RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP

Shifting Sands
Changing Perspectives in History and Biography

Vaughan Park Retreat Centre: October 23-26 2009

Since 2007, the Michael King Writers' Centre has offered a series of workshops for emerging writers of all ages at its restored Signalman's House in Devonport. Now, with the generous assistance of an Auckland Regional Services grant from North Shore City, the Centre has organised the first of what is intended to be an annual series of Writers' Residential Workshops covering different forms of writing. The few existing non-fiction writing courses held around the country rarely go beyond memoir and travel writing, and it is fitting that the inaugural Residential Workshop should reflect Michael King's major interests in history and biography.

The Workshop's title, Shifting Sands, expresses the changing nature of history and biography. Research reveals hitherto unknown facts, there are new points of view, and perception and interpretation alter over time. It also incorporates the hope that debate will be provocative as well as profound. To this end, leading writers will present not only their experiences in research, writing for different audiences, book structure and publishing, but also highlight the factors which have changed the "way of seeing" in their fields of research.

Engaging in debate about the shaping of history, what constitutes the truth in biography and discussing the finer points of research and book structure, require time, energy and a stimulating environment. Writers will gain much from the interaction and intensity of a long weekend retreat in the company of colleagues and respected professionals and Vaughan Park offers the ideal setting for such in-depth discussions.

The Venue

The atmosphere will be relaxed, informal and designed to enable maximum enjoyment of the location. The Long Bay Regional Park has a superb beach and a cliff-top walk with extensive views over the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The Vaughan Park Retreat Centre overlooks the beach and offers a variety of lounges and meeting rooms and has a restaurant extending onto a large deck. Living accommodation consists of a series of houses, each with a central lounge opening onto a garden courtyard, two bathrooms and six individual rooms with bed, desk, hand basin and wardrobe.

Go to www.vaughanpark.org.nz for more about the venue.

Programme

Sessions will include literary, cultural, historical and collective biography, New Zealand history from a Maori perspective, themes in New Zealand and Australian history, writing for different audiences, local and regional history, research and publishing. Confirmed speakers to date are Anne Salmond, Brian Boyd, Gordon McLauchlan, Caroline Daley, Gavin McLean, Monty Soutar, Janet Hunt, Paul Monin, Christine Cole Catley, Iain Sharp, Deborah Challinor, Paul Diamond, Sandra Coney and publishers Bridget Williams, Geoff Walker and Sam Elworthy. The programme will also include time for attending writers to discuss the challenges of their own particular projects.

Go to Residential Workshop Speakers for biographies of the speakers, or Residential Workshop Programme for full programme details.

Cost

The Auckland Regional Services fund administered by North Shore City has provided support for the planning and administration of the Residential Workshop. This support has enabled the Trust to limit the cost of the workshop to $495.00 plus GST per person, which includes three night's accommodation and all meals.

How to apply

The workshop is limited to 20 applicants. Writers applying to attend the workshop should have some publishing record. It is envisaged that, as well as writers who have already published work in history and biography, applicants may include experienced writers from other fields who have recently started writing history or biography and those who have published articles or chapters and may be preparing a book based on their thesis or research.

Applications should be made to the address below by 30 June 2009 and include a writing CV. Registration forms will be sent to those accepted by 20 July 2009. Payment is due following acceptance.

Go to Residential Workshop Programme to download and print the application form and programme.

Enquiries should be addressed to:
Kitty Wishart
Residential Workshop
Michael King Writers' Centre
PO Box 32-629, Devonport
North Shore City 0744
or
Phone (09) 378-8826
Email: workshop@writerscentre.org.nz