Poetry Workshop for Teens

I've agreed to run a poetry workshop for teens (about 15, 16 years old) and am wondering if I've bitten off more than I can chew. I usually teach primary or adults.

I'm worrying that:
- teenagers don't like poetry
- they may not want to be there
- they won't listen
- they'll be bigger than me
- etc etc

Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared of them but scared of boring them and making them hate poetry more than they do already. I had a terrible English teacher in school (hello Mrs Harris) and she put me off poetry for decades (and the Brontes for life)

I was thinking about metaphors. See Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy and write about how you feel without saying how you feel.

Or Write a How To poem

- how to fly
- how to disappear
- how to make someone fall in love with you
- how to talk to cats
- how to win X-factor

Or What matters to you (why)

Any other ideas? I'm getting desperate.

Mentoring for young writers and directors in Kildare

Kildare County Council and Riverbank Arts Centre, in association with Fishamble Theatre Company are looking for emerging writers and directors (up to age 25) from Kildare, to take part in a new mentoring programme.

The programme will take place over a period of ten months, and will have two strands.

Strand 1: Writers

Participants will work with Gavin Kostick, Literary officer with Fishamble Theatre Company, to look at different writing styles and techniques to assist their creative development.

The mentor will also offer constructive criticism and feedback on all work created in that time.

Strand 2: Directors

Participants will work with a professional director to look at directing processes and techniques. Part of the mentoring programme will also include directing master classes with Jim Culleton, Artistic Director with Fishamble Theatre Company. Artists will also be encouraged to direct throughout the programme in order for their mentor to offer personal feedback on their particular directing style and to assist their creative development.

This programme will commence in October / November 2009.

Deadline: October 15th 2009 at 5pm.

Website here

Black Rabbit

Another late response to TFE's writing prompt

Black Rabbit

Around sunset this time of year I get to squinting up the garden
and often beside the holly, there’s the black blur
motionless, it could be a shadow, mulching grasses, a wing perhaps -
a leftover from a night time feud.

Watch long enough and it moves then all bets are off,
even from this distance that giveaway lollop,
it is what it is, a minor aberration catching the eye,
sticking out among its sludge coloured kin.

It has no choice and standing out like this must be dangerous,
life-threatening to this soft-pelted prey
but that’s how I’d prefer to be
alone, my own self.

Dromineer Results

I didn't win. Imagine! Snubbed again. No familiar names on the list for me.

ADULT POETRY COMPETITION (Over 18)

Judge: Vona Groarke

1st. Prize 500.00
2nd. Prize 350.00
3rd. Prize 150.00

Shortlist Congrats to:

JIM MAGUIRE, WEXFORD: 'ZEN GARDEN DREAM'
MARTIN DYAR, CO. MAYO: 'CYRANO DE BERGERAC' & 'MOY NURSES'

SPECIAL MENTION:

DENISE GARVEY, GALWAY: 'EASE FOR THE LEAVING'
AILIN O'DEA, DUBLIN: 'BETWEEN JOBS'
CIANA CAMPBELL, ENNIS: 'SEAMSTRESS'
JOHN WALSH, CO. GALWAY: 'TALK SHOP'

ADULT SHORT STORY COMPETITION (Over 18)

Judge: David Rice

1st. Prize 500.00
2nd. Prize 350.00
3rd. Prize 150.00

MIKE HEALY, NENEGH: 'SWIMMER'
CLAIR McNAMARA, DUBLIN: 'SHAY DUFFY IS A GENTLEMAN'
MERIEL J HEATHER, DUBLIN: 'FOR THE RECORD'

New Scientist Flash Fiction

Do you flash? Do you/Could you write a story set 100 years in the future?

This week's New Scientist contains 7 very short stories by leading science fiction writers. All of them are set about a century from now – the time that guest editor Kim Stanley Robinson calls "the hardest zone of all, when our growing capabilities will be confronted by immense dangers, creating an unstable and unpredictable future".

Now they'd like to hear from you. Send them your stories set one hundred years into the future, and a panel of judges headed by acclaimed science fiction writer Stephen Baxter will pick the best to be published in a future issue of New Scientist. They'll publish a selection of the most entertaining and thought-provoking online.

Your story should be no more than 350 words in length (strict) – and should not have previously been published anywhere. By submitting your story, you give them non-exclusive rights to publish it now or at any future date, in whatever medium they choose. More terms here.

Deadline: 15th October 2009.

Children's Books

Penguin Ireland have launched a Puffin imprint for Ireland.

Aimed at the 8-12 market rather than picture books or Young Adults. They are looking for Irish voices but with potential to appeal to other Penguin markets. They are looking for someone/thing that could become a new series. Check their back catalogue for type of thing they publish. The new imprint will be headed up by Paddy O’Doherty.

Submit to: Puffin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

See their website here

A new imprint for New Island Books: Little Island

They plan to publish their first batch of books for children and young teenagers in the spring of 2010. Three main areas: books in translation, new books by new and old(ish) Irish authors, and some reprints of good books by Irish writers that have somehow slipped out of print. For the moment, they are concentrating on quality fiction for pre-teens (9-12) and early to mid-teens (13-16), but that’s more a preference than a policy decision. They are committed to quality, but open-minded on just about everything else, so anyone with a really great idea for a book is welcome to come aboard and talk to them.

Check out general submission info here Subs to elaina.oneill AT newisland DOT com (insert the relevant @ and .!)

Poster

Did you notice the safety poster in the photocopying room in the film "500 Days of Summer?" It didn't look like this one I made, but the sentiment's the same.

You can make your own here.