Thursday, August 16, 2012

SPRING IN TO WRITING




The Creative Hub is a writing centre with a difference – the first to be run entirely by professional authors and editors, and enjoying a unique situation on Auckland's Princes Wharf; a stunning location in which to have fun and learn new skills. The eclectic range of writing courses on offer are taught by some of New Zealand’s leading writers and teachers of writing.

The Creative Hub offers a supportive environment in which students can share their writing with confidence. The various fiction courses on offer are headed up by published writer, creative writing tutor and editor, John Cranna. His mandate is to facilitate a positive and encouraging, feedback-based environment  and his approach of two parts positive feedback on students’ work and one part constructive criticism is a good formula; research shows that this is the best way to learn a new skill, in a feedback based learning group environment.

Here’s a taste of some of the writing courses offered by The Creative Hub from September 2012:

FICTION WRITING COURSE
This course is intended for those who want to write a novel, short stories, or some other extended piece of fiction. The main intention of the course is to provide a fun and stimulating environment in which the student can discover his or her own authentic literary voice. The course is limited to no more than twelve students, in order to maximise the personal rewards for students.

This two semester course runs from September to May, during which you will take part in workshops run by some of New Zealand’s leading writers, including Roger Hall, Tessa Duder, Paula Morris, Graham Reid and Sarah Laing. It is facilitated by John Cranna and is his successor to the popular Masters of Creative Writing course he founded at AUT University, and which was voted Best-Taught Post Graduate Course by students in 2008.

A number of leading New Zealand fiction writers and publishers will conduct specialist craft workshops during the course and each student will be matched to an established NZ fiction writer, for one on one mentoring. At the end of the course, the student will be provided with an analysis, in the form of a Publishers Readers Report, on the strengths and weaknesses of her / his manuscript. Graduates of this course have already had successes in literary awards, and in getting work published.

Course commences: Thursday 27 September 2012, 6-9pm
THE ART & CRAFT OF MEMOIR
Each session of this course is structured around a theme: a childhood memory; getting through the teenage years; becoming a grown up; work and family; the meaning of home and community, the place of 'significant others'; major life events that take courage and fortitude to move through. In a year when the Christchurch earthquake has devastated many lives, this course will also look at unexpected life crises, how to manage them through journaling; something that greatly assists in handling life trauma.

Deborah Shepard is an experienced teacher of memoir who has taught a popular series of Life Writing courses since 2006. Her published work includes Reframing Women: A History of New Zealand Film (2000), Her Life's Work: Conversations with Five New Zealand Women (2009) and she is currently working on a guide to life writing. Recently Deborah established a ‘Your Story’ forum on her website deborahshepardbooks.com, for writers to share their life stories online.

Course commences: Monday 08 October 2012, 6-8pm


TRAVEL WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
Kiwis have always been big travellers, and have a habit of turning up in the farthest-flung corners of the world. Learn to write about these exotic destinations in a sure and masterful way. Travelling to far-off places can be much more rewarding if you are able to capture the atmosphere and culture of your destination, and then successfully pitch these experiences to a publication. In a global world there is a tremendous appetite to understand other peoples and places. Learn to evoke the sights and smells of the Pacific, America, Latin America, Africa, Asia or Europe. Or learn to more fully experience and write about the many hidden delights of Australasia.
Learn from tutor Yvonne van Dongen, one of New Zealand's most respected travel writers. For a number of years she was Travel Editor of the New Zealand Herald and, subsequently, Travel Editor of onHoliday Magazine. She writes regularly for NZ Life & Leisure, The Australian, AA Directions, Conde Nast Traveller, and North and South Magazine among others. She has won a number of awards for her travel writing, including Best Tourism and Travel Column in the Qantas Media Awards, Lifestyle Journalist of the Year, two Commonwealth Media Awards, and Cathay Pacific Media Writer of the Year.
Course commences: Tuesday 09 October 2012, 6-8pm


FULL COURSE DETAILS AND BOOKING INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT www.thecreativehub.net.nz

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