Haiku for Beginners - Group Online Course

About Karen and Alan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VS36AGVI6s

website: www.callofthepage.org

For more information contact us at: admin@callofthepage.org

We now have a new and brilliant course for beginners!

designed by Karen Hoy

Introducing... Haiku

https://www.callofthepage.org/learning/haiku-courses/introducing-haiku/

We hope to bring another beginners course later in the year.

There is a newsletter (details on the page) if you want to be kept uptodate on Call of the Page courses.

Previous course:

Haiku Beginners - Group Online Course

This is an entry level course, not only for people who are looking specifically to learn about writing haiku, but for those who are inspired to try this short form as a manageable way into starting creative writing.

With this course, we enjoy getting back to basics.

In the first assignment we will use short prose exercises to improve the brevity of our writing - a quality essential to haiku.  We will learn what to watch out for when reading haiku.  

For the second assignment we'll begin to write the brief snippets of words that make up a haiku.  

With the third and final assignment we will be ready to compose complete haiku.  Each assignment will have detailed feedback from the tutor.  The tutor's feedback is shared with all participants, so everybody learns from each other's work.

Participants should have at least three finished haiku by the end of the course, and ideas for continuing their writing.  

The course ends with an optional 20-minute phone or Skype chat with Alan to answer any outstanding questions about haiku in general or the student's work or next steps.

LEVEL:  beginners at haiku, or beginners at creative writing.

GROUP SIZE: up to 6.

START DATE:  Monday 17th October 2016, finishing 8 weeks later. 

FULL COST: £95 or US$125. 

EARLY BIRD COST: £80 or US$105 (if paying by Monday 26th September 2016).

BOOKING: by payment via PayPal to alan@withwords.org.uk
Go to the Paypal website: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/send-money-online



weblink:
https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/send-money-online

Your payment by Paypal confirms you a place on the course. 

For more information contact us at: admin@callofthepage.org

BIOGRAPHY

Alan Summers MA (Bath Spa University)

Alan Summers, a Japan Times award-winning writer, is London born recently moved to Chippenham, in the South West of England. He has been teaching about haiku internationally, and its related genres, for over twenty years.

His work regularly appears in leading anthologies around the haiku genre:

Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years 

(W. W. Norton 2013)

Haiku 2014; Haiku 2015; and Haiku 2016 

Modern Haiku Press

The Disjunctive Dragonfly, a New Approach to English-Language Haiku 

(Red Moon Press 2012)

A Vast Sky, An Anthology of Contemporary World Haiku (Tancho Press 2015)

Journeys 2015 - An Anthology of International Haibun (prose form with haiku)

NHK World TV of Japan recently featured him in Europe meets Japan - Alan's Haiku Journey, and he has regularly appeared in Japanese newspapers:

http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/europe-meets-japan-alans-haiku-journey.html

Japanese newspaper quotes about Alan:

"Astonishingly moving haiku" 

YOMIURI SHIMBUN (Japan) January 2005

"Widely known haiku poet...as dry as vintage champagne"

YOMIURI SHIMBUN (14 million readers in Japan)

16th September 2002 (chosen while spending my birthday in Tokyo, Japan)

He is regularly asked to be a haiku competition judge:

The IAFOR Vladimir Devidé Haiku Award:

http://iaforhaikuaward.org/alan-summers-guest-judge

World Monuments Fund Haiku Contest:

http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/extended-judges-report-for-2013-world.html 

2015 World Haiku Competition

http://lyricalpassionpoetry.yolasite.com/2015-world-haiku-competition-open.php

And more recently The International Matsuo Bashō Award for haiku poets worldwide organised by The Italian Haiku Association.

Alan is a co-editor of five haiku-based anthologies, and four collections of haiku, and has been a co-founding editor of two haiku magazines.

He is the author of the forthcoming book

Writing Poetry: the haiku way (2017).

Also do check out our one-to-one individual feedback options too! 
http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/expert-one-to-one-individual-feedback.html

Alan Summers : events, readings, online poetry courses including haiku online workshops and tanka online workshops

I'm a Japan Times award-winning writer with over 20 years experience in haiku and tanka poetry, and I enjoy working with people around the world who are intrigued by these two short verse genres.

Alan Summers, Director and Lead Tutor, With Words

International Online Haiku Courses:
http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/online-haiku-course-early-bird-rate.html

International Online Haiku and Tanka Courses:
http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/dates-for-next-online-haiku-tanka.html

For futher information about dates later in the year for online courses and workshops, both one-to-one and small groups please don't hesitate to send an email to Karen at: karen@withwords.org.uk

Live and Local (UK)
I also do occasional writing group presentations (talks; readings; workshops) and live events.  For further information drop Karen a line at: karen@withwords.org.uk






Alan Summers speaking about haiku at a TEDx event:
http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/transcript-from-tedx-video-amazement-of.html


.

Haiku and Tanka online workshops by Alan Summers

Hi, I'm Alan Summers, and our online haiku and tanka workshops are designed for those considering learning a new skill; a new adventure; for self-development; wanting to go further into haiku or tanka poetry; or consolidating their start into all types of poetry by trying haiku or tanka first.  

You might also be interested in haibun or tanka stories (prose with haiku or tanka)?

Check out our most recent online classes for:
https://www.callofthepage.org/learning/ 

Or email Karen at: admin@callofthepage.org for the latest news and courses.

Check out our past online classes for haiku and tanka:  http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/call-of-page-online-courses-passion-of.html

Tanka are five line love poems, with a turn not unlike the longer Sonnet.

Haiku are usually three very short line poems, that rely on evoking emotions through concrete images.

There is a lot more to these two genres than the simple description, and many themes and approaches are allowed in these poems, to match your own style.

There is something for everybody.

FFI
Whether for bookings or for further information, please do not hesitate to contact Karen who will be delighted to give you answers to your questions.

Karen's email: admin@callofthepage.org

Alan Summers, is a Japan Times award-winning writer, and recipient of a Ritsumeikan University of Kyoto Peace Museum Award for haiku.

He has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University; and is a past General Secretary of the British Haiku Society.

Alan is an experienced workshop leader, and editor, in haiku and other haikai literature disciplines, and appeared in literary festivals, and readings, all over Britain. 

"Astonishingly moving haiku"  YOMIURI SHIMBUN (Japan) January 2005


As well as being published in over 75 anthologies, and translated into 15 languages, Alan has his own work in collections, and co-edited a number of anthologies himself.

Haiku Collections:

“Does Fish-God Know” (YTBN Press 2012)
“A must-have book for any haiku fan.”
Tracey Kelly, Chicago/Bath musician and journalist
 
“Thank you for writing such a vital work.”
Paul David Mena, author of Tenement Landscapes (New York) published by Happa-no-Kofu (The Leaf-Miner Press) just after September 11 2001
 
“The In-Between Season”
With Words Pamphlet Series (2012)
 
“Sundog Haiku Journal: an Australian Year”
(Sunfast Press 1997 reprinted 1998) California State Library - Main Catalog Call Number: HAIKU S852su 1997
 
“Moonlighting”
British Haiku Society Intimations Pamphlet Series (1996)

Anthology Co-Editor:
Parade of Life: Poems inspired by Japanese Prints ISBN: 09539234-2-8  (Poetry Can/Bristol Museum and Art Gallery/Japan21 2002); The Poetic Image - Haiku and Photography (Birmingham Words/ National Academy of Writing Pamphlet 2006); Fifty-Seven Damn Good Haiku by a Bunch of Our Friends published by Press Here ISBN 978-1-878798-31-2  (2010 USA); Four Virtual Haiku Poets (YTBN Press 2012); C.2.2. anthology of short verse and haiku (YTBN Press 2013).

Parade of Life Co-editors: Paul Conneally; Alan Summers; and Kate Newham

Quotes from workshop participants:

This was the first online class I have ever taken and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for providing the opportunity and for making it affordable. I learned so much and integrated a lot of what I learned.

Alan is a fantastic teacher, as you already know. I would love to take another course with Alan.  

A B (March 2013)

"You have a very gentle and encouraging way with the students – and you have been generous with your time in giving them deep and positive comments!" Isabelle, Ireland

"...you are one of the poets I have been most interested in. I love your haiku style."  Keiko, Yokohama, JAPAN


"You have a remarkable talent for touching and enriching people’s lives."     Mark, London 2009

"Alan is able to work with people who have no experience of poetry to encourage them to try it.  He watches and listens with patience and respect and offers guidance that is flexible enough to empower the workshop participants but firm enough to support them."

Rachel, Bristol (2010)

"Very many thanks again for all your constant and splendid help, support and patience.  I am well aware of the fact that I wouldn't be having such an amazing journey with my haiku if wasn't for you.

As you probably know by now, I use every corner of my life as a way of reflection of my psychological personal development - haiku in itself is great for this, but working with you has just elevated the experience a 100 fold.  I can not put into words how much this has meant to me, so as I tried to say on the phone the haiku is almost secondary, but of course both mean a lot to me.  Your support over the last couple of years or so have just been such an amazing gift to me - bless you."  FT 2011-2012

.

Alan Summers is a prize winner for the Japan Times Community Anniversary Haiku Competition 2012

I've just been told I'm a joint winner of the Japan Times Community Anniversary Haiku Competition.


the end of summer
tsukutsuku-bôshi heard
at suma temple



There is a legend that if the tsukutsukubôshi cicadas are heard to sing at Sumadera (Suma Temple) during late Summer that there is a small and special 'inbetween season' between Summer and Autumn.

I was fortunate to hear them sing at Sumadera in September 2002.


Here's an Image and sound recording: 
http://www.lizadalby.com/LD/39_cold_cicada.html

Sumadera:
http://www.justjapan.org/japan/kobe/photos/kobe09.asp


.