22 – 29 September, 2012

From Rosie after her 2011 writing retreat at Daku:
Magic! I loved it. Small but fabulous group, very committed, worked hard but also lots of fun, the staff were as usual wonderful.  They put on a memorable farewell night with kava, a lovo and singing and dancing by Keni’s children (Keni and Mereone  sang with them) and a rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan by one student – the extraordinary Kevin who is a professional singer among many other things.

It’s a great place for people  to get to a deeper  level with their manuscripts. It really is the best teaching experience for me too - to see  the way people’s work improves over the week is a joy. I believe this is partly because they become so relaxed and open in this lovely place.

The course
Working on your manuscript with a mentor can make a profound change to your attitude to your writing. It allows you to step back and establish the perspective you need to develop it further. This course combines classes with workshopping and one-on-one mentoring. As you analyse and discuss both your own and everyone else’s writing it will give you a dynamic new understanding of how you can shape your work.

Rosie Scott’s courses at Daku are becoming regular events – have a look at her website for some of her students’ comments: www.thesecondevolution.com/rosie/mentoring.html

The course will be limited to 8 people, and she will ask everyone to have at least the beginnings of a manuscript – a couple of chapters of a novel, or two short stories you have written or are working on. She is aiming at those people who want to write and have started the process, but need the confidence to get their work into shape. Her approach is inclusive and individually focussed. She eschews any hard and fast rules about writing fiction, and concentrates on inspiring and liberating people to find their own voice, and to discover what works specifically for them. She focuses on affirmation and truthful feedback: What works? Why? What doesn’t work? Why not? And how can it be fixed so that it does?

The programme follows a schedule of morning workshops. They will start with writing exercises and general discussion, and then go on to an intensive workshopping of your writing – and before the course, she’ll ask you to send her the writing you want to have workshopped. This will be a very freeing process: many students initially find it alarming, but always come to value it for the connection it gives to their audience, and the acceleration of learning across all aspects of the craft.

In the afternoons she will give every student a one-on-one mentoring session when she will get to grips with the structure and pace of your work and help guide you onto the next step.

The afternoons will otherwise be free for more writing, activities – or just relaxing and enjoying the resort facilities: have a spa massage, go snorkelling, or lie by the pool and read.

Rosie Scott is an internationally published, award- winning novelist, playwright, short story writer, teacher, script editor and poet.  Her latest book Faith Singer was included in an international list of 50 Greatest reads by Living Writers set up by The UK Guardian, Orange Prize Committee and Hay Festival. She is an experienced and highly successful mentor: Georgia Blain said she couldn’t have written her best selling novel Closed for Winter without her  (Closed for Winter was also recently made into a feature film starring Natalie Imbruglia). She teaches creative writing at UTS.

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, her degrees include BA, M.A. Honours in English, a graduate Diploma of Drama, a Graduate Diploma of Counselling (with outstanding student citation) and a Doctorate of Creative Arts.

Rosie’s novels have been shortlisted for most Australian and New Zealand national awards. Her award winning play was the basis for a feature film which won awards in Japan and France, and her short stories have been anthologised widely nationally and internationally.

She has mentored numerous young writers  for the Australian Society of Authors and many books both professionally and for writer friends and family  including Bella Vendramini’s best- selling Biting the Big Apple,  Anne’s Deveson’s Lines in the Sand and Resilience. She has also taught writing to high-security violent inmates at Long Bay gaol for several years and written for the Sydney Morning Herald as a critic.

Programme

Saturday 22 September
Leave Sydney, arrive Nadi.
Local flight to Savusavu.
6.00pm: Drinks and welcome.

Sunday 23 September
9.00am -12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Mentoring
Afternoon free
7.00pm: Dinner

Monday 24 September
9.00am – 12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Mentoring
Afternoon visit to Savusavu

Tuesday 25 September
9.00am – 12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Mentoring
Afternoon: Beach outing

Wednesday 26 September
9.00am – 12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 3.00pm: Mentoring
Afternoon free

Thursday 27 September
9.00am – 12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 3.00pm: Mentoring
Afternoon free
6.00pm: Drinks and dinner at Savusavu Yacht Club

Friday 28 September
9.00am – 12.30pm: workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
2.00pm – 3.00pm: Mentoring
3.30pm – 5.30pm: Village visit and meke (traditional dance)

Saturday 29 September
Return to Nadi and on home

Cost:
$2180 twin share.
$350 single supplement

Program Includes

• Return domestic flight from Nadi to Savusavu.
• Return airport transfers from Savusavu to Daku Resort.
• 7 nights accommodation at Daku Resort in traditional bures with private facilities.
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided.
• Course fees.
• Lectures, excursions as indicated.

Program Excludes

• International travel to Nadi
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance.
• Optional activities not listed on the program
• Costs of a personal nature eg laundry, massages, private trips
• Meals taken in transit at the airport

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