This Wednesday’s workshop and Sudbury Poetry Cafe in September

We hope that you are free for Wednesday’s (16th August) stimulating workshop which will be led by Judith Wolton. As usual the doors will be open from 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start.

The workshop is entitled Writing Nature Poetry.

During the session we will read some examples of nature poetry, considering various styles and approaches and will then engage in our own writing.

Please bring images or notes or memories of your favourite outdoor places, or individual plants, birds, animals etc. to work from.

If you prefer, pictures will be provided for your inspiration.

Ekphraisis Presentation at Sudbury Poetry Café- September 13th 7:15 for 7:30pm

As you may remember we have been invited to present our project and book at Sudbury’s Stanza Group next month. Please let Sheena know by the end of the week if you and your partner are able to attend so that she can finalise arrangements with the organisers. This event is open to any participants even if they have presented before,  but priority will be given to any new partnerships.

 

Anthology for Grenfell Tower – invitation to submit

Eyewear have agreed to publish an anthology of poems in response to the Grenfell Tower atrocity, working title Dark Bones. Poets are invited to submit ONE poem, max 50 lines including title, in ANY LANGUAGE, by 15 September 2017, to DarkBones@igy50.net. The poem should be in an attached file in Word format.

The main purpose of the anthology is to bring together poems which have already been written in diverse forms and languages across Britain, and to increase their effect in an act of artistic solidarity. There have of course already been several other such responses in the creative arts. Any money raised after meeting the costs of production will be donated to a housing action group in London; which group remains TBD.

However the anthology will not be confined to authors in Britain or the English language. Submissions have already been received and others promised from around the world. Nor does every poem need to address the destruction of Grenfell Tower directly. Submissions pertinent to or foreshadowing the event have also been received and will be reviewed with all the others. Variety of form, angle, device, diction, and especially title will be welcome.

Suffolk in Poetry, workshop and reading, 4th August, Trimley St Mary

Note that workshop places must be obtained in advance.

Wednesday’s critiquing session and August’s workshop

We hope you are all enjoying the summer and working hard at your poetry. Perhaps you have drafted something for the Stanza competition on Walls? If so Wednesday 19th July is the perfect time to get some feedback from poet friends. We have a critiquing session at the United Reform Church Lions Walk 7:00pm for 7:30pm. Please bring at least 8 copies of your work to circulate (12 would be ideal). We are lucky to have experienced poet  Candyce Lange to lead the event.

Please also put 16th August’s meeting in your diaries. Judith Wolton will be leading a workshop on Writing Nature Poetry. In this session we will be reading examples and considering various styles and approaches. Judith requests that you bring notes or memories of favourite outdoor spaces or individual plants, birds or animals as a starting place for your work. She will also be providing pictures for those who would prefer these as a stimulus.

 

MOSAIC workshop 21st June

Our next meeting, on Wednesday 21st June, will be a workshop led by Tess Gardener and will be a fun introduction into approaching poetry readings from a performance perspective. If people could bring along a short poem or excerpt (15 lines max) of their own then that would be great (although if we’re pushed for time they might not end up getting used).

As usual, the meeting is at Lions Walk United Reform Church in Colchester (via the door for the church hall next door to the Body Shop). We meet at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and finish at 9:15pm.

Stanza Poetry Competition: Walls

Theme is WALLS – however you wish to interpret it. Send up to 2 poems, 40 lines max per poem – send anonymously. Closing date Monday 11 September. Judge is Andy Croft.

The rules are on http://poetrysociety.org.uk/stanzacomp

Entry details are on How to enter – people can enter by Submittable, email or good old-fashioned post.

Residential Creative Writing Courses at The Garsdale Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat is now up and running with bookings open for inspiring courses. Tutored by an outstanding team of writers:

Poetry:
19 – 24 June: Jane Draycott (guest, Kim Moore): Don’t Stop Now! Taking Your Poetry Further
3 – 8 July: Pete Mullineaux/Moya Roddy: From Inspiration to Craft: The Making and Shaping of a Poem
24 – 29 July: Paul Henry (guest, Philip Lyons): Writing Poetry
4 – 9 August: Rhian Edwards (guest, Fleur Adcock): Character Portraits – Escaping the Ego
18 – 23 September: Simon Williams/Sue Taylor: Poetry: The Joy of Making.
2 – 7 October: Hamish Wilson (guest, Kate Fox): It’s Not Just About Daffodils – Poetry for Beginners

Performance Poetry:
4 – 9 September: Ben Mellor (guest, Ian McMillan): Re: Discovering Your Voice

Musical theatre:
11 – 16 September: Natasha Sutton-Williams (resident pianist, Phil Blandford): Musical Theatre

Autumn Retreat (Untutored)
16 -21 October

For further information please go to the website – www.thegarsdaleretreat.co.uk