Createplace presents: In association with:
One-Day Retreat
Show and Tell
Your Life Story
DATE AND LOCATION
Saturday 9th July, 8.30am - 3.30pm
Maleny Community Centre
23 Maple Street, Maleny
LEARN TO ACTIVATE YOUR CREATIVITY AND EXPLORE
DIFFERENT WAYS TO EXPRESS YOUR LIFE STORY
Do you want to succinctly capture, distil and validate your life experiences?
Life writing can be an invaluable tool for personal growth and development.
In this full day retreat program, you will be introduced to various techniques and approaches to creatively explore your life experiences through playful curiosity, sensory reflection and the written word. Turn your life experiences into beautiful poetry, prose, a digital story or a visual artwork.
Facilitated by Createplace, our qualified arts and health writing practitioners will guide you to:
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develop creative strategies for ‘finding’ your story
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identify positive outcomes and empowering perspectives from your experiences
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feel empowered to find your unique voice in different life story genres
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experiment with different ways of getting your ideas down for print or viewing by audiences
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connect with other aspiring writers in your community
This program is not ‘therapy’ but is based on evidence-based art therapy practices and will combine arts and writing in a space where you can feel safe and supported to share your stories with others.
LIMITED PLACES
Places are restricted to ensure a personalised experience for all participants.
Attendees must be 18 years of age or over at the time of the retreat.
PROGRAM
Retreat Inclusions
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An opportunity for writing and reflection away from the usual demands of life in a beautiful and inspiring location.
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Guided Activities and Workshops to develop your voice and creative life writing skills in different genres: Poetry, Creative Life Writing, Digital Storytelling and Journaling.
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Access to specialist Life Writing Mentors across the day to discuss your life writing project.
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Morning and afternoon tea provided.
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One hour of Free time for mingling with new friends over lunch and/or to explore the town.
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A unique opportunity to connect with other aspiring writers in your community and make like-minded friends.
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A safe space to share your story and/or receive constructive feedback if you choose.
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A group dinner can be arranged on Saturday evening subject to interest.
What previous retreaters have said:
Absolutely inspiring – very professional + heart
Thank you for a truly uplifting and informative day
It was my first retreat of any type, the immersion was so beneficial
Really LOVED the variety of differing perspectives of each of the presenters. Took away something from all of them!!
These workshops have helped me get to the next step in my writing
FULL RETREAT PACKAGE COST $95 per person
(plus a small booking fee)
That's a full day program with FOUR workshops for only $95
OR BRING A FRIEND AND YOU BOTH GET 5% DISCOUNT
Meet Your Retreat Mentors
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Creative Life Writing with Dr Leanne Dodd | PhD – Arts & Humanities, GCert Tertiary Ed, Dip Art Therapy
Leanne is an author, university lecturer and coach in creative and life writing. She believes in the potential of life writing to transform lives and has published and presented extensively on her innovative life writing practices. Under the pen name of Lea Scott, she has published award-nominated novels and short stories. She acts as a mentor for emerging writers for Queensland Writers Centre and has appeared at numerous festivals. She also volunteers her time to various arts committees.
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Poetry with Nicki Cassimatis | Grad Cert Mental Health, Grad Dip Education, B Arts
Nicki is an experienced language and pastoral care teacher, workshop facilitator and published poet. She is a passionate advocate for poetry as a tool for self-care and authentic joy-filled living. Her three chapbooks, published as Veronica Cassiane, are the fruits of a personal recovery journey from the darkness of depression and anxiety into light, hope and reclaimed joy. She has presented at national and international conferences and events, including TEDxUQ.
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Digital Storytelling with Elena Volkova | M Arts - HDR, Transmedia Studies, GDip – Museum Studies, B Arts
Lena is a transmedia storytelling practitioner. Her Higher Degree Research thesis explored the capacity of transmedia storytelling to support the integration of female Defence Force personnel back into civilian life. She designed an innovative narrative-based artistic practice that offers a range of services to assist in building resilient and sustainable peer support communities. Her area of practice includes creative life story writing, digital storytelling, and oral history practice.
Journaling and sustainability with with Dr Kim Polistina | PhD
Kim is a former university lecturer whose work focusses on assisting people from all walks of life understand how important they are to maintaining a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Helping others to understand how vital their individual and unique capacities, skills and worldviews are is one of her life goals. She has over 30 years’ experience working in education for sustainability and global citizenship. In this time, she has presented at national and international conferences and worked across a diversity of cultural and social contexts.
Associated Events in Maleny
(not included in Retreat Package)
Why not extend your weekend writing retreat?
Sunday 10 July: Maleny Celebrating Books will be holding their annual Sunday morning events including a writing workshop 'Writing Flawed Characters' and Big Book Club discussing Marion Frith‘s new novel Here in the After.
For details/bookings click below:
Or stay longer...
Tuesday 12 July: Maleny Arts Council will be presenting the stage production of 'The Year of Magical Thinking' based on the memoir by Joan Didion. For details/bookings click HERE.
Spend time exploring the hinterland, catching up with new friends or working on your writing in the serene surroundings. For a list of attractions and things to do in and around Maleny click HERE.
For a list of places to stay in Maleny from $105/night click HERE.
Getting to Maleny
You can travel to Maleny by car, or by train to Landsborough Station, then bus to Maleny (Route 891 is operated by Glasshouse Country Coaches). Check Translink for details.
Retreat Outcomes
We hope you will leave the retreat having made good friends, and feeling energised and enthused about your future writing. If you are interested in ongoing mentorship aimed toward publication, just chat with us during the retreat or contact us at info@createplace.net to discuss your needs.
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