Spring Moon, Walking and Writing Workshop

halfmoonworkshops — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:10:47 +0000

Join us on next month’s walking a writing workshop with playwright, novelist and poet David Calcutt in the beautiful and historical setting of Stratford Upon Avon.

The walk will take place along the banks of the River Avon where it runs through the town, passing the chain ferry, Holy Trinity Church on the opposite bank, the weirs and to Mill Bridge. Writers will make their way back past the church, through the stunning Avonbank Gardens

The walk will last one hour, with note-taking on sights and sounds of interest, and a writing exercise along the way. Writers will then gather at a local pub or café for refreshments, lunch, a further writing exercise, and writing.

This workshop is Shakespeare themed, and each writer is asked to bring with them a single line from one of Shakespeare’s plays or poems, that has resonance for the writer, and which will feed into the writer’s own work.

Walk: Easy

Cost: £12, £8 concessions (student, over 60’s).

Workshop will take place on Saturday 17th March

Meet a Cox’s Yard in Stratford for an 11am start, to finish around 2pm.

To book please contact email@valleyprojects.org

Wenlock Edge, January 14th

halfmoonworkshops — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:45:27 +0000

This month saw the first of our walking and writing workshops for 2012, with poet and writer Helen James. The workshop took place over the rural plains of Wenlock Edge with a two-hour walk/workshop, and further writing and discussion at a local venue. With thanks to the Talbot Inn for their warm hospitality….

Helen over Wenlock….

I wanted to make this workshop about more than just responding to the natural world, and instead explore the connections we make between our inner and the outer landscapes. It was a very relaxed approach to a workshop, but I felt it had to be. Everyone needed to be comfortable enough in themselves to be open to all creative possibilities, and to allow themselves to be led in directions they might otherwise have avoided. I was keen to introduce the idea of writing about the self through the voices of a landscape; utilising the elements and shaping external passages in a way that is telling of the self and of actual location. Not all writers would have taken this on board of course, but it was interesting to lead with this idea and see how we ended up.

We began by making our way down Blakeway Hollow, over a slight rise towards Wenlock Edge overlooking Clee Hill to the East and the Long Mynd to the West. After a forty or so minute walk we came to the Edge (or the ‘”great Wave” Jeff) and carried along a narrow path until we came to a clearing looking West. The mist was incredibly deep and bright so the Long Mynd was almost invisible; but there was some interesting conflict in sound and light. We spent a good 25 minutes here writing and exploring ideas together. There was a quarry just below to the left and although the air was very quiet, you could hear the odd chink of hammer or tumble of lime. Interestingly, Andy (writer) came up with the phrase ‘light shed’ to describe the geographic of the Edge, which I found very apt.

The route back began with a narrow path through a small (muddy) wood round to a large gate, continuing down past the fields into Blakeway and eventually back to the car-park. Here we continued to The Talbot Inn, seated in a cozy area next to a large fire. This was followed with more writing (eating) and some great discussion. It was such a privilege to hear the beginnings of people’s work, and I was hugely impressed with the enthusiasm, skill and dedication of the group. Phrases that stick out in my mind are: ‘light defining he trees’/'bleeding my toes to white’/'light shed’/winter is a cold place/insides numb/your own bad medicine/light is trying to heal you/clang of natter/tree’s nerve endings.’ One poem had a beautiful sense of undulating rhythm, and another - all I can see is powdery white light/ grey shapes.

I very much look forward to reading the finished pieces.

Overriding memory? Wire and light. The place is full of it.