Media Release

23 June 2009

Manukau has the write stuff
 

New writers and storytellers in Manukau will have the chance to ‘see themselves right’ with free workshops.

The series, called Write around Manukau, is an innovative mix of traditional genres along with alternative opportunities for people to learn to tell their own stories in their own way. 

The workshop topics are:

·         storytelling

·         writing for children and teenagers

·         life writing (memoir)

·         self publishing and blogging

·         writing for the screen

·         poetry

·         short story writing.

The main purpose of these workshops is to develop Manukau’s writing and storytelling talent and to broaden the base of writers and potential writers in our community.  The workshops build on the successful earlier collaborations between Manukau Libraries and the NZ Society of Authors, such as the Writer in Manukau Libraries (WIML) and the First Chapters - Ngā Wāhanga Tuatahi coaching programmes.

Talented, experienced teachers and facilitators will lead the Write around Manukau workshops. One will be the award-winning James George, who was the highly regarded writer-in-residence for the 2008 First Chapters - Ngā Wāhanga Tuatahi programme. James, a short-story writer, storyteller and novelist of Ngapuhi, English and Irish descent, is the author of several novels including Ocean Roads and Hummingbird.  James will be leading the storytelling workshop, which will focus beyond the written word. He says, “Everyone has a voice, everyone has a story. We need to fit storytelling to people, not try and re-engineer people into the narrowly defined stream of writers.”

More information about the free Write around Manukau workshops is available at Manukau Libraries website http://www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz. Places are limited and restricted to adults or high school students living in Manukau city, or those who hold a Manukau library card. Bookings are essential and can be made to the NZ Society of Authors Manukau contact: Jocelyn Watkin on 027 493 9851 or email firstchapters@clear.net.nz

Write around Manukau is presented by Manukau Libraries in partnership with the New Zealand Society of Authors and funded by both Manukau Libraries and the Creative Communities Manukau City scheme.

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