When: 17 April — 20 May 2020 Number of sessions: Eight sessions, 4.30pm – 6pm Format: Weekend workshop starting 4.30pm Friday 17 April then weekly on Wednesdays Where: Zoom Online course in your writing room Course description Currently we are living through an extraordinary time in world history, where all the familiar norms of our known existence have been turned upside down by a global pandemic. For each of us, living through this state of lockdown, our sense of security has been shattered, our inner resilience tested. We wonder if life will ever return to normal. Yet inherent in this situation, some are calling it a ‘dangerous opportunity,’ is a potential gift. Through writing a daily journal you can begin to make sense of what is happening and through the act of reflection, observation and contemplation, create a new rhythm and sense of balance that will help you deepen your experience of the present. When lockdown is over your journal will contain a record for future generations, while the writing will be firmly established as a practice to take into the future. Content
This journal workshop, presented by experienced tutor and journaller, Deborah Shepard, offers a quiet writing sanctuary where you can reconnect with your inner life and discover what is on your mind. Over eight sessions you will receive: an introduction to the pleasures of the journal form, its history and evolution; guidance on how to establish a writing routine; writing techniques and triggers to stimulate a series of writing exercises; discussion and analysis of writing samples from some of the great proponents of the genre: Henry David Thoreau, Katherine Mansfield, Virginia Woolf, Lord Byron, Thomas Merton, Etty Hillesum, John Keats, Samuel Pepys, Sylvia Plath, May Sarton, Joan Didion, Anais Nin and Kate Llewellyn. Working on your own and as a group sharing the writing as you go, you will be building a community of writers to nourish the ongoing writing project. Value and appeal The course will appeal to people wanting to experiment with using a journal for self- exploration. It provides tools for developing and strengthening writing skills along with inspiring prompts to assist with chronicling and preserving your daily observations during the time of coronavirus, from the humble and small, to the alarming and reassuring, the splendid and sublime. A resource handbook with tips on writing, relevant quotations, journal excerpts and a bibliography of the literature will be provided. Writing experience This course is suitable for all comers who have something they want to share about this moment in history. We all have the capacity to write from our personal experience on the subjects that matter to us. On Deborah’s courses you are introduced to techniques and triggers that help strengthen and develop your writing voice. What people say about Deborah’s courses: I came away with a lot of confidence that I had something to say and that I could say it well — Terry Levenberg Over the five sessions I found my “creative writing voice” as an apprentice, in a safe and supportive environment and through a superbly designed course. As a small group of diverse writers, we were expertly guided by the wise and gentle Deborah, who is an outstanding teacher — Maria Kazmierov Deborah has a beautiful, compassionate, inclusive approach to teaching — Janet Sergeant Sessions topics: 1. Getting Started. Why Write a Journal? 2. My Writing Space: Settling in 3. What is my content? 4. What is my purpose? 5. Writing a journal in extremis 6. Ethics: How deep do I go? 7. Journalling in nature 8. A commitment to the journal project Breakdown of session dates: The course begins soon, at the end of this week, with a weekend workshop followed by five weekly sessions. Weekend workshop: 4.30pm-6pm Friday 17 April, Saturday 18 April, Sunday 19 April Weekly sessions: 4.30pm-6pm Wednesday 22 April, Wednesday 29 May, Wednesday 6 May, Wednesday 13 May and Wednesday 20 May. Fee: sliding scale $220-$280 depending on your budget Payment: 02-0828-0168145-083 please type your name and ‘Journal Workshop’ in ref and code boxes Registration deadline including payment: 4.30pm, Thursday 16 April Please register at [email protected] and note ‘course registration’ in the subject of the Zoom: Once you’ve registered for the course you will be sent a link to join Zoom and also a link to a tutorial demonstrating how the technology works Comments are closed.
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Testimonials
"This is such a worthwhile course where emotional safety and student growth in writing are paramount." – Marilyn Woolford Categories
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Date
July 2024
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