CLAY GULGONG 2022
Words@Gulgong
Ceramic Wordsmith Workshop
with Nikki Gemmell
You’re a potter – do you want to write as well?
The Ceramics Wordsmith Workshop aims to encourage writing across the diversity of contemporary ceramic practice. All are welcome, whatever writing experience you have. The only prerequisite is a passion for ceramics – and words.
The workshop is intended to be enjoyable, creative and informative. We will consider ways of writing about artworks, as well as look at different forms such as reviews, magazine articles, catalogue essays, poetry, non-fiction and novels.
You will be asked to consider the techniques used, and to experiment with your own writing.
You are free to choose whatever subject or form of writing you like, but the workshop will encourage you to use the Clay Gulgong Festival as a resource.
Participants will be working as a group to support each other and share positive feedback. Developing our ability to write about ceramics not only helps build our critical appreciation as a community, but also can support us in our individual creative journeys.
PROGRAM
Whether you’re a novice or an established writer, writing about your work or the work of others, a reader of all things associated with our field, our Ceramics Wordsmith Workshop is for you.
Monday
● SESSION 1
Introductions – introduce yourself and your writing goal. Forms of writing and texts that resonate with you.
Tuesday
● SESSION 2
A group discussion on the proposed approaches of each participant, moving into working on your own piece, with individual feedback from Nikki.
Wednesday
● SESSION 3
Presentation and feedback. Also, a discussion on how to take your writing further and possible avenues for publication. We will also establish a network to maintain contact for ongoing support.
You can write on your own laptop – but pen or pencil and paper is fine too.
The workshop will be held for 90 minutes over three days of the festival – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10.30 until noon.
To register your interest, please download the APPLICATION FORM -> here
and send it to admin@claygulgong.com by April 1st
We will let you know as soon as possible whether you will be able to take part in the workshop.
Nikki Gemmell is the bestselling author of 13 novels and four works of non-fiction. Her books have been translated into 22 languages. She was born in Wollongong, New South Wales and lived in London for many years, but has now returned to Australia. Her distinctive writing has gained her critical acclaim in France where she has been described as a ‘female Jack Kerouac’. The French magazine Lire included her in a list of the 50 most important writers in the world – those it believes will have a significant influence of the literature of the 21st century. Gemmell writes a weekly column for The Weekend Australian Magazine and has also written novels for children. Four of her books – Shiver, The Bride Stripped Bare and The Book of Rapture – made the longlist of Favourite Australian Novels as chosen by readers of Australian Book Review. Her latest book is Dissolve, an exploration of female creativity.”