It’s official – we are hosting a new programmeme for the year ahead which will include workshops, seminars, writing events, books by local authors for sale and much more for all levels of writers, readers and anyone who shares the love of the writing world to become involved with.
Our first inaugural Whaingaroa Writers Workshop will start in February and we can’t wait to share the love of writing, illustrating and reading with our Whaingaroa community in the year ahead. With over 30 writers, bloggers, illustrators and publicists residing here in our community we are fortunate to have a talent pool within easy reach to help share their knowledge and skills with our community as part of our series of programmes in the year ahead.
Ann Neville is steering the programme on behalf of the Raglan Community Arts Council. Ann brings a wealth of experience and love of writing. Jacqueline Anderson, as the Event coordinator will be by her side, helping to keep the ship afloat.
The first Whaingaroa Writers World programme scheduled in February will be presented by authors Ann Neville, Steve Horne and Lance King. The programme will finish on Friday 1st March with a book launch from Kate Evans. Check out the full programme below for more details!
Thursday 22nd February 7pm, Lance King will host a discussion on Courage, Resilience and Failing Well – about parenting in today’s post-Covid digital children age. Lance is an internationally recognized author, teacher, and workshop facilitator who, in the last 28 years, has worked in over 300 schools in 39 countries with many thousands of students, teachers and parents. He is the author of seven books on the skills of thinking and learning, is married with four grown-up children, lives locally and divides his time between delivering workshops around the world and writing. Lance says, ‘Today’s children are a unique group in the history of the world defined by engagement with the internet since birth plus the experience of the Covid pandemic. This seminar will show parents all the vital digital and non-digital skills their children need to maximise their success at school, at university and in all future careers and business opportunities and will give parents many practical tips on how to bring up children who are resilient, courageous and actively engaged with both the real and the digital worlds.” Come along and hear more on this topic with Lance on Thursday 22nd January at 7pm.
Friday 23rd February at 7pm will feature Steve Horne, a teacher, Raglan writer and blogger. Steve with discuss his writing journey, the process, what helped him and what didn’t, getting published and effective marketing. His book ‘The Trouble with Twins’ is on its third reprint! He will also reflect on how writing has impacted on his life, and on the lives of children he has taught.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th from 10am to 1pm a two-session workshop will be held for students (11+ years) on writing and illustrating their own book. These sessions will be coordinated by Ann Neville (a Raglan publisher, biographer, editor and writer). The workshop will cover the essential techniques of fiction writing: character development, plotting, narrative viewpoint, dialogue, and description. There will also be time for individual feedback.
All workshops are entry by koha on the door.
Friday 1st March at 6pm, come along and meet local writer Kate Evans who is launching her new book Feijoa: A Story of Plants, People, Obsession and Belonging. Kate is a nature writer, freelance science journalist, and video producer, currently writing features on science, nature, culture and food for New Zealand Geographic and other New Zealand magazines. Kate also writes and reports for international media, including News, the Guardian, the Observer, Discover Magazine, Hakai Magazine, Undark, EOS, and the Scientific American. Kate’s first book is about her favourite fruit in the world, the Feijoa.
The Old School Arts Centre Taiwhanga Whakaatu Toi Gallery will be open daily from Friday 23rd February 10am to 2pm until Friday 1st March and will feature books from local authors, all for sale. Come along connect, support, learn, enjoy, taste, read and prepare to be inspired.
In store ahead, reminder to keep an eye out for future workshops on getting published, writing for children, writing fiction and nonfiction, weekend writing programmes, poetry writing, writing for social impact + so much more!!
For further queries and if you would like to be involved with the 2024 writing programmeme, contact Ann Neville annlneville@gmail.com or Jacqueline Event Coordinator jacqueline@raglanartscentre.co.nz.
We are also hosting a hui for 6.30pm Tuesday 5th March at the Raglan Old School to discuss future events – all are welcome to attend.
Finally, a big thank you to the Raglan Community Board and Waikato District Creative Communities Scheme for funding support that helps dreams come true.
The Whaingaroa Writers World programme is a Creative Raglan Event organised by the Raglan Community Arts Council.
