November is still cold, but

I must say that last night made me feel quite warm, tired but overall happy.

I'm not sure how, but over the last few weeks I've been lucky enough to discover a great FB (that's FaceBook for the uninitiated or those not as 'hip' as I am) group. It's run by the lovely Abbey Parsons and is called 'The Creative Eye'.

Now, that name is 'super cool' for a number of reasons (just think about it for a few minutes) and I love it. I signed up to go to one of the Events run by Abbey at the 'Folded space' in Southend in October (I blogged about it so you can have a look if the mood takes you.) 

After that event, Abbey asked me if I could run a Poetry Workshop at their next monthly event which was last night at 'The Metal Art School' in Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell (Southend). When Abbey asked me, I was surprised, shocked even, and very very happy to have been asked.

Now Abbey is a real 'go getter'. Tall, willowy with lovely eyes and the best pink hair I've ever seen. She has set up The Creative Eye, used social media as it should be used - as a force for good - and is bringing all sort of 'creatives' together to network and blur the boundaries between different disciplines. Photographers, painters, writers, poets, singers, any and all types of creative people are welcome at her events and she manages to make a comfortable and inclusive environment whilst not being too conspicuous - a very difficult line to walk.

Anyway, I took a long time preparing for the two hour session. i did some online research (it is 2019 after all) and looked up variations on how to run a workshop. I didn't know how many might turn up, what the ages would be and how to cater for the widest possible mix whilst not making it too boring. I wanted to give some background about the way I write poetry and fiction, some history of Poetry (from 'Poesis' (from the Greek meaning 'making' or 'creating'), some examples of poetry (I chose Gerald Manley Hopkins and 'God's Grandeur' and Louis MacNeice's 'The Suicide'), a short comparison of older poetry forms contrasting them with the newer more contemporary styles and then a bit of 'audience participation'.

Perhaps not as unique as I'd like, I thought I'd get those who attended - if they were still in the room and hadn't left or fallen asleep - to create a poem of some type in the final hour or so and then lead a discussion around what we had all written and what that might reveal about us. I'm a great believer that, no matter what you create; it shows at least some of who and what you are.

Well, I learnt a lot about myself, what I'd do different next time (if there is one) and I think the session went fairly well. I had some good feedback on the night (and since) and have made a few new connections. The whole group really threw themselves into it and each created a poem and read it out - very brave.

I'm lucky in that I can usually create a poem of some sort fairly easily, and I'd written 15 individual lines which i thought were interesting and gave the chooser a fighting chance of one of them sparking something in their heart or mind. These lines could be first lines or last lines or be placed within the poem; or just used as a springboard for a different poem altogether. Everyone wrote something that was worthwhile and moving in its way. (You can read my short poem on the relevant page.)

This part of the session was the most successful I think. There was lots of laughter, discussion, exchange of viewpoints and ideas and the group became more open and lively. 

It was just what I'd hoped would happen. There were Bourbons, Custard Cremes, Party Rings and even Jaffa Cakes to nibble on and I played them the Orson Well's part of 'The Fall of the House of Usher' (Alan Parsons Project, Tales of Mystery & Imagination, about Edgar Alan Poe's works) to get started.

As usual, I recognised on-the-fly where I needed to cut some of the prepared parts of my session plan and I adjusted accordingly. Now it meant that I did miss out some classic (and classy) nuggets of information but hey-ho that's required when you need to be flexible to keep your audience awake - I mean interested. No, I mean enthralled.

If you're a creative person, of any discipline, activity, hobby, inner drive or need to reach out through your craft; look for the 'The Creative Eye Essex' group and if you see the Logo (below), you know you're at the right place. It's friendly, inclusive and growing - well worth getting involved.

Anyway, check out the new poem written during the session to see what you think and I'll see you next time.

Take care all, keep reading....

Alan