathe as a brotherhood of men. We
explore how meditation and words help us to be present in ourselves, our
relationships, our loving and fathering, work, play, health and our re-creation. We take as guide poets, monks, and mystics.
And
arriving late 06…. The Helderberg Writing Escape
14-19
November
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 for this course,
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.
Bob Commin’s, courses are up an’ runnin’... This poet, priest and storyteller is at work in the
Awakened Grandmothers come out of the Cupboard
Lali Sher calls you - for a book ray.sher@pixie.co.za. Contact her.
You are vibrant and young,
In the fullness of your
power
Your life is rich with
experience…
Some of you have loved,
others have lost
Women witches, woman bitches...
Women succulent with secrets.
Wild women….juicy …raunchy.
Travel snippet
I will be in
As you write, may you be written.
Dorian
There are wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain.
Others are too deep for that.
(Hafiz)
Dr Dorian Haarhoff
021 852 7587 / 082 873 6802
http://dorianhaarhoffwriter.homestead.com
Marais Street