The Whāingaroa Raglan Writers World (WRWW) programme is back again in October with workshops on offer for keen new writers through to experienced writers wanting to hone their writing skills and learn more about publishing.
This series of workshops presented over two days features award-winning writers Mandy Hager, Anita Arlov and Ben Brown, including our very own local talent Ann Neville and Tina Shaw. Tina says “I’m excited to be involved in the Whāingaroa Writers Day. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get together with like-minded people and be inspired to new writing heights. A day like this, with extraordinary speakers and tutors, is gold.”
Anita Arlov is an award-winning writer and judge of flash fiction and poetry. She has staged Inside Out Open Mic for Writers, worked with a small team to host Writers Lounge in the Auckland Art Gallery, and was the 2019 Auckland Chair for NZ National Flash Fiction Day. Anita’s writing has been published widely in New Zealand and overseas.
Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) was born in 1962 in Motueka, which is further away from him now than he cares to think about. Ben has been writing all his life for his own enjoyment, and published his first children’s book in 1991. He’s an award-winning author who writes for children and adults across all genres, including poetry, which he also enjoys performing. Generally, if pressed, Ben will have something to say about anything. He was the inaugural NZ Reading Ambassador for Children – Te Awhi Rito. In 2024 Brown was appointed Te Kaipukahu University of Waikato Writer in Residence and now lives in Hamilton. He is also a father of two, which he considers his best work to date.
Mandy Hager is a multi-award-winning author. In 2019 she received the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for lifetime achievement and a distinguished contribution to New Zealand’s literature for young people. For ten years she taught the novel-writing course for Whitireia. Mandy has been the recipient of several fellowships, residencies and prizes, including the Beatson Fellowship, the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and the Waikato University Writer in Residence.
Ann Neville is the director of the publishing company, CreateBooks, which specialises in Manuscript Assessment, Editing, Self-Publishing Preparation and Distribution, and Biographies. She is an accomplished facilitator and research writer in the education field and has a special interest in strategies that mitigate against all forms of violence.
Tina Shaw’s writing career covers a diverse range of age groups and genres. Her recent novel, Ephemera, is set on the Waikato River, a location Tina knows well from growing up outside Kirikiriroa. As Editor, her 7th Edition of the Bateman NZ Writer’s Handbook was published in 2023. Her novel manuscript A House Built on Sand won the 2023 Michael Gifkins Text Prize and has been published by Text Publishing. A member of NZAMA, Tina works as a manuscript assessor and Editor of the NZSA quarterly publication NZ Author and divides her time between Taupõ and Whāingaroa.
Check out the programme below and book online to reserve a spot – workshop spaces are limited, so get in quick at https://creativeraglan.co.nz/ or call into the Old School when the office is open week days 10am – 2pm.
GRIT & DREAMS writing workshop with Tina Shaw $15
Friday 11 October 5.30pm – 7pm
This writing workshop will look at what it takes to build a fictional world, no matter what genre you are writing in. Tina will discuss how she created the world of Ursa and take you through a fun exercise to explore world-building for yourself.
WHĀINGAROA RAGLAN WRITERS DAY | Saturday 12 October 9am – 5.30pm
$80 for the full day or $60 concession for RCAC members
All About Publishing with Ann Neville & Tina Shaw
A workshop about indie and mainstream publishing, the publishing process, and everything in between. A great chance to fine-tune your publishing ideas. Includes a free copy of The Children’s Pond by Tina Shaw.
Character is the Key with Mandy Hager
Together everyone will workshop how to build a character-driven story that underpins theme, voice, setting and the story’s emotional heart.
Flash Fiction Workshop with Anita Arlov
Read aloud and examine successful examples of flash in differing styles and genres; discover ways to make your writing zing, sparkle and snap; and start a piece of writing using all manner of prompts, including pictures and objects.
Whakapapa o te Kōrero: No te hā ki te maramatanga
The Whakapapa of Story: From essence to understanding with Ben Brown
A personal reflection on the origin and place of story and its importance to us as a foundation stone of our own humanity.
At the end of the day, from 5.30pm, enjoy wine and nibbles at The Wharf Restaurant while sharing writing excerpts from your weekend.
The Whāingaroa Writers World also hosts the writers’ supportive group last Tuesday of the month, 7pm – 9pm, Tuesday 29 October, and the Old School Book Club last Friday of the month, 25 October, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Entry by koha to help support the programme
All are welcome to attend these events! For more information contact Ann Neville WRWW Organiser annlneville@gmail.com or Event Coordinator Jacqueline Anderson jacqueline@raglanartscentre.co.nz
The WRWW programme of events is proudly presented to you by the Raglan Community Arts Council Inc. with funding support from Waikato District Creative Communities Scheme and Raglan Community Board.
