Karori Library’s Creative Writing Classes

Playwright, author and teacher, Michelanne Forster
Playwright, author and teacher, Michelanne Forster

We have an exciting opportunity for adults interested in improving their creative writing skills. Karori Library will be hosting a limited series of free masterclasses with experienced author and tutor Michelanne Forster.

Michelanne Forster is a playwright, author and teacher. Her plays have been performed by theatre companies throughout New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Michelanne has been awarded The Buckland Prize for Literature, The Ursula Bethell/ Canterbury University Writer in Residence, The Michael King/ University of Auckland Writing Fellowship and the 2015 Adam Foundation/Playmarket “Best Play by a Woman”.

Join us for the final session ‘Writing Your Memoir’ with Michelanne Forster!

Some quick notes on registration:

  • Classes are limited to 8 participants, registrations are essential.
  • Registrations open 3 weeks prior to each event (these dates are noted below)
  • To register: contact Karori Library staff via email lib.karori@wcc.govt.nz
  • If the class you hope to attend is full, please put your name on the waiting list and library staff will contact you if a space opens up. Please do not register if you cannot attend all sessions — it is important to attend all sessions to get the full benefit of the course

Writing Your Memoir

4 sessions
10.15am-11.45am
Wednesdays, July 19 – August 9
Registrations open: June 23

These sessions will help you craft your memoir, define your audience, and get you comfortable with using your writer’s voice to create a connection with your reader.


Browse Michelanne’s books:

Check out Michelanne’s books in our collection below…

Daughters of heaven / Forster, Michelanne
“On June 22, 1954 in a secluded part of Victoria Park in Christchurch, Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker battered Pauline’s mother to death. The infamous murder, also depicted in the Peter Jackson movie Heavenly Creatures, arose from the passionate friendship of the two girls.” (Catalogue)

 

 

Downfall : three New Zealand history plays / Forster, Michelanne
“Downfall offers an opportunity to look at the history of New Zealand through a dramatic lens. Te Keni explores the fraught relationship between Māori and Pākehā in the early colonial period. Larnach reveals the dynamics of the prominent family who established Larnach Castle in Dunedin. My Heart is Bathed in Blood examines the tragic implications of a relationship between two young medical students. Each play is introduced with an essay that provides historical context and performance history. Downfall is ideal for students and teachers of drama and for those with an interest in New Zealand’s rich heritage”–Publisher information.” (Catalogue)

Twenty New Zealand playwrights / Forster, Michelanne
“A book of interviews with twenty New Zealand playwrights about their processes and techniques. The book includes biographical information and script excerpts for each playwright. The interviews were conducted by Michelanne Forster and Vivienne Plumb, and filmed by line producer Grae Burton.” (Catalogue)

 

Don’t mention Casablanca / Forster, Michelanne
“Everybody knows the film Casablanca though only a few remember the director: Michael Curtiz. His granddaughter, Michelanne Forster, an award-winning New Zealand playwright, tackles the story of her grandmother Thilde Foerster’s bittersweet relationship with this Hungarian Don Juan, who was one of Warner Brothers’ most prolific and versatile directors.” (Catalogue)

 

When it’s over : when a relationship ends : New Zealanders talk about their experiences of separation and divorce / Forster, Michelanne
“Real stories from the lives of ordinary men and women.” (Catalogue)

 

NaNoWriMo: Librarians’ recommendations & resources

To help out all of our budding author’s this National Novel Writing Month, we asked all of our librarians across the city for some of their best recommendations of books, online resources and more:

Paul and Zoe recommend Syndetics book coverBird by bird : some instructions on writing and life / Anne Lamott.
“If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a writer, what it means to be a writer, what the contents of your school lunches said about what your parents were really like, this books for you. From faith, love, and grace to pain, jealousy, and fear, Lamott insists that you keep your eves open, and then shows you how to survive. And always, from the life of the artist she turns to the art of life.” (Adapted Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverBoth Fiona and Debbie suggested  The exercise book : creative writing exercises from Victoria University’s Institute of Modern Letters / edited by Bill Manhire … [et al.].
“Writers of all skill levels can give their minds a work-out with this extensive book of writing prompts and exercises. Brimming with stimulating trigger ideas, the exercises help readers explore the nuts and bolts of the craft, from poetry and short fiction to scriptwriting, while helping to find inspiration everywhere.” (Syndetics summary) So obviously this one must be good!

Syndetics book coverMonty’s suggested you check out On writing / Charles Bukowski ; edited by Abel Debritto.
“Sharp and moving reflections and ruminations on the artistry and craft of writing from one of our most iconoclastic, riveting, and celebrated masters. In this collection of correspondence, letters to publishers, editors, friends, and fellow writers-the writer shares his insights on the art of creation. On Writing reveals an artist brutally frank about the drudgery of work and canny and uncompromising about the absurdities of life, and of art.” (Adapted Syndetics summary)

Jess & Celeste, both Stephen King fans suggested Syndetics book coverOn writing : a memoir of the craft / by Stephen King
“Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, Stephen King’s critically lauded, classic bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.” (Adapted Syndetics summary)

Celeste also rated the Goodreads list ‘Best Books on Writing’ which (suprise suprise) has Stephen King’s memoir as number 1!

Max from Karori loves Pinterest! You can search for writing hints, tips, tricks or images to help inspire you, and follow the WCL boards for recent picks.

If you’re like Jess and eBooks are your thing, make sure you check out the collection of Writings on Writings that she put together for you. Just download the Libby App or visit the Overdrive webpage to get started.

Prefer magazines? Fiona suggests you check out Mslexia: for women who write. as well as Writing Magazine. Both excellent resources for creative writers!

Paul had a bunch of suggestions for you, take a look at:

Syndetics book coverThe writer’s journey : mythic structure for writers / Christopher Vogler.
“The updated and revised third edition provides new insights and observations from Vogler’s ongoing work on mythology’s influence on stories, movies, and man himself. The previous two editons of this book have sold over 180,000 units, making this book a ‘classic’ for screenwriters, writers, and novelists.” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverAnd Zen in the art of writing / Ray Bradbury.
“Bradbury, all charged up, drunk on life, joyous with writing, puts together nine past essays on writing and creativity and discharges every ounce of zest and gusto in him.” — Kirkus Reviews. “Zen and the Art of Writing is purely and simply Bradbury’s love song to his craft.” — Los Angeles Times” (Syndetics summary)

Syndetics book coverAnd The Paris review : interviews, I / with an introduction by Philip Gourevitch.
“How do great writers it? The Paris Review has elicited some of the most revelatory and revealing thoughts from the literary masters of our age. For more than half a century, the magazine has spoken with most of our leading novelists, poets, and playwrights, and the interviews themselves have come to be recognized as classic works of literature, an essential and definitive record of the writing life.” (Syndetics summary)

And Tim, a former NaNoWriMo survivor swears by writemonkey.com. It’s a minimalist text editor which goes full screen so you don’t have any distractions. He used it for all his incredible poetry and clever short stories. His other recommendation for would be to throw one’s phone down the back of the couch.

Best of luck! and make sure you check out wcl.govt.nz/nanowrimo and follow us on Facebook, and Instagram and Twitter @wcl_library for more survival tips and tricks.