3-10 July, 2010

Libby Hathorn is an award-winning author and poet. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003.

Her anthology of poetry All Along the River is in development with the ABC. Poetry is dear to her heart and Libby currently works on her own special arts project entitled 100 Views with schools and councils here and internationally. Her documentary 100 Views Kathmandu screens on community channels. Of her picture storybooks, Grandmas Shoes has been performed as an opera by Opera Australia and Theatre of Image, Libby being awarded an AWGIE for the libretto; Sky Sash So Blue was performed as an opera in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.

She is best known for her books for children and young people. She has written fifty books in this area, and they have been translated into several languages and adapted for stage and screen. Her work has won honours in Australia, United States, United Kingdom and Holland.

She lectures part-time in Creative Writing at Sydney University and as an Australia Day Ambassador, travels to country towns to talk about the importance of Australian literature.  Libby’s latest stories include Georgiana: Woman of Flowers (Hachette, 2008), Fire Song, (ABC Books, 2009), Zahara’s Rose (IP Press, 2009).

The course

During the week, Libby will be leading you on an exploration of all aspects of poetry – writing, reading, understanding and celebrating.

She will discuss reading poetry for pleasure, looking at the revelations poetry brings. Poems often pack a lot of emotion and meaning into short spaces: how can the reader really dig into them and enjoy the full impact of the poet’s vision? If a poem is opaque, is that the reader’s problem or the writer’s shortcoming? How can you judge the difference?

She’ll examine the skills and thrills of poetry- because a good poem needs both craft and vision. She will focus on the role of inspiration in creating the poem, but also look at how to engage the reader with that inspiration. Call it craft, call it tricks of the trade – but we all know how some poems soar whilst others clunk. She shows you how to experience the world in your writing, using all of your five senses.

And then we get into those difficult but wildly exciting areas: the magic of metaphor and true creative thinking, and really making meanings. She calls it “growing a poem” – and on this course, you will be able to see your ideas blossom and shoot out in new directions.

There will be an opportunity to read and discuss your poems during the daily workshops, and at the end of the week there will be a celebratory reading of your chosen piece.

Programme

Saturday 3 July
Arrive Nadi. Local flight to Savusavu.
4.30 – 5.30pm: Drinks and welcome.

Sunday 4 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
2.00pm: Coconut demonstration
Afternoon: free
6.00pm – 7.00pm:   Reading and feedback
7.00pm: Dinner

Monday 5 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
Afternoon visit to Savusavu town
6.00pm – 7.00pm:   Reading and feedback
7.00pm: Dinner

Tuesday 6 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
Afternoon boat / beach outing
6.00pm – 7.00pm:   Reading and feedback
7.00pm: Dinner

Wednesday 7 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
Afternoon free
4.00pm: Tapa making demonstration
6.00pm – 7.00pm:   Reading and feedback
7.00pm: Dinner

Thursday 8 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
Afternoon free
5.00pm –6.00pm:   Reading and feedback
6.30pm: Drinks and dinner at Savusavu Yacht Club

Friday 9 July
10.00am – 1.00pm: Workshop
4.30pm – 5.30pm: Village visit and meke (traditional dance)
6.00pm: Readings and celebratory drinks; final lovo dinner

Saturday 10 July
Return to Nadi on 0830 flight and on to connecting flights