LIVING WORDS CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS: AIR, FIRE, EARTH AND WATER

June 29^th “Fire in the Tongue”

Exploring the symbolism of fire, its representation of creativity and passion and its association with Summer, new work will be written that draws on fire’s potency, its connections to hearth and home.

September 14^th  “Touch the Earth”

Autumn, a time of ‘mellow fruitfulness’, a time to harvest words, gather our thoughts and shape them into form, whether poetry or prose. This workshop draws on the power of fruits and trees.

November 16^th “Healing Well”

Winter, a time of floods and snow, of fogs and ice. A time to hibernate, sleep, restore our energies and dream. This workshop explores the power of dreams, the importance of water and its association with healing and intuition.

All welcome. No previous creative writing experience necessary. Workshops take place on Sunday afternoons, 2pm-5pm

how to book


Telephone: 01229 583204
Email: info@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

Address: 
Swarthmoor Hall
Swarthmoor Hall Lane
Ulverston
Cumbria
LA12 0JQ

MARCH 2014

A WING AND A PRAYER - back in from a chill-windy walk down past Dragley Beck, where I saw a dipper scoot upstream the other week, down the Rope Walk - where once I spotted a water vole, and on to Canal Foot, looking out for kingfishers. Thinking of the times I've rescued, or held, birds: the lapwing when I was a child, a curlew I climbed an ash tree in wellies and duffle coat to rescue, it had become entangled in fisherman's twine, or the herring gull I carried for over a mile from West Kirkby beach to Hilbre island, to the bird sanctuary there - herring gulls I learned, are heavy birds! And face to face with fierce yellow eyes and nose to beak with its curved sharpness was quite an experience!

All the while I was walking my mind settled into a rhythm: planning ahead for my first 'Living Words' writing workshop on March 23rd, titled 'A Wing and a Prayer'. Listening to Canada geese barking like dogs in the still flooded fields next to the canal, and the wings of last year's cygnets beating the air before they landed on the canal in an almighty swooooosh!

BREATH, AIR, SPRING AND HOMECOMINGS

The four workshops are themed around seasons and elements and the myth that surround them. The first is air: 'breath' new life and spring, returns, departures. The gasp of a new born; sigh and rattle as we pass from this 'mortal coil'

Possible poems and prose pieces spring to mind: an extract from 'Sand County Almanac' Aldo Leopold, 'The Sleeping Lord' David Jones, 'Wild Geese' Mary Oliver - not everyone in the world has read it! - a wide choice of poems from the Grey Hen Press anthology 'No Space but their Own', and where oh where has my 'Women in Praise of the Sacred'  Jane Hirshfield  gone!?. It's a very rich field to choose from and one of the delights in planning a workshop is reading, researching, selecting and shaping, and of course, sharing.

March 23rd “A Wing and a Prayer”

This workshop will focus on the symbolism of Spring, new breath, new life and a re-birth of land and spirit. New writing created will celebrate air and the return home of migratory birds.

Come and join us: Sunday March 23rd 2pm-5pm, Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston, £10 includes afternoon tea.

Sunday 23 March, Sunday 29 June, Sunday 14 September, Sunday 16 November

The workshops will explore what is meant by spirituality and how by re-connecting with the earth this may help to re-ignite our sense of the sacred. New writing will be produced in response to a variety of stimuli and writing exercises, and group feedback provided. The writing will be published as a small anthology entitled: 'Living Words' together with a pamphlet of Geraldine’s own work in response to her post as writer-in-residence, 'A Wing and a Prayer'.

All are welcome. No previous creative writing experience is necessary. Participants can come to one or more or all of the workshops in the series.

how to book


Telephone: 01229 583204
Email: info@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

Address: 
Swarthmoor Hall
Swarthmoor Hall Lane
Ulverston
Cumbria
LA12 0JQ

For all residential courses and events not in the Woodbrooke at Swarthmoor Hall programme please complete our blue booking form (either as an electronic copy or printed document) and send it to the General Assistant, at Swarthmoor Hall.

photo: Swan on Ulverston Canal, by Geraldine Green