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Coming EventsThe Top of the South Branch
of the New Zealand Society of Authors |
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This page provides information about events organised by the branch, by individual members, or of particular local interest. To have your event listed here, as well as in the weekly newsletter, contact the Branch Editor
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Writers at Lunchtime
Writers at Lunchtime meetings take place on the first Wednesday of every month except January, starting at 11.30 am. There is usually a guest speaker at 12.30 pm, talking on a topic of general interest to writers.
As the first Wednesday of February will be Waitangi Day, the first meeting of 2019 will be postponed for a week to Wednesday 13 February. This will be an open mic event, where we can introduce ourselves and get to know each other.
The venue for Writers at Lunchtime is The Prince Albert, 113 Nile Street, Nelson (car parking is accessed from Tasman Street). While the meetings are organised by the Top of the South branch of NZSA, everyone is welcome to attend. Come any time from 11.30 am. For more information contact Cat on 021 0335049.
As the first Wednesday of February will be Waitangi Day, the first meeting of 2019 will be postponed for a week to Wednesday 13 February. This will be an open mic event, where we can introduce ourselves and get to know each other.
The venue for Writers at Lunchtime is The Prince Albert, 113 Nile Street, Nelson (car parking is accessed from Tasman Street). While the meetings are organised by the Top of the South branch of NZSA, everyone is welcome to attend. Come any time from 11.30 am. For more information contact Cat on 021 0335049.
Motueka Live Poets
Motueka Live Poets meet monthly on the third Wednesday at Armadillo’s Café (in the back room), 122 High Street, Motueka.
There is no meeting in December. Their next meeting on Wednesday 16 January at 7 pm will be an open mic session. Everyone is welcome to attend or participate. Koha entry. For more information contact Maggie Brown at mzbrown@slingshot.co.nz , phone 03-9298150 or text 021-1280991.
There is no meeting in December. Their next meeting on Wednesday 16 January at 7 pm will be an open mic session. Everyone is welcome to attend or participate. Koha entry. For more information contact Maggie Brown at mzbrown@slingshot.co.nz , phone 03-9298150 or text 021-1280991.
Poets in the Park, Nelson
This special event takes place on Wednesday 23 January, 6 pm, at the Botanical Reserve, Milton Street, Nelson. The meeting place is half way between the road and the start of Centre of New Zealand track. Bring a picnic tea, read a poem (your own or one you love), sing a song (acoustic only), or just come and listen. For more information contact Gaelynne at 0226376480 or dialogue.gp@gmail.com
Golden Bay Writers Group
The Golden Bay Writers Group meets on the first Friday of each month except Januaary from 1.30 - 3 pm at the Dangerous Café (46 Commercial Street, Takaka). The next meeting will be on Friday 1 February. Meet up to talk about writing in all its forms, to encourage and inspire each other, to share our challenges and victories, and to connect over a cuppa.
Everyone is welcome to Golden Bay Writers Group meetings. For more information contact Charlotte Squire at charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
Everyone is welcome to Golden Bay Writers Group meetings. For more information contact Charlotte Squire at charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
West Coast Writers
This group welcomes writers of all genres to write together, get feedback on their work, and to discuss all things ‘writing’ in a respectful, encouraging environment. Don't worry about your level of experience – everyone is welcome! The group meets on the first and third Sundays of the month,
11 am – 1 pm, at the New Coaster's Office, 38 Albert Street, Greymouth. Gold coin donation for venue appreciated. Their next meetings will be on Sunday 3 & 17 February. Contact Katrina Brown at kbtaiwan@gmail.com for more details.
11 am – 1 pm, at the New Coaster's Office, 38 Albert Street, Greymouth. Gold coin donation for venue appreciated. Their next meetings will be on Sunday 3 & 17 February. Contact Katrina Brown at kbtaiwan@gmail.com for more details.
Writers of Picton
Writers of Picton usually meet on the first Monday of the month, 1.30 – 3.30 pm in the upstairs meeting room at Picton Library.
There will be no meeting in January, so the first meeting of 2019 will be Monday 4 February, 1.30 pm at the library. The topic will be advised in January. For more information contact Irene & Peter Thomas at 03-973 0638 or pandi.goodhope@gmail.com
There will be no meeting in January, so the first meeting of 2019 will be Monday 4 February, 1.30 pm at the library. The topic will be advised in January. For more information contact Irene & Peter Thomas at 03-973 0638 or pandi.goodhope@gmail.com
Book Launch in Nelson
John Ewan’s book about his late wife, The Audrey Story: from back country to Beehive and beyond, will be launched at Page & Blackmore Booksellers, 254 Trafalgar Street, Nelson, on Tuesday 5 February at 5.30 pm.
‘The book is not about breaking gender barriers or smashing glass ceilings, leveraging degrees or knowing the right people,’ John says. Audrey’s approach to life was simply to have a go and just keep trying. This attitude took her from her home on a farm in outback Nelson, through teaching jobs in Tapawara, Hunterville, Taihape and Palmerston North. She then became a journalist for the Manawatu Standard and later one of New Zealand’s first woman Parliamentary Press Officers.
After successive terms as press officer for several Cabinet Ministers, she left the Beehive to become a reporter with the Evening Post (now the Dompost). She was appointed the bureau chief for the Hutt office and became the paper’s resident correspondent for the Kapiti and Horowhenua areas. Ill health led to an early retirement and a subsequent shift back to Nelson where she continued to write – human interest articles for a local farming newspaper, and book reviews and travel features for the Nelson Mail.
‘She left a lot of stories unpublished and many of them have been in-corporated into the book,’ John says. These include childhood memories, life in the Beehive and an overseas trip where she was wrongly accused of harbouring a stowaway aboard ship.
Everyone is welcome to the launch of The Audrey Story, but to assist with catering, please RSVP by 30 January to chateau@kapiti.co.nz. The book is published by Chateau Publishing Ltd and distributed by Bookreps NZ. Phone 03-548 9992 to reserve a copy. Read more about John Ewan here
‘The book is not about breaking gender barriers or smashing glass ceilings, leveraging degrees or knowing the right people,’ John says. Audrey’s approach to life was simply to have a go and just keep trying. This attitude took her from her home on a farm in outback Nelson, through teaching jobs in Tapawara, Hunterville, Taihape and Palmerston North. She then became a journalist for the Manawatu Standard and later one of New Zealand’s first woman Parliamentary Press Officers.
After successive terms as press officer for several Cabinet Ministers, she left the Beehive to become a reporter with the Evening Post (now the Dompost). She was appointed the bureau chief for the Hutt office and became the paper’s resident correspondent for the Kapiti and Horowhenua areas. Ill health led to an early retirement and a subsequent shift back to Nelson where she continued to write – human interest articles for a local farming newspaper, and book reviews and travel features for the Nelson Mail.
‘She left a lot of stories unpublished and many of them have been in-corporated into the book,’ John says. These include childhood memories, life in the Beehive and an overseas trip where she was wrongly accused of harbouring a stowaway aboard ship.
Everyone is welcome to the launch of The Audrey Story, but to assist with catering, please RSVP by 30 January to chateau@kapiti.co.nz. The book is published by Chateau Publishing Ltd and distributed by Bookreps NZ. Phone 03-548 9992 to reserve a copy. Read more about John Ewan here
'Life Sentence' Writing Group
'Life Sentence’ is a writing group for those who want to write better, be inspired and be supported to publish. They meet on the first Thursday of the month (except January) at The Workshop in New Street, Nelson, 5.30 - 7pm. Their next meeting will be on Thursday 7 February.
For more information contact Chris Stuart on 027 777 2556, or email chrisannstuart@gmail.com.
For more information contact Chris Stuart on 027 777 2556, or email chrisannstuart@gmail.com.
Marlborough Writers
Marlborough Writers meet on the third Tuesday of the month, usually in the Louvre Room at Fairweathers, 36 Scott Street, Blenheim. Visitors are always welcome. A gold coin donation is requested to cover website costs.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19 February at noon, when the writing topic will be 'Winston'. For more information contact Annette Rattray at annetterattray@hotmail.com, phone 03-573 6629.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19 February at noon, when the writing topic will be 'Winston'. For more information contact Annette Rattray at annetterattray@hotmail.com, phone 03-573 6629.
Poetry Laboratory with Cat Woodward
Whether you're an experienced poet or a beginner, you will enjoy the five-session course being taught at Volume book shop by Ivan Juritz Prize-winning poet and poetics scholar Cat Woodward. The course consists of exercises designed to develop individual creativity and a sense of personal style while also teaching basic skills, practical techniques and fundamental under-standing. The classes will be held on Wednesdays, 7 - 9 pm from
13 February - 13 March.
The Poetry Laboratory is a series of fun and practical lessons where students learn by doing. They will expand their horizons and discover their creative range; build their expressive tool kit; learn about the importance of a poem’s arrangement on the page; do structured but exploratory writing exercises; edit their writing to be the best version it can be.
Course fee: $220. Book now / find out more at: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-poetry-laboratory?barcode=CAT2019
13 February - 13 March.
The Poetry Laboratory is a series of fun and practical lessons where students learn by doing. They will expand their horizons and discover their creative range; build their expressive tool kit; learn about the importance of a poem’s arrangement on the page; do structured but exploratory writing exercises; edit their writing to be the best version it can be.
Course fee: $220. Book now / find out more at: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-poetry-laboratory?barcode=CAT2019
Creative Writing Courses with Michelanne Forster
Join author and playwright Michelanne Forster at Volume bookshop in Nelson for a series of short creative writing courses in small, supportive classes. Michelanne offers informative tutorials and writing exercises that unlock creativity and give you practical skills in all genres.
FINDING YOUR WRITER’S VOICE: an introduction to creative writing
Gain confidence and writing skills as you play with ‘writer’s voice’, genre, style, point of view and narrative structure. Try out new ideas in a supportive small group and have fun unleashing your inner writer.
Thursdays, 6.45 – 9 pm, 28 February- 14 March (3 sessions). $150. Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-finding-your-writer-s-voice-an-introduction-to-creative-writing-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MR20191
WRITING YOUR MEMOIR
What is memoir and how is it different from autobiography? How do different writers tackle deeply personal issues? How can you organise a lifetime of events into a compelling and readable shape? These four classes will give you a secure foundation for writing your story for family, friends and the wider world. Wednesdays, 9.30 am – 12 noon), 5 – 26 June (4 sessions). $220.
Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-writing-your-memoir-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MR20192
WORD DOCTOR
You’ve written the first draft of a story, a memoir, or several chapters of a novel. You know it’s not quite right but you don’t have a clear idea where you need to go next. ‘Word Doctor’ is designed to help you step back and analyse your work’s strengths and weaknesses. Two group and two individual sessions are offered to a limited number of students who would value feedback and guidance on any work in progress.
Thursdays, 7 – 9 pm, 5 & 26 September (group sessions)
plus two hour-long sessions September – November (individually booked). $220. Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-word-doctor-writing-classes-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MF20193
Volume is at 15 Church Street, Nelson, email books@volume.nz or phone 03 9700073 or 021 1970002.
In 2018 Michelanne Forster wrote and directed Besotted, which was performed at the Nelson Centre of Music Arts, and collaborated with eight Nelson artists on The story inside my head as part of the Nelson Arts Festival.
FINDING YOUR WRITER’S VOICE: an introduction to creative writing
Gain confidence and writing skills as you play with ‘writer’s voice’, genre, style, point of view and narrative structure. Try out new ideas in a supportive small group and have fun unleashing your inner writer.
Thursdays, 6.45 – 9 pm, 28 February- 14 March (3 sessions). $150. Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-finding-your-writer-s-voice-an-introduction-to-creative-writing-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MR20191
WRITING YOUR MEMOIR
What is memoir and how is it different from autobiography? How do different writers tackle deeply personal issues? How can you organise a lifetime of events into a compelling and readable shape? These four classes will give you a secure foundation for writing your story for family, friends and the wider world. Wednesdays, 9.30 am – 12 noon), 5 – 26 June (4 sessions). $220.
Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-writing-your-memoir-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MR20192
WORD DOCTOR
You’ve written the first draft of a story, a memoir, or several chapters of a novel. You know it’s not quite right but you don’t have a clear idea where you need to go next. ‘Word Doctor’ is designed to help you step back and analyse your work’s strengths and weaknesses. Two group and two individual sessions are offered to a limited number of students who would value feedback and guidance on any work in progress.
Thursdays, 7 – 9 pm, 5 & 26 September (group sessions)
plus two hour-long sessions September – November (individually booked). $220. Enrol here: https://volume.circlesoft.net/p/tickets-word-doctor-writing-classes-with-michelanne-forster?barcode=MF20193
Volume is at 15 Church Street, Nelson, email books@volume.nz or phone 03 9700073 or 021 1970002.
In 2018 Michelanne Forster wrote and directed Besotted, which was performed at the Nelson Centre of Music Arts, and collaborated with eight Nelson artists on The story inside my head as part of the Nelson Arts Festival.