Creative Workshops 2006 - April Writing Newsletter

Dear writer

I’m grateful for the joy of story … for the richness of your lives which arrive in mine via words. In workshops, in mentoring. For our texture is in our story – lived, imagined, nuanced, breathed. Rene writes of folk, sometimes older and wiser, who “arrive in our lives to remind us of our true shape and 'identity' as creators…you did that for me.” Thank you Rene. As Joseph Campbell mythologist was fond of quoting, “Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.” And talking of the sage, Lewis (86) arrives in my life to share:

If from that shrinking pool of love,

the stuff of soul,

these words were born,

they will transcribe the tears of this torn

world, and sing them whole.

And from Ronel Strawberry Feast which apparently ain’t only about strawberries…

Behind my sunset lids

I taste red-pink

I see succulence

I smell seed-flesh

I hear heat tongue-spooned

into my ripening mouth

April travel and work

April is a thin workshop month as I will be in Boulder, Colorado 8-18 April as poet and story-teller at a Conference on World Affairs. We serve on panels and are given topics. One of mine is ‘Antidote to Loneliness.’ One guess as to what I’ll be talking about. One of my fellow panelists is Patch Adams, the clown medic.

Then I will be doing a day on how to tell your story with young women who have a history of abuse in a UNICEF/SABC TV imitative. Thank you Ingrid.

Competition

Astrid and Lewis both told me about the 2006 Commonwealth Short Story Competition. A 600 word story. No entry fee deadline 1 May, 2006. Website: www.cba.org.uk. I think competitions often depend on what the judge has had for breakfast - but at least the deadline works for you in that you craft a piece work.

Write Write Write: Writers’ Development: Email Course One

Eleven folk are flying in a word sky via the current Write Write Write course. The group is building a community as words wing twixt J’burg, Durban, Pretoria, Cape Town and the Wilderness. There is a beeeg conversation resonating. Thank you guy and guyesses. The second course begins in July.

Mentoring

Elma and I mentor away. Currently we are working one-on-one with 14 writers – children’s fantasy, teenage terror, intuition, energy healing, a masters on coaching, resistance to oppression in the 80s, fiction, career change, autobiography, poetry. Congrats to Tony Wynne whose book Loving Choices is out. All these passions…

South Africa Writing Magazine

All hail to the new mag…well done editor Jason le Grange and team. Much info and creativity here. submissions@southafricawriting.com. (I have an article, “The Ear in your Chest: Writer’s and their Readers” in Vol 2 - just out)

Workshops

…and so to the May 06 workshops. Thank you to all those who pass on this letter. Please let me know if you don’t want it.

Hermanus (Volmoed)

Walking with your Story: A Creative Retreat (with Bob Commin)

5-7 May (18.00 Fri. – Sun 14.30) R 780* (accommo is filling up so vuka!)

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)

KZN Ixopo Buddhist Retreat Centre 039 834 1863 brcixopo@futurenet.co.za

Zen Men Breath and Words (with Bob Commin)

19-21 May

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.

Gauteng

Johannesburg. In a Nutshell: How to Write a Quick as a Wink Story

Sat pm 4 – Sun am 5 June R490

A newspaper once ran a 50 word story competition. Now you hear of the genre Flash Fiction. The workshop shows you how to build a life story hut, a fiction hut, with only a few stones. Making every stone count.

The Vaal River (moved to August)

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 accommo.

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 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.

As Meister Eckhart, medieval mystic remind us, if our only prayer be one of thankfulness, this is enough. And from Hafiz whose theme is generosity

The Earth lifts it's glass to the sun
And light - light is poured.
A bird comes and sits on a crystal rim
And from my forest cave I Hear singing.

Dorian