Design Your Own Writer's Workshop

A Writing Coach

Apart from the workshops that I run, I offer writers a one-on-one mentoring service. Mentoring (coaching) involves finding out where you want to go with your writing and helping you get there. I respond mainly via suggestions and questions.

Much of my response is based on The Writer's Voice: A Workbook for Writers in Africa. (Zebra Press 1998.) I'm interested primarily in the joy of creating and crafting and hold a deep belief in our creative potential. I can't teach you how to write but will encourage you and help you teach yourself.

I do not publish writing nor do I find a publisher. What I can offer is to try to make the work publishable. A key question is how can the writing involve the reader as a creative participant?

I'll give your writing my energy and attention. I'll send you a written response which includes a general commentary and specific comments within the text itself. Additional feedback can be via email, mail, phone or personal contact.

There are four options: (*Prices valid for 2008)

A: up to 9 hours = R 395 per hour

B: a 10 hour package = R 365 per hour x 10= R 3450

C: a 20 hour package = R 335 per hour x 20= R 6200

D: a 30 hour package = R 295 per hour x 30= R 8250

Options B, C and D can be paid in two instalments:

at the beginning and at 5, 10 or 15 hrs respectively.

*Foreign rates negotiable

Response from recent clients

I am moved by the meaningful improvements that you have wrought to my work. I wasn’t aware that editing could be so helpful. I suspect that I am especially fortunate and that serendipity touches our convergence on this, particularly your expertise that extends beyond grammar to include the spiritual content. Thanks again, Dorian.

Raymond Reichman-Israelsohn, Attorney

I was very excited to meet Dorian . After having struggled for 10 years with little support in writing and publishing my own books, finding a 'writing mentor' whom I could really trust was so motivating and such a relief.

Ruth Tearle, Strategic Planning and Change Management Consultant

A choice of workshops

These hands-on workshops are held in various centres throughout southern Africa or elsewhere. They are run through organisations or privately. Courses can be created around specific needs. You can design your own workshop

the gift of memory

writing your life story as a gift to yourself and to children or grandchildren

you, your friends and your story

A 3-hour writing workshop for a special occasion. Get a group together to write about your relationship to a birthday person or a wedding couple, to give as a gift.

creative writing - beginners and advanced

fiction, poetry or drama

the eyes of a child

ways of seeing and being. Writing for children

a story-telling circle

an oral-based course on the joy of giving and receiving stories

ancestors and families

exploring and healing the family tree, recording stories

writing and hiking

2-3 day hiking and writing trails

the divine comedy

writing your spiritual journey

enchanted forests and castles

exploring the symbols of fairy and folk tales in our life story

movies and life

writing your life as if directing a movie about it

keeping a Travel Journal

enrich your outer and inner travels with stories

creating articles

marry creativity and research. write academic, popular or in-house articles

To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old questions from a new angle, requires creative imagination

Albert Einstein

Calling all teachers - Working with Teachers and in Schools

Knowledge is a finite island in a sea of mystery the growth of that islandincreases the length of the shoreline along which we encounter mystery

Chet Raymo

As an ex teacher and teacher trainer for thirty years Dorian has a special interest in all those involved in education. He has keynoted at the International Schools in Africa conference and worked in Uganda, Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya.

He presents Creative workshops for staff development, keynotes, guest-speaks at functions and facilitates creative writing workshops with learners of all ages.

Some workshops on offer

The Stressed Teacher

how to use writing to activate creativity and process changes, constraints and demands. How to turn negative stress into positive stress

Once Upon and Education

how our own learning stories influence our teaching.

how to rekindle enthusiasm for work

The Lead Story

Exploring creative and imaginative responses to current leadership issues

how to map a vision, find direction and make group dynamics work for the good of all

Recent Clients

Hilton College

Wynberg Girls' High

Port Shepstone High

Eshowe High

Crawford College (Keynote speaker at 2003 Conference)

Share (Adult Basic Education)

Corporate workshops and Speaking engagements

To live well is to work well. To have a good activity

Thomas Aquinas

Dorian Haarhoff has increasingly been involved in the Corporate world as a facilitator and motivational speaker. He is on the books of Conference Speakers International.

He is interested in applying creativity and imagination to the practical world of work.

He uses writing and story-telling to create new awareness, process issues, plan for the future and bring about change.

His clients include corporates, medical doctors, donor agencies, researchers and development organisations.

He holds a deep understanding of how stories can create a common language for culturally diverse groups

His workshops can be created around specific needs of the client.

Here are some possibilities:

Building the Business Team - Strengthening the Story of the Organisation

Head and Heart - Raising the IQ of the Workplace

The Stressed Executive - Refocusing and energising work life

Sure Voice - Speaking in Public

Clear Communication - the Art of Business writing

Recent clients

Nedcor Retail division

Old Mutual (leadership programme)

Chieta (Training Authority)

Pansalb (Language Board)

Olive NGO (development and training)

Audioword (National Secretaries' Convention)

National TB Control Programme

Both education for work and work itself need to be revisioned

Matthew Fox, The Reinvention of Work

Corporates are calling on their people for more creativity, commitment and innovation

David Whyte, The Heart Aroused