Purely Haiku U.K. Residential Course

[AlanSummers]

PURELY HAIKU, LED BY ALAN SUMMERS AND KAREN HOY
Monday 11th - Friday 15th April
Claridge House, Surrey, South East England
(just outside London)

Claridge House January 2011 Course:
http://www.claridgehousequaker.org.uk/courses.php#April

TUTORS:

Alan Summers

Alan is a founding haiku editor for haijinx online magazine for humour within haiku. He is also co-editor of Fifty-Seven Damn Good Haiku by a Bunch of Our Friends ISBN 978-1-878798-31-2 (2010) with highly-respected American publisher and poet Michael Dylan Welch that features the work of British, American, African and Japanese writers of haiku: http://area17.blogspot.com/2010/11/fifty-seven-damn-good-haiku-by-bunch-of.html

Alan is an experienced workshop leader, and a Japan Times award-winning writer, with an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University.

QUOTE
Alan is able to work with people who have no experience of poetry to encourage them to try it.  He watches and listens with patience and respect and offers guidance that is flexible enough to empower the workshop participants but firm enough to support them.

Rachel Sutton-Spence
School of Applied Community and Health Studies
Centre for Personal and Professional Development


Karen Hoy

Karen has haiku featured in the forthcoming and first ever Welsh national anthology of haiku poetry, published by Gomer Press (Release date Spring 2011).

She also appears in Fifty-Seven Damn Good Haiku by a Bunch of Our Friends co-edited by Alan Summers and Michael Dylan Welch.

Karen has also assisted in several haiku workshops and events for With Words, and holds a Diploma in Creative Writing from the University of Bristol.

[colin stewart jones]

hi alan

looks fun
my sister lives near camberley in surrey

i may come down for this if you lend me £300 ;D

col :)

[AlanSummers]

My sole income is from haiku and renku I'm afraid; if I was an eccentric millionaire I might consider doing what that poetry geezer does by heliopter with his wine cellar.

The retreat is fantastic by the way.  As much as I like popping down to the pub now and again, I've been more relaxed staying onsite, with coffee or tea. The vegetarian and vegan food, covering all dietary needs, non-gluten, non-wheat, non-dairy etc... is fantastic.

The courses we lead, this is a new one, are excellent value, and it isn't just for the price of the course, but superb food, accomodation, being catered for throughout the day etc...

We've had first timers as well as haiku writers attending, and everyone benefits from the atmosphere.

Sorry we don't have the cash to pay, but the last two years of courses have been packed. ;-)

Alan

[colin stewart jones]

lol just kiddin alan

never mind if publishing ever starts to pay
the gean may give you a small stipend!


seriously though alan, you are doing a great job promoting poetry
cheers pal
i appreciate your efforts
col :)

[AlanSummers]

Thanks Col. ;-)

It really is a good course for anyone serious about haiku, or anyone wanting an intensive course in haiku.  A week is perfect for getting a good grounding, rather than workshops spread over a year.

It's also great fun, as it has to be, as we have four workshops per day, but plenty of tea and coffee) and non-caffeine hot and cold drinks too!

With our previous courses which covered other haikai, we created new writers from scratch, and also good writers being neglected at regular workshops they were attending in their own hometowns.

No matter how large the group every individual gets special treatment.  It means I get to bed exhausted but very happy. ;-) 

We also end the course Thursday night with a fun renga session.  There's nothing intense in our intensive course.

Alan

[Serena8Cowell]

wow!!! thats great ..when going to publishing this course....really great fun...

[AlanSummers]

Hi Serena,

Pity you live in Texas!  But Austin, Texas, is the physical home of haijinx, so you must know some haiku poets over there maybe?  How far is Hermitage from Austin?

We've run a similar course for the last two years, and it's always fully booked.  This time we are focusing on haiku on its own, so people will be able to immerse themselves, really get to know haiku.  They will be able  to write a lot of useful haiku drafts to take home and work on further; and even consider a decent submission to a good haiku journal! ;-)

The venue is peaceful, and everything is catered for: no-one gets hungry and thirsty, and it's all done for us too!

If anyone is able to get to this U.K. based course, you can email me at: alan@withwords.org.uk
for further details.

Alan

[AlanSummers]

Some more details up on Area 17. 

I've been asked by a few overseas haiku poets about this.

Maybe this could fit in well with a holiday in or around London, and a short working holiday doing Purely Haiku. ;-)

Purely Haiku: http://area17.blogspot.com

[AlanSummers]

Wow, a lot of people have been viewing this post about the residential course.

I'm flattered that so many American writers would dearly love to come on this course if they could as well! ;-)

The course is ideally suited to writers of all levels, whether you are a complete beginner, or a seasoned writer wanting to start a new collection of work, or needing time and quiet to work on an ongoing collection or other project.

Both myself and Karen are available as much as you like to have feedback and encouragement at any time. ;-)

Alan

[AlanSummers]

The Purely Haiku residential course will happen again next year in May 21st - 25th 2012.




"I use every corner of my life as a way of reflection of my psychological personal development - haiku in itself is great for this, but working with you has just elevated the experience 100 fold.   
Your support over the last couple of years or so have just been such an amazing gift to me - bless you." 
July 2011 - Workshops in Bradford on Avon.

[John McManus]

Hi Alan, is it going to be in Surrey again?

warmest,
John

[AlanSummers]

It is!

I'll post a new topic about this.

I'm hoping my wife can come along again as co-tutor.

It's full board, with plenty of rest and refreshment breaks.

Meals are high quality, and the course is as intensive as people want, but in a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.

We always end on a renga which is always great fun.

If there's any chance you can come that would be fantastic.  The course really suits both newcomers and seasoned writers alike.

I always have an amazing group of people attend too. ;-)

Alan

Hi Alan, is it going to be in Surrey again?

warmest,
John