Creative Workshops 2007
April Writing Newsletter
This life so short the craft so long to learn (Chaucer)
Dear writer
This month I’m featuring some of the
writing, insights and observations of folk whom I’m mentoring or who are on
courses.
Wrestling with the Angel
We are often intimidated/ in awe/ struck
silent when we read a published piece of writing.
One of the writers, (Kathy Collins)
currently on the Write Write Write course has been immersed in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Remains of the Day. Like
most of us she wonders “how some writers get everything right, without having anything like the
editorial assistance that we are getting. At least I presume Ishiguro
wrote like this by himself.”
Writers do seek help. A poet, Mckeel
McBride, says that after living with a text for so long she feels “like an
architect caught ladderless in the attic of a half-built building of her own
design.” She can’t stand outside the building and see what it looks like from
outside. At this stage she needs another voice, “an unbiased honest friend.”
Most writers I know write several
drafts. Engaging the discipline. And sharing
the process. Like Jacob they wrestle with the angel all night. The angel cries,
“Let me go, for the day breaketh.” And Jacob
replies, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Then the angel gives Jacob a new name.
I recall an American teacher, Donald
Murray, saying that he writes alongside his students and shows them his first
drafts. They are inevitably surprised at how poorly he writes. Then he teases
the text into aliveness from this humble beginning.
We begin in confusion, in chaos and then
write our way towards clarity, towards simplicity. We arrive at that place
where what we’ve written sound spontaneous falling naturally on to the
ear. Yet the crafting is there and we’ve
hidden the plumbing.
…and as the writer simplifies, so the
reader is able to simplify. Perhaps the act of reading is one of
simplification? As Einstein reminds us, we need to make things as simple as
possible – not more simple.
Poem Poem Poem (PPP) Making Poetry
There are12 poets-in-the-making on this
first course. We have begun with reading and responding to poems that stir us. We
acquire part of the craft though osmosis.
We begin to sound like poets talking about other poets.
Here is one of the many rich exchanges emerging - Bridgid Hess’s
reaction to a David Wagoner poem.
The paradoxical
thought is that the metaphor of a forest has always frightened me – it’s dark
mystery has warned me of lost-ness and lone-ness. Its fecundity has filled my
nostrils with musty memories of deadly red spotted toadstools, witches and
losing the way home. The poem challenges me to turn around and be still and
lose my fear of the colonies of poisonous thoughts that keep me captive to
fear. I am transported to a quiet place where I am known by the stranger.
Next course begins in August. 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, Bobby Sovasnik, shares his
playful imagination with us:
Tolkien could have come back to South
Africa in 1920 …He had been offered a chair sponsored by De Beers Mining
Co. as Eng Prof at UCT, but he declined as his second son had just been
born and yet another move may well have been one move too many for a long suffering
wife Edith. But imagine... Under the table cloth of
Elma Pollard works with me on this course. She also offers life coaching. (Elma’s
email starlight@wol.co.za. 084 868 2908) Next WWW runs Aug-
Nov 07.
Workshops
(Egoli) Exchanging Energies - Writing your Book R420
71Kallenbach Drive, Linksfield Ridge 09.30
-16.15
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
The Helderberg Writing Escape (Helderberg
School of Writing) 1-5 May 07 (see Nov 06
A five day writing extravaganza. Four places
left. 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.
and as winter cometh….
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
2 snippets from the programme:
Mentoring
Here is an entry from Catharina Helena. We
are working on her journal:
Once, I poured Everfresh milk into the eyes of a young Batswana woman.
She squirmed in pain - rinkhals spat at her from the rafters near our door. The
scene dramatic as a renaissance painting. Brown cheekbones, black
eyelashes, and white eyes blind like the white of boiled
eggs. Streams of white milk pouring down her body, into the
soil.
A Publishing
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: http://www.quayjournal.org
and follow the link to submissions.
Workshops/Literary Events with other Folk
Poetry courses/ events
Bob Commin runs poetry courses/events in the Southern
Suburbs (Observatory to Fish Hoek)
(h) 021 447 9550
082 2025303
bcommin@netactive.co.za
Poet David
Whyte’s Visit:
Sharon Jansen Sharon@mscoaching.co.za writes “David Whyte the poet, in SA in
April/May will be having one only public event at Hollard Insurance in Parktown
at 18.00 hours.
Tickets R200 p.p.
Bookings 011 467 1404
Tredicis in the
If you want 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). I host Between the Covers Story-Telling
evening. Next April 12. Both these evenings begin with an invited poet /
story-teller then it’s open mike. Bring your words or come and listen.
As you wrestle with the angel, may the
creature bestow on you the name of writer.
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