Workshops with a Whizz

In normal circumstances, not only would you have to travel to a festival such as Poetry in Aldeburgh or StAnza if you wished to attend a workshop run by the whizz that's Helena Nelson, but you'd also have to get in quickly once booking went live, as her sessions are invariably among the first to sell out.

However, lockdown, or partial lockdown, or the dismembering of lockdown by a caring father, does bring certain advantages, and one of them consists of Helena Nelson's forthcoming double-header of online workshops. The first (with the help of Annie Fisher) is titled Writing about Fear, and will surely develop fresh slants and approaches to our latent feelings about the current situation and beyond, while the second (with Charlotte Gann's assistance) uniquely concentrates on the art of writing reviews.

It's my firm belief that writing reviews is one of the best ways for a poet to improve. By doing so, we're forced to get to grips with our thoughts about other people's writing, implicitly reassessing our own work at the same time. Moreover, the juggling of prose to formulate opinion and argument can only help our use of language, prose feeding back into poetry. Of course, writing reviews is an intimidating task, which is why this workshop is such an excellent opportunity to throw off any nerves and take the plunge under the guidance of one of the best editors around.

Here are the details of these exciting workshops, including all the information you need to sign up for them while there are still places available...

Unlocked: Writing about Fear
Helena Nelson & Annie Fisher
Dates:
Monday, 1 June: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
or
Thursday, 4 June: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
 
Duration: approximately two hours, with some optional follow up.
Cost: £25.00 (one place available free to those on low incomes)
Number of participants: 9 (this excludes the two presenters)

If you'd like to reserve a place, please email nell@happenstancepress.com, with your preferred date. She will send you more information and explain how to pay.

and

OPOI REVIEWS: for new or low-confidence reviewers
Helena Nelson & Charlotte Gann
Date:
Wednesday, 10 June: 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
 
Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Cost: Free
Number of participants: 6 (this excludes presenters)
 
Description
This is a fully participative workshop, in which we will

• read and talk about poetry pamphlets and how an OPOI review is developed 
• clarify the house style and principles of the OPOI reviews
• share some experience of the editing process
• encourage participants to write their own OPOI

Email nell@happenstancepress.com for more information and/or to reserve your place.