How do we tell the stories that made us?

In this workshop, through exploring our scars - both physical and mental – you will create memoir-based poems that develop your personal voice and confidence in sharing your stories with others. This is a gentle and supportive environment to explore and write from a place of vulnerability.

Participants will:

• Learn how to turn personal stories into poems
• Develop skills to confidently edit and polish their poems 
• Learn techniques to gain confidence in sharing and performing their poems 
• Gain insight and skills into the technique of writing poems and finding their unique voice 
• Learn how to overcome stage-fright and the fear of performing for an audience 

This workshop is presented by the Writers SA No Limits: Young Regional Writers program and is aimed at Limestone Coast writers aged 30 and under, however writers of all ages are welcome to attend.

After the workshop, join Emelia and Writers SA at For the Love of Words and Wine, a spoken word open mic afternoon at Wild Game Wine from 2pm. Emelia will be sharing some of her best work as feature poet and local writers can register to share their own work on the mic.

We’ve also made March a full month of poetry in the Limestone Coast. This is the second of three Limestone Coast poetry workshops in March 2022. We also have a workshop on 5th March with Gloria Demillo in Mount Gambier and on 27th March with Caroline Reid for Mount Gambier Fringe. We also have an online concrete poetry workshop with Rory Green for World Poetry Day on 21st March.

About Emelia Haskey

Emelia Haskey has been performing slam poetry since 2017, with a focus on memoir based poetry. She was the 2019 South Australian State Poetry Slam Champion, going on to perform at the Sydney Opera House that same year. She was also a finalist in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Goolwa Poetry Cup. In 2021 she was chosen as the Poet in Residence at the Adelaide City, and hosted a series of workshops on the power of poetry through a pandemic. She is currently working on her first anthology.

WSA Member $44 / Non-member $77 

No Limits (regional writers aged 30 and under) $10

No Limits workshops are heavily subsidised for regional writers aged 30 and under. If the fee is still a barrier please email [email protected] for the No Limits 50% off or 100% off code to enable you to participate. 

Venue: Naracoorte Public Library

—All staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or hold a current medical exemption, in order to attend; and must comply with any precautionary measures Writers SA puts in place. We may request proof of your vaccination status or medical exemption upon entry. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in or access the No Limits code, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!

—Members of other writing centres in the National Writers Centre Network can access our member discount. Contact [email protected] with your membership number to make your booking.

—Our Youth Membership category also includes a subscription to Voiceworks. Voiceworks is a national literary journal that features exciting new writing and art by young Australians. Join here.