Writing Courses

I signed up for a writing course in May and have been writing, reading and researching ever since. I love the 'challenge' of finding the right word and finding out when to stop and when to edit.

The Get Smarter non-fiction course has stimulated me into finding my story which although very simple, is keeping me digging and delving.

As I travel to Namibia for ten days, I've had to complete writing projects and upload them to fulfill my writing commitments. We also have to 'crit' other students work. While I am a teacher and used to commenting on work and having my own work commented on, some of the crits leveled at my work made me want to slit my wrist at worst and simply not engage in the 'buddy-buddy' exchanges at best. It seems that others need to thrust hard and sharp at other people's work without any constructive suggestions. Not my idea of fun.

Fortunately there is a very sensible IT boff who assists my limited confidence in uploading work to the site. He suggested that I focus on our mentor Mike Nichol, who is sensitive and objective in his comments and forget the snide unproductive remarks from others less qualified. As that was what I decided after the initial shock I have settled well into the challenge of writing the required assignments.

There is another 2000 word assignment waiting on my return, but with Namibia's open skies and Desert Elephants pending, hopefully creativity will bubble and words will pour onto keys on my return.

Desert Elephants - Demaraland

New Writing Course

I am always on the look out for new and creative writing courses. When I received an e-mail from Exclusive Books about the Random House non-fiction writing course AND giving a discount for Fanatics card holders, I thought this was an ideal opportunity to apply.

The moment my deposit had been made I received a phone call to welcome me to the course, an sms to say that my money had been received and an email to confirm my participation. No going back now I thought!

My paints, paper and pen have been working hard recently and I shall set them aside and with my new 'Paris Review' never-let-you-down fountain pen I aim to write, write and write some more. I look forward to updating from time to time.

I leave you with this beautiful autumn image from David Moore. What do the colours invoke in you?

Autumn Skies, Golden Trees

Publications

Working to deadline is always a challenge. One that I really enjoy. I am then able to put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard and write through almost any disturbance.

I remember a photograph of a journalist friend of mine sitting in the middle of a war zone - Beirut I think - with his typewriter on a broken table batting the keys to get the story out. Rubble and smoke behind him. No mobiles or computers then. His forehead wrinkled, eyes focussed on the paper in the typewriter, words pouring from his fingers.

That's the dedication a writer needs. Hopefully I won't ever find myself writing in a war zone.

At Rose Cottage we are as far from a war zone as possible but words do flow here with pencil, paper and computer.



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Poetry and People

Some years ago I joined a correspondence course for poets. My writing partner was Graham. As writers do we shared many moments of creativity and enjoyed the interaction of our email conversations.

David and I love Namibia and had an exquisite journey to Antarctica. Graham has a home in Namibia and has travelled to the other desert, Antarctica.

He and I have only ever met over e-mail and friends who keep us informed of our respective creative journeys.

We go to Kenya often and on one of our trips we had a musician and singer Gisela de Villiers in our group. One evening in the Masai Mara, Gisela sang the hymn Amazing Grace. The bush lit by the full moon, echoed with her voice accompanied by the call of hyena and grunt of hippo.

Dorian - who is a writer, poet and friend - sent me a mail about Graham's new poetry CD. His poems set to music and the singer and composer is Gisela and will be performed in Stellenbosch. David and I will be in Stellenbosch on the night of the first performance.

Perhaps Graham and I will eventually meet.

Do you think there is a poem or story here?

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Location:Johannesburg

Writing and Listening

On one of the coldest Saturday evenings of the year so far, we were guests at the Sunday Times literary awards. As we walked up the red carpet I wondered what the nominees must feel. Luckily I had no such 'flutter', but did meet authors and winners, chatted to truck drivers, teachers and TV presenters. Interacted with judges, journalists and comedians. The world is a fascinating place. Writers can be humble, excited, erudite and speechless. In fact human they are indeed!

In the compilation I am part of with Dorian Haarhoff as our editor, I am intrigued by the interaction of women to women and the importance of a title for the book. E-mails flew in space from one screen to another with very definite statements from a bunch of very strong women. The final title? Wait and see - certainly the editor [brave man] will have the final say.

My three pieces have been submitted and accepted by the editor. I wait to hear how much editing I still have to do. However the impetus of the deadlines has propelled me into a writer's flow. Long may it last.

We visited Namibia  - the north-west corner - at the Kunene River where we were able to interact with the local Himba people. A humbling and eye-opening few days.

With the image below, write using the following sentence as your cue:

She gazes through the windscreen down the ashy road and wonders................

Writers' Workshops

I've been fortunate enough to attend two weekends of writer's workshops. The first one with Dorian Haarhoff, long time friend and mentor. We met, a group of us to form the our portion of a book of short story memoirs which will be published in October.

Candles, Coffee and Creativity

Five of us met for two days to delve into our memory bank of childhood experiences and adult journeys. A wonderful way to share, remember and create. We meet twice and have personal mentoring from Dorian. I find that when 'pushed' for stories and date lines are set I write, write, write. A good thing indeed.

I was invited to participate in a writer's conference this weekend. Mixing with other authors, writers and young people is a great way to find inspiration and new thought patterns.
Teaching is also a wonderful way to become inspired by the people around you.

Reading from Sketch Your year in Poetry

Cosmos Weekend - March 2011 - Time to Write and Ponder

We had a wonderful weekend in the Eastern Free State with beautiful weather and great photographic and writing opportunities.

Richard and Jo-Anne of allaboutwriting (for further information:www.allaboutwritingcourses.com), joined the writers for a day workshop at Rose Cottage.

Jo-Anne & Richard

We were given great pointers on how to craft a story from scene plotting, to how to add 'drama' and dialogue. Discussion time was followed by writing time which was followed by crafting time and of course, time to view the cosmos fields.

A-M and Sam - 'Writers in the Field'

We will add our stories to these pages so that they are able to be read and discussed.

Writing Prompt:

Surrounded by friends in the dining room the young girl looks up and sees an owl fly across the open door. She gets up and walks into the cosmos filled night garden....................