Creative Workshops 2007
May Writing Newsletter
Every letter
of the alphabet coming from you is precious to me. (Franz Schubert)
Dear writer
A-Z – Aardvark to Zebra
Remember your abc
song? This month I’m thinking of the alphabet, these signs we arrange in our
writing.
There the story of the
rabbi who prays in the synagogue. He prays eloquently, he prays for world peace,
for the generations, for forgiveness. At the end of the day he
asks G-d “Was my prayer well received?
G-d responds. “Your prayer was well received” The rabbi then asks, “Was it not the best prayer that reached your ears
this day?” No,” responds the
Divine. “Who prayed
more eloquently and I?” “Kefi.”
“Kefi?” the rabbi explodes indignantly, “He’s the janitor in the synagogue. What does he know about prayer? What did he say?”
G-d responds “Kefi stood up
and whispered. “I am a simple
man. You know I love you. So that I do not to offend you, I will recite the
alphabet. You arrange the letters in the words that please you.”
In
the rabbinical tradition these signs are holy. The alphabet rides on the breath - rising and falling, echo,
interruption and sudden release. The vowels and diphthongs, as we
move our mouths through their shapes, becomes a mantra. The consonants, hissed or exploded, tickle the inside of our lips,
teeth, palate, tongue. They become the stops we block to make the music.
We can
cultivate a respect for this alphabet – this playful prayer of the body - as the
letters open to the mindfulness of the writer. For the word is linked to the
breath that moves in and out of the body and connects the inner and the outer
worlds to form our words and our texts.
Poem Poem Poem (PPP) Making Poetry
There are12 poets-in-the-making on this first course. Initially participants read and
responded to poems that stirred them. As Elma Pollard writes, “We are seeing the stitch work
behind the tapestry. Turning it around, looking at the frays and knots at the
back. All of which connects intimately with the potential within myself to implement
similar processes.” Now the poets move into the writing phase. Creating
and crafting twelve poems.
Next course August
–Nov. Bob Commin and I create this together. Flyer on
request.
Write Write Write: Writers’ Development: Email Course (WWW)
There are eight writers on this course. One of them, Carol Werth
writes, “The best part for me right now is, not only learning and improving my
writing skills, but nurturing my inner child, under force, i.e
group commitment and deadlines.”
A few folk have expressed interest in an Afrikaans course with Elma
Pollard. She also offers life coaching
and will be starting a weekly writing group in the Helderberg
(Elma’s email starlight@wol.co.za. 084 868 2908) Next
WWW runs Aug- Nov 07.
Autumn Workshops
The Helderberg Writing Escape (Helderberg School of Writing) 1-5
May 07 (see Nov 06
A five day writing extravaganza. Last call. Jo
Castro and I had much fun with the 2006 group. 2006 participants write: “The workshop was excellently run and
so inspirational.” (MC)” I valued the atmosphere of openness and trust.” (PM) “I loved the personal attention and the participation” (GH)
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.
(
Sat 19 May 09.30 – 16.15 ????? Any takers?
I will be in PE on for the weekend of 18-20 May. If there is an interest,
I’m happy to facilitate this workshop ???? Otherwise I
am happy to wander and wonder.
This workshop is about writing that book that has been hiding
inside you for too long. Writing is about a conversation with yourself and with others. An exchange of
energies. Writing is a learned skill not talent.
The workshop will benefit people who want to
·
write a life
story , fiction or poetry
·
explore
research in a new way
·
share
spiritual insights
·
process the
changes that are happening to them
(
True ease in writing comes from art not chance
As those move easiest who have learnt to dance.
(Alexander Pope)
Writing involves creating a text then crafting it. Peter Elbow (Writing with Power) compares creating to sailing from the harbour
into the blue beyond. He likens crafting to plotting our way home to the
harbour.
In
this workshop we sail out and we sail home. We create our first drafts. We
craft shape and structure them. We balance what is said with what is implied.
We ask the questions “How can I encourage the creativity of the reader?” “How
can I be present in the text and find my voice?” “How can I let the text sing?”
Beginners are welcome. Come and
learn to ‘dance.’
Venues: (
(
Place,
People and Personal Stories: A West
Coast Writing Workshop R290
Come, and celebrate living along the West Coast. Write your stories
of nature, characters and memories. Write of the rich fossil past. Find the
writer inside you. Explore your creativity and imagination and learn how to be
at home with words. Participants can write in English or Afrikaans. Beginner
writers are welcome. Bring a light lunch to share.
Franschhoek Literary Festival 11-13 May
Join us on Sat 12 - 3 snippets from the programme
19.30 - Bosman and Boerekos
A Theme Evening of South African Stories
Burgundy Restaurant 021 876
3547 (for bookings)
It is not the story that counts.
It's the way you tell it (Oom Schalk Lourens)
Listen to Dorian (hiding inside Oom Scalk) narrate
stories of love, leopards, peach brandy and psalm singing as you savour
traditional South African cuisine.
Mentoring
One of the texts I’ve been working on this month is helping Taffy Shearing turn a Ph.D.
on
A Publishing Opportunity: Quay Journal
in
Kathy Chenault,
nonfiction editor for a literary journal, writes:
Encourage your writing friends to submit
their work for possible publication. The journal, Quay, will be publishing poetry, plays, memoir, fiction and nonfiction. Visit the website: quayjournal.org and follow
the link to submissions.
A Book a Coming
The Univ of
Pretoria who are busy with an MA in Creative Writing, wish to create a module for
therapists on Poetry and Healing. Coming from a conversation with Leti Kleyn, academic and publisher, Bob Commin and I are
busy writing a text. Working title? The Achilles Heal, The Healing Art and Craft
of Poetry. Conversations welcome.
Workshops/Literary Events with other
Folk
Bob Commin runs poetry courses/events in
the Southern Suburbs (Obs to Fish Hoek)
(h) 021 447 9550 082 2025303 bcommin@netactive.co.za
www.making-poetry.com Shed some old
skins
The
Art of Writing Workshop
for those who
think about
writing and never do it
have lived
through a trauma and would like to write about it.
are going through great changes / need to deal with past
events
have heard that
writing can heal you
want to learn about the great magic of writing
Poetry
Writing Day Sat 26 May (9.30 -16.00) (R200)
and I went on my way,
deciphering that burning fire
and I wrote the first bare line
(Pablo Neruda)_
A Poetry Writing Day for those who love poetry , who write or would like to write.
You will be introduced to wonderful poetry. We will explore methods of writing.
We share our wisdom and writing (if we wish) with each other. We explore
rhythm. We explore poetry as an activity of soul.
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 fortnightly on Weds. (hahodge@gmail.com).
Next story eve Between the Covers 3
Thurs May 19.15
May the alphabet play on your lips and tingle into text.
Dorian
PS Thank you to all those who circulate this letter. Sign off if you need to.
Dr Dorian Haarhoff
021 855 3937 / 082 873 6802/ fax 086 511 4751
http://dorianhaarhoffwriter.homestead.com