Writing

Hello to WA poets, Event organisers and Writing centres,
National Poetry Week 2008 will be celebrated all around Australia from 29th August to 7th September. This year’s themes are: Screen; Shop; Suspect; Space; I, eye; Friend; Cast; Save; to be interpreted any way you like.

WA Poets Inc (the organisers of the WA Spring Poetry Festival) celebrates National Poetry Week 2008 with a three day festival
Date: Friday 29th, Saturday 30th, and Sunday 31st August
Peter Jeffery, peter.jeffery@iinet.net.au, Andrew Burke, burkeandre@gmail.com
 
Poet's Corner celebrates National Poetry Week 2008
Saturday 30th August
2 pm to 4.30 pm
Pages Cafe, ground floor of the Alexander Building, State Library, Cultural Centre Perth (just over the bridge from the railway station)
Frances Macaulay Forde,  poetscornerwa@yahoo.com.au.
Cost: Purchase a cup of coffee in the Cafe.

Walking on Water celebrates National Poetry Week 2008
Monday 1st September
We’re opening the doors at 7 pm and will start at 7.30 pm sharp.
The Laneway, off Murray St , Perth
Jane Cornes, 0414 862 306, jcornes@iinet.net.au
Cost: $5 Waged, $3 Unwaged
Details: Tea and coffee provided, but please bring your own mug.
 
Creative Connections Poetry and Art Exhibition, in association with WA Poets Inc, celebrates National Poetry Week 2008
Theme: I, eye
Thursday 5th, Friday 6th, Saturday 7th September
Free
Maureen Sexton, 0435 024 616, maureensexton@bigpond.com

Whether you’re writing for yourself, for competitions or for publication the ‘Short Story Secrets’ course will provide endless ideas, tips and practical advice to ensure your stories are as good as you want them to be.

Week 1 – Saturday 19 July, 2–4pm
Short Stories overview

Week 2 - Saturday 2 August, 2–4pm
Where to find story ideas

Week 3 - Saturday 16 August, 2–4pm
Strengthening your writing skills

Week 4 - Saturday 30 August, 2–4pm
Plotting a strong storyline

Week 5 - Saturday 6 September, 2–4pm
Making your characters real

Week 6 – Saturday 20 September, 2–4pm 
The importance of critiquing

Week 7 - Saturday 4 October, 2–4pm 
Fiction based on fact

Week 8 – Saturday 18 October, 2–4pm
Editing, grammar and typos

Week 9 – Saturday 1 November, 2–4pm
How to send your work out to competitions, newsletters and magazines

Week 10 – Saturday 15 November, 2–4pm 
All the other little bits

Small friendly group, suitable for writers of all levels
Supervised by Elizabeth Bezant
One up front cost of $125
Express your interest now for this exciting opportunity.
Phone: 9301 2282, Email: cowan05@bigpond.com

Poetry Masterclasses with Maureen Sexton and guest poets

Week 1 – Saturday 12 July 
Coming Home - What is Poetry? Why do we write it? How to be a poet.

Week 2 – Saturday 26 July, 1.30–4pm 
Opening the doors – A journey through forms I

Week 3 – Saturday 9 August, 1.30–4pm 
Flinging open the windows – A journey through forms II

Week 4 – Saturday 23 August, 1.30–4pm 
Exploring - Reading poetry. The sound of music

Week 5 – Saturday 13 September, 1.30–4pm 
Raising the roof – Word magic. The sky is not the limit

Week 6 – Saturday 27 September, 1.30–4pm 
Breaking down the walls – Nature, urban, beyond

Week 7 – Saturday 11 October, 1.30–4pm 
Exploring the universe – Finding poems. Prompts. Ideas

Week 8 – Saturday 25 October, 1.30–4pm 
Re-visiting - Draft. Edit. Critique. Common faults

Week 9 – Saturday 8 November , 1.30–4pm
Venturing out - Publishing. Sending manuscripts. Entering competitions

Week 10 - Saturday 22 November, 1.30–4pm 
Going visiting (libraries, cafes, theatres) - On the page and on the stage

One up front cost of $125
Express your interest now for this exciting opportunity.
Phone: 9301 2282, Email: cowan05@bigpond.com

Alana Valentine’s new play Doing Dawn was selected to participate in PlayWriting Australia’s first Creative Development Studio. Doing Dawn is a play about young adult Australian and New Zealand pilgrims who travel to the Anzac Cove site in Turkey to commemorate the landing of troops during the first world war. It will undergo three days of intensive scrutiny and practical exploration here at PlayWriting Australia’s home at Sydney’s CarriageWorks in October.

Creative Development Studio sessions allow playwrights to undertake a 3-day period of intensive practical problem-solving on a new play in development. PlayWriting Australia facilitates time, space and resources for writers approaching final draft stage.
Applications for Creative Development Studio opportunities in 2009 will be invited from July.
Full details on the PlayWriting Australia website www.pwa.org.au/skills/Creative.

The chairs of the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards judging panels have praised the quality of entries in the inaugural 2008 round of these awards. The awards, which will be held annually, have been introduced by the Prime Minister to celebrate the important role literature plays in Australian life.

A tax free prize of $100 000 will be awarded to the work judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of two categories, fiction and non-fiction. The short list will be announced in coming weeks, with the announcement of the two winners to follow.
A set of the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards short-listed and winning books will be presented to selected public libraries throughout Australia and promotional material can be requested online on the awards website.

Check the awards website: www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards

Guest Speakers, Poetry readings, Mingle with the artists and poets, Community Television will be filming the launch. The exhibition will run from Thursday 10th July to Saturday 12th July during normal trading hours. There will be a second exhibition in September. Artworks will be for sale with accompanying poetry! Creative Connections is a not for profit group.

Thursday 10th July, 3 pm
Centro Warwick Shopping Centre, Beach Rd (Cnr Erindale Rd), Warwick
For more information, please contact: Maureen Sexton 0435 024 616, or Robyn Hornsey 9275 4111, or email maureensexton@bigpond.com. Check out the website: http://www.maureensexton.com.au/Pages/creativeconnectionshome.html.
Supported by: WA Poets Inc, Centro Warwick, Perth Expo Hire, Disability Services Commission, Peter Cowan Writers’ Centre, National Poetry Week, Edith Cowan University

10 Week Poetry Masterclasses, Poetry to Publishing, with Maureen Sexton and guest poets.
Begins Saturday 12th July and takes place once a fortnight. Finishes on Saturday 22nd November.
Peter Cowan Writers’ Centre, Edith Cowan House, ECU, Joondalup.
1.30 pm to 4 pm.
Cost: $125 for the ten weeks, or $100 for PCWC members.
Book now: 9301 2282 or email cowan05@bigpond.com.

Jenn de Ness and Bill Atkinson are joined by cellist/poet Kevin Gillam to dish up a smooth mix of de Ness acoustic, nu-jazz groove alongside original verse. A fantastic feast of original poetry from 9 of the best poets in town! MC Vivienne Glance will embellish the evening with poetic puns in between harmonies and inspiring verse.

Friday August 29 at 7.30pm
Scots Hall, Cnr South Terrace & Parry Street, Fremantle
Tickets $5 on the door
For bookings & info: jdeness@optusnet.com, Ph: 0434 880 681, www.myspace.com/jendeness

Community Arts Network WA is looking for community artists to join our network! The community artist listing is a FREE service for community artists across WA. Once you register with your skills, we will contact you via email with opportunities from across WA to facilitate and work on community arts projects.

For more information on the Community Arts Network WA and the ability to sign up to the community artist listing online, visit the CAN WA website or click on ‘Join the network’ from the CAN WA home page.

http://www.canwa.com.au/canwa-resources/join-network/free-artist-listing/
To receive a registration form by mail, please contact CAN WA on 9226 2422 or toll free on 1800 681 021.

This month we have no less than three new opportunities for you to develop and promote your work in the first half of 2009!

1. National Play Festival 2009

Across two weeks, the National Play Festival brings together theatre artists from across the country to create and celebrate great new Australian plays. The 2009 Festival is scheduled to take place from 16 March to 5 April.

The centrepiece of the Festival is a showcase season of staged readings of six of the best brand new Australian plays, written, directed and performed by the finest theatre artists from across the country. Submissions are now invited from Australian playwrights with final, performance-ready drafts of new plays of any genre, style or subject.

Applications open. Applications must be physically received at PlayWriting Australia by 5pm on Friday 8 August, 2008.

Runs 16 March – 5 April, 2009.
More information www.pwa.org.au

2. Creative Development Studio, Summer Session 2009

Creative Development Studio sessions allow playwrights to undertake a 3-day period of intensive practical problem-solving on a new play in development. PlayWriting Australia facilitates time, space and resources for writers approaching final draft stage. The Creative Development Studio is intended to assist writers whose work is essentially performance-ready, but will benefit from practical investigation before it is submitted for consideration by theatre companies.

Submissions are now invited from playwrights with a minimum of three professional production credits who are able to take up this opportunity in Sydney 11 – 13 May, 2009.

Applications open. Applications must be physically received at PlayWriting Australia by 5pm on Tuesday 30 September, 2008.

Runs 11 – 13 May, 2009.
More information www.pwa.org.au

3. Call for entries, Summer Session 2009

The State Exchange programme is now open again for submissions for projects taking place between January and June 2009. Applications are invited from playwrights anywhere in Australia who can demonstrate a minimum of one professional production credit.

Applications open. Applications must be physically received at PlayWriting Australia by 5pm on Tuesday 30 September, 2008.
Runs Summer session, 2009. Activity must take place between January and June.
More information www.pwa.org.au

OOTA Poetry Wall, State Library of Western Australia
29th August to 1st September
Contact: Jo Clarke, 9339 0847, or josephine.oota@gmail.com

School Student’s Day with Veronica Lake
Friday 29th August
Contact: Veronica - votiveoffering@gmail.com

OOTA Poetry Reading with guest poet, Marcella Polain
plus open mic, Friday 29th August, 12.30 to 2 pm
Function Room, Fremantle Arts Centre
Contact: Jo Clarke, 9339 0847, or josephine.oota@gmail.com

de Ness @ Scots with WA Poets Inc
Friday 29th August, 7.30 pm
Scot's Hall, Cnr South Terrace and Parry Street, Fremantle
Contact: Jen de Ness - jdeness@optusnet.com.au

Festival Opening Ceremony
Saturday 30th August, SLWA
Contact: wapoets@yahoo.com.au

Poet’s Corner
Saturday 30th August, 2 pm to 4.30 pm
Pages Cafe, State Library of WA
Contact: Frances - poetscornerwa@yahoo.com.au

WAPI OPENFACE 08 Performance Poetry Action
Saturday 30th August 2008, Kaos Room, The Blue Room, Northbridge
Contact: allan - allanboyd@optusnet.com.au

Reconciliation workshop, Translation Workshop & Multicultural Reading
State Library of WA
Sunday 31st August, 10 am to 5 pm
Contact Peter: peter.jeffery@iinet.net.au or wapoets@yahoo.com.au 

WAPI Velvet Voices Poetry Reading, special guests and open readings
Velvet Lounge, The Flying Scotsman, Mt Lawley
Sunday 31st August, 6 pm to 9.30 pm
Contact: Maureen - wapoets@yahoo.com.au

Haiku Wall at City of Perth Library
Monday 1st September to 13th September
City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth
Contact Anna: 9461 3581, or anna.teasdale@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

Workshop: Sculpting in English with Janet Jackson
Monday 1st September, 11 am to 3 pm
KSP Writers’ Centre, 11 Old York Rd, Greenmount
Hosted by Poets@KSP
Book with KSP 9294 1872, kspf@iinet.net.au

Haiku Workshop with Maureen Sexton
Monday 1st September, 1 pm to 3 pm
City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth
Contact Anna: 9461 3581, or anna.teasdale@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

Walking on Water, Laneway Theatre, Perth
Monday 1st September, 7.30pm to 10pm
Contact: Jane Cornes: 0414 862 306, jcornes@iinet.net.au

Poetry Session with Kevin Gillam
Wednesday 3rd September, 10 am to 12 noon
City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth
Contact Anna, 9461 3581, or anna.teasdale@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

Creative Connections Poetry and Art Exhibition
Thursday 4th, Friday 5th, Saturday 6th September
Including launch of books on Thursday 4th at 6 pm.
Galleria Shopping Centre, Morley
Contact: Maureen, 0435 024 616, wapoets@yahoo.com.au

Voicebox, FAWWA anthology readings
Thursday 4th September, 7.30 pm to 10 pm
La Tropicana Café, 177 High Street, Fremantle
Contact: Nandi Chinna - voiceboxfreo@yahoo.com.au

Poetry Session with Evelyn Bach
Friday 5th September, 10 am to 11 am
City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street, Perth
Contact Anna, 9461 3581, or anna.teasdale@cityofperth.wa.gov.au

Lunchlines at Edith Cowan University
12 noon to 1 pm

WA Bush Poets & Yarn Spinners Traditional Night - poems from the past
Friday 5th September
Bentley Park Auditorium, 26 Plantation Drive, Bentley
Contact: Brian Langley, 9361 3770 - braindot@tpg.com.au

Poetry Extravaganza
Sunday 7th September, Peter Cowan Writers Centre, Edith Cowan House
Edith Cowan University, Joondalup
Contact: 9301 2282 - cowan05@bigpond.com

Brought to you by WA Poets Inc
http://www.maureensexton.com.au/Pages/waspringpoetryfestival2008.html
wapoets@yahoo.com.au

1. Not a Workshop but a Funshop - Andrew Burke

To write covers a vast amount of territory as a verb, doesn't it. So, what's the fun part of writing? Creating. This will be a 'funshop' more than a workshop, with exercises with a purpose aiming at inspiration, perspiration and - getting ready to publish. Prose, poetry, drama, song - bring your best bag of tricks, metaphorically speaking, and we will play with them all!

Sunday August 31, 1.30-3.30pm
Peter Cowan Writers Centre, Edith Cowan House, ECU Joondalup (Cottage by the lake)
Cost: PCWC Members $5, Non-members $10
Contact: Please book in by 3pm Thursday August 28 2008 by contacting Coby on 9301 2282 or cowan05@bigpond.com 
 
2. Poetry Extravaganza (featuring Writer in Residence Andrew Burke)

Andrew Burke will be our keynote speaker and PCWC members and the general community will be invited to read their poetry or just come along and listen to the vast array of poetic talent we have in our locality. A fitting way to close National Poetry Week 2008.

Sunday September 7, 1.30-3.30pm
Peter Cowan Writers Centre, Edith Cowan House, ECU Joondalup (Cottage by the lake)
Cost: Donation/ raffle held
Contact: Please book in by 3pm Thursday September 4 2008 by contacting Coby on 9301 2282 or cowan05@bigpond.com

1. Meet Lucas North, Emerging Writer in Residence at Tom Collins House.

3pm at Tom Collins House. Lucas will talk about his journey through the literary world, and especially the Longlines/Macquarie Bank Fellowship at Varuna in NSW which he was awarded for his tenth novel manuscript, ‘The Population Of Loss.’ While at TCH Lucas will be working on an ‘outback noir’ novel entitled ‘Cut Snakes’ and completing a poetry collection, ‘Ramadan On The Farm’. He is available to comment on members; work. Ring 9384 4771 for an appointment.

Sunday 7 September

2. A two-part workshop on Fear of Rejection and The Rejection of Fear with Lucas North

Varuna workshop veteran Lucas North will lead a two-part workshop geared to teach you how to defy rejection, defeat dejection and turn anger toward editors into self-sustaining energy that will see you rise above the nay-sayers. The myths of Author Passivity will be deconstructed: learn why writer’s block is a myth, and why outside ‘coaching’ is doomed to failure.

Saturday 13 & 27 September, 2:30pm to 5pm

Tom Collins House is located in the Heritage Precinct, next to Allen Park in Swanbourne.
It is in a beautiful bush area with other heritage listed houses, at the corner of Wood and Kirkwood Streets, Swanbourne.
Ph 9384 4771 or email admin@fawwa.org.au

Join Lucas North at the Fremantle Arts Centre for 2 Prose Classes while Helen Hagemann is away at Varuna. Lucas is a member of OOTA (Out of the Asylum Writers' Group) and wrote his first novel at the age of nineteen. Last year, his tenth manuscript earned him a coveted place in the Varuna Longlines workshops. His poems and prose have appeared in Fables and Reflections, indigo, Concrete Dialogues and Blue Dog. He has worked in the Perth writing scene in a variety of roles, and throughout September will be the FAW's Emerging Writer-In-Residence. He is currently working on a novel entitled 'Cut Snakes'.

Friday 22nd August, Friday 5th September, 10.00am to midday
Fremantle Arts Centre
Cost: $20 OOTA members / $25 non-member
Contact: Email Lucas for further info - lucasliz@iprimus.com.au

There is a new weekly songwriter’s forum. The aim of the night is to give songwriters the opportunity to perform their tunes; play with other musicians and attend short seminars/info sessions from both known and unknown songwriters, performers and other music industry groups about all aspects of music and performance. See http://www.myspace.com/tunesmithscafe

Every Monday Night, 7.30pm to 10.00pm
Rosie O'Grady's, Fremantle
Cost: Free
Contact: Makk Eenhoorn <tunesmithscafe@iinet.net.au> or Mike Cardy 0413 677 084 for info or to book a spot on the show