Writing workshop with Robyn Rowland

Dr Robyn Rowland Writing Workshop: Living Flames - Burning Words.

This is a 3 hour workshop with limited numbers and requires pre-booking.

From brushfires to bog fires, through the flame of the holy spirit to the pagan fires of solstice, fire has been both warm companion and feared and capricious renegade. the elements of fire, water, air, are primal sources of inspiration and image.

This workshop explores the nature of fire in its many forms, the relationship of fire to feeling, the transformative and destructive power of fire and its use in ritual.

Photographic materiel relating to Australian brushfires is explored. Robyn will also explore the use of fire in her own work as examples. This workshop focuses on the emerging meaning of fire and the flame for each writer.

The workshop begins with a talk by Robyn on her own use of 'the particular', analysing her poetry and some prose. It then moves into a guided moment followed by writing towards the topic, a period of writing and feedback for each participant on their work in terms of the topic set. Each participant is given notes relating to the topic as well as copies of Robyn's or other poems which exemplify themes.

This workshop can be appropriate for and has been successfully conducted with, established and early writers; poets and prose writers. We will work with pen and paper, not laptops.

Robyn Rowland, Irish-Australian, lived between Ireland, Turkey, and Australia until the end of 2019, when she returned to Australia as her father’s companion then carer. He died at home at 102, 2022. Her book Steep Curve (2024) is that journey together in narrative poetry: ‘a book of remarkable moments and enduring love’ (Kevin Brophy).

She has twelve poetry books (Australia, Ireland and Turkey), including two bilingual, Turkish translations, Mehmet Ali Çelikel: Under This Saffron Sun—Safran Güneşin Altında and This Intimate War Gallipoli/Çanakkale 1915—İçli Dışlı Bir Savaş: Gelibolu/Çanakkale 1915. Published in national/international journals, over fifty anthologies, eight editions of Best Australian Poems, she has earned various awards and short-listings. Translated into various languages, she has read in India, Portugal, Ireland, the UK, the US, Greece, Austria, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey, and Italy. By invitation, she has filmed readings in National Irish Poetry Reading Archive, James Joyce Library, University College Dublin, You Tube. Detailed interviews: Denise O’Hagan at https://denise-ohagan.com/robyn-rowland-in-conversation-with-denise-ohagan/ and Talha Erçevikbaş at https://helezondergisi.com/an-interview-on-poetry-with-the-poet-robyn- rowland-talha-ercevikbas/

Her work has also been published in national/international journals, over fifty anthologies, eight editiions of Best Australian Poems and she has earned various awards and shortlistings. Her work has been translated into various languages and she has read in India, Portugal, Ireland, the UK, the US, Greece, Austria, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey and Italy.

By Invitation she has filmed readings for the National Irish Poetry reading Archive which can be seen on YouTube.

Robyn has previously been a guest of Éigse Michael Hartnett and will also have a book launch as part of the festival.

Also check out other Arts events in Listowel, Literary Art events in Listowel, Workshops in Listowel.