New Workshops for Autumn in Winchester and Gosport

 

The days are getting shorter and the mornings colder, and the thoughts of children and adults everywhere are turning to new classes.  So I thought I’d mention the workshops that I’ve got lined up for the autumn. I’ve had the chance to put together a bonanza bunch at Winchester and Gosport Discovery Centres, and I’m very excited about them.

‘Writing Hampshire’ Poetry Workshops

Saturday 22nd September: Gosport Discovery Centre

10am – 1pm, £12. Booking online here or call 023 9252 3463

Saturday 20th October: Winchester Discovery Centre

10am – 4pm, £25. Booking online here or call 01962 873603

Writing Hampshire is my main project as Hampshire Poet: getting as many people as possible writing poems about places in Hampshire, and submitting them to an interactive website. (More details of this very soon!) These workshops will make you think about places in original and exciting ways, then turn your ideas into crafted poems. I will be encouraging participants to consider all types of places – special and everyday, favourite or hated – with fresh eyes (and ears, noses, and so on); and then looking at how to best to capture place using the techniques of poetry. For those who may be unfamiliar with writing poetry, there will be plenty of help; for more experienced poets, I will aim to expand your skills and knowledge a little.

Stars of Contemporary Poetry

Saturday 29th September: Winchester Discovery Centre

10am – 4pm, £25. Booking online here or call 01962 873603

The theme of National Poetry Day 2012 is ‘Stars’, and this workshop introduces you to ‘Stars’ of today’s poetry scene, and what you can learn from them. Looking at both established poets and rising stars, you’ll learn what’s happening in poetry today, as well as seeing how you can use the techniques and approaches of these poets to improve your own poetry. You will also find out about ‘Stars’ of poetry publishing in the UK: what outlets there are, and how you can get your poetry published in them.

NaNoWriMo Fiction Workshops at Winchester Discovery Centre

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, the annual challenge to write a novel during the month of November, by writing every day (see http://www.nanowrimo.org). NaNoWriMo is a huge and growing phenomenon that has helped many would-be novelists to get a first draft done; and my workshops are designed to you get the most out of your effort.

There are three classes – all run from 10 to 1 and tickets are £15. Though they will feed into one another, they will also work fine as stand-alone workshops.

1. Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo

Saturday 27th October

This one is aimed at getting you ready to go, from thinking through practical issues like organisation and staying motivated, to putting your creative ideas into good shape. Booking online here or call 01962 873603

2. NaNoWriMo: Getting Through the Marathon

Saturday 17th November

One of the hardest things in doing a whole month of writing every day is keeping going. This session aims to give you fresh ideas, a chance to solve problems, and renewed enthusiasm. Booking online here 01962 873603

3. NaNoWriMo: What Next?

Saturday  8th December

After you’ve completed the month, there are still lots of things to think about. How should you redraft what you’ve done, what have you learned, and how can you get it published? This class will help you work out how to keep up the momentum and get the most from the effort you’ve put in. Booking online here 01962 873603.

So if you’ve fancied writing a novel but never quite got around to it, or not been sure where to start, then NaNoWriMo, combined with one or more of my classes, might just be the perfect answer!

I hope to see you at one of the workshops.

Image copyright wallygrom on flikr. Used under Creative Commons licence.

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