The weather is changing in Saskatoon, with the sun warming up the streets, and the air smelling of early morning on a Florida golf course. I know this because I stepped outside today and made a note of exactly what the outside smelled like, felt like, looked like. Step outside and take a moment to notice these elements yourself, wherever it is that you’re writing. You never know when you might need the air to smell of a Florida golf course in your fiction or poetry…
May 10, 2012
Poetry Workshop in Saskatoon with Charles Hamilton
For those of you lucky enough to live in Saskatoon, there’s a great poetry workshop coming up with a local author I admire – he’s dynamic and a great performer. See the details below:
To the Beat: A Slam Poetry Workshop
Where: 205 A Pacific Ave (Dance Saskatchewan Building)
Date: June 9th
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $35 (for SWG members) and $45 (non-members)
This workshop is an introduction to slam poetry and spoken word from one of Saskatchewan’s premier spoken word artists, Charles Hamilton. Spoken word is the fastest growing art form in Canada, but what is spoken word? What are these funny competitions called poetry slams? How do you put a score on a subjective work of art? Participants will learn the principles behind writing and reading spoken word and the differences between spoken word and other forms of poetry. This is a hands-on workshop where participants will have the opportunity to craft a spoken word poem and present their work for critical evaluation to their peers and instructor.
Charles Hamilton is a spoken word artist and journalist based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is the Executive Director and Slam Master of Tonight It’s Poetry, Saskatoon’s only weekly poetry series. He is the three time captain of the Saskatoon Slam Team and has featured his work in venues across Canada, sharing his poetry everywhere from high school classrooms to music festivals. In 2009 he represented Saskatoon at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championship in Berkeley California. Hamilton has shared the stage with such spoken word legends as C.R. Avery, Shane Koyscan and Mike McGee. When he is not performing poetry, Hamilton is features writer with the StarPhoenix newspaper in Saskatoon. He has one self-published chapbook titled Eulogies.
May 8, 2012
Hungry For Letters
Maurice Sendak was a great inspiration for writers and children. He leaves behind beautiful, glorious books. Read one and see how much can be done with hardly any words at all. Let him inspire you the way he has inspired me.
