Your Small Stone in a Book of the Best

It's tomorrow!

International Small Stones Writing Month starts HERE FIRST as the sun will rise in New Zealand on January 1st 2011 before anywhere else in the world. Now that rocks! :)

And a stone or two of YOURS could end up in a book. Yes, that's right - the organisers of a river of stones are looking to create a book at the end of the project. Read more about it here.

Tempted now?

How about the last of my 'small stone' warm ups for your reading pleasure:

waking up still excited by yesterday's new idea

And plenty more where that came from! Check in daily from tomorrow.

A Cure for Your Post-Party Blues

Christmas is over for another year, and 2010 will soon be a thing of the past. So what next?

Turn that lull into a beautiful thing with International Small Stones Writing Month starting January 1st 2011. You can join us 'stoners' here and get some bling for your blog here.

With only two days until the wave hits, here's one of my small stones to whet your appetite:

waiting for a blood test
every face is older than mine

Go here for more stones - peoples' recordings of their encounters with the present moment.

Testing, testing, one, two, three...

That's three days to a river of stones folks: the January writing project taking the world into the present moment by noticing bite-sized bits of the day and writing them down. Piece of cake! ;)

Here's me dipping my toe into the water with my first small stone, which I picked up and turned over on my way across the Kaimai Ranges yesterday morning:

following the summer rain a line of shorn sheep

Pick up a small stone today and join in the fun over at a river of stones

A Haiku for the Happy Couple

Today is my parents 40th wedding anniversary, so I'm heading to a gathering of family and friends at their home in the Waikato. I wrote this haiku to celebrate their day and it appears in a card from me and my siblings, along with our gift of a pohutukawa tree.

ruby anniversary
the colour of love
still in their cheeks

              Copyright © 2010 Kirsten Cliff

Merry Christmas Dear Readers

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season

from New Zealand

Thank you for your support of Swimming in Lines of Haiku.

Stop by again soon for more poetry, photography, literary news and views. Happy writing and reading to you! All the best, Kirsten

Giving Books for Christmas - my picks for your creative peeps

I love books, and can't help but dole them out at Christmas time. I buy most online at Fishpond so all my links point there. However you will also find same on Amazon, etc. Here are a few of my favourites for creative types...

• What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul by Oriah
• The Art of Dreaming: A Creativity Toolbox for Dreamwork by Jill Mellick
• Art is a Way of Knowing: A guide to self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through creativity by Pat B. Allen
• And for the female writer, you can't go wrong with the Mslexia Writer's Diary.



Ever Heard of Cinquains?

Great post here by Joanna Preston on cinquains, a poetic from heavily influenced by Japanese poetry. Check out the post, read the examples, follow the links, and give it a go!

Count Me In!

Better than January resolutions... a river of stones is an international project organised by Fiona Robyn to encourage people to engage with the world through writing a short observational piece (a small stone) every day during January.

I have blogged before about Fiona Robyn's blogzine a handful of stones. Her creation of NaSmaStoMo (National Small Stones Writing Month) is a great way to bring new life into her 'small stone' philosophy and to engage the senses of people around the world.

Now you have two challenges to kick off 2011: NaSmaStoMo in January and NaHaiWriMo in February. So are you in?

                          

Haiku Graffiti Found on the Web

Still Trying to Wrap Your Head Around Haiku?

Then this is the article for you: Becoming a Haiku Poet by Michael Dylan Welch. It's everything you need to know to get started, set out clearly and with examples.

While at his website, stop and take a look around. There is much to read and ponder.

And if you're up for a challenge, Welch has started NaHaiWriMo - a haiku a day for the month of February. That's only 28 days people!

Quick Tip #3 for Freelance Writers

Write what you don't know but are interested in knowing.

Sick of writing what you know? Time to write about what you don't know but are interested in getting to know.

When I'm interested in something I'm determined to find out everything I can about it. I read from books and on-line, I talk to people, I try it out, I journal about the experience. I'm so passionate about the new love in my life that I can't stop thinking about it!

This enthusiasm for a new topic will come across in whatever you write about it, whether it's a how-to article, personal story or profile of an expert. Being new to the topic, you will ask questions that those more familiar with it may not. You will look at the topic from different angles than someone who's more experienced might.

Think of something you've always wanted to try or explore in more depth. Give it a whirl and write about it. It won't just open you up to a new world of experiences but open up your writing world too.

Sharing Haiku for National Jandal Day

summer solstice -
the slap slap
of jandals

Copyright © 2010 Kirsten Cliff
First published in Kokako 8 (April, 2008)


Today is New Zealand's National Jandal Day - Surf Life Saving's annual appeal day. Kiwi's are urged to wear jandals in support of these summer heroes who mark 100 years of service this season.

sunbathing topless
the sound of a lifeguard's
four-wheeler

Copyright © 2010 Kirsten Cliff
First published in Kokako 9 (September, 2008)

Playing with Photo Haiga

I finally learnt how to use PhotoStudio editing software and can now put text on my images and manipulate my photos. It was a lot easier than I thought, and I had fun playing around with different fonts and techniques. The first one I made was the marrying together of my haiku and image that appeared separately on Head Lines NZ - 'taking a mental health day'.

I have only done a couple more as I still favour making my haiga collage-style, and will be off to the Papamoa Market Day this Sunday to search for objects that will inspire my next creation.

My collection of haiku and tanka exploring my leukaemia journey is coming along at a steady pace. I have fourteen that are made into haiga, and twenty-eight polished poems overall. One thing is for sure: I'm growing out of my art space at a rapid rate!

New Links to My Writing this Month

During November, I've had two pieces of writing appear on-line.

First, is a poem, My Depression is a Room, on Head Lines NZ, which I wrote a couple of years ago. It's one of those pieces that I knew would find it's right place in this world given time. Thanks to editor, Jodine Derena Butler, for accepting my work yet again. I'm pleased to support this project, and encourage other New Zealanders with any experience of mental illness to take part, or take a look. Jodine's personal poetry blog is Poetry Out West. 

The second, is an article, You've got to have faith: Inspirational art from Janet Keen, that was published in Bravado 16 in 2009. It's an interview of friend and colleage, Janet Keen, and she has kindly put the article up on her blog. I did a few issues as Bravado's 'roving arts reporter' but sadly this Tauranga produced publication has now closed. A big thank you to Janet for giving my article another life. Check out her blog for creative ideas, inspiring quotes and colourful posts. Below: Bravado 16 cover art by Janet Keen.

The Haiku Foundation Touchstone Awards for Individual Haiku

The Touchstone Awards for Individual Poems will be bestowed annually on haiku and senryu that represent a noteworthy addition to English-language haiku in the estimation of a distinguished panel of haiku poets, editors and scholars. The inaugural Awards are open to any English-language haiku or senryu published in calendar-year 2010. Each author of an award-winning poem will receive a commemorative stone with their poem and name engraved on it, emblematic of his or her contribution to the foundations of English-language haiku.

Each poet may nominate no more than two poems, only one of which may be the author’s own work. I've submitted my nonimations. Have you? The deadline for submission is December 31, 2010. And it's so easy to do with the on-line entry form.

Side Stream Calls for Submissions

Side Stream 'Poetry from the Fringe' is looking for more submissions and has extended it's deadline for Issue 27 to Friday 28th November. This issue will be a joint effort by Jason Morales and Anna Kaye Forsyth, two long-time Side Streamers. Send your best short poems to sidestreamnz@gmail.com

My partner, Cameron Elliot, was the cover artist for Issue 26 with Ere the Storm. Congratulations, Cameron!

Sharing My Story

The story of my leukaemia journey so far (complete with haiku, of course!) is now up on the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation website. You can read it here.

Meanwhile, I'm continuing to write at least one haiku or tanka a week that speaks of my journey, and I have made fourteen into collage-style haiga. My collection is coming along nicely, but most of all, it's therapeutic value is something money can't buy.

Guest Post: Why Kukai? by Cara Holman

Cara Holman is one of my haiku buddies and is a fellow cancer survivor. She told me about the kukai comps she was involved in a few months back and I've since had the joy of watching her success. I knew she could do a much better post on this topic than I, so I asked her to be my first guest blogger. Her enthusiasm for writing is a delight to be part of and I thank her for this contribution to Swimming in Lines of Haiku. Take it away, Cara...

I discovered Kukai contests in much the same way I’ve discovered everything of worth in cyberspace: by serendipitously following links. The first Kukai I discovered was the Shiki Monthly Kukai. What is a Kukai? Simply put, it is a peer-reviewed haiku competition, in which anyone who submits a haiku gets to vote.

Here’s how it works, in more detail. The Shiki Monthly Kukai has two divisions: the “Kigo” and the “Free format”. In the former, the kigo provided must be included in the haiku, along with a seasonal reference. In the “free format” section, the haiku may be set in any season. Sometimes the word provided must be used verbatim; other times, the only requirement is that it be “strongly imaged or implicit”. A writer may submit one haiku to either or both sections.

Shortly after the submission period ends, ballots are distributed to each participant with the haiku listed anonymously. Each participant has 6 points to distribute, in increments of 1, 2, or 3, and they may not vote for their own haiku. Finally, the votes are tallied, and the haiku are listed in ranked order, along with the writers’ names, points, and any comments they may have received. In addition to the Shiki Monthly Kukai, two other Kukai that I regularly participate in are the Sketchbook Kukai and the Caribbean Kigo Kukai. These are some of my favorite Kukai entries from this year:

night sky –

my thumb

eclipsing the moon

1st place, Shiki Monthly Kukai, July 2010

3rd place, 8th Annual Shiki Poets’ Choice Kukai, October 2010

strains of Mendelssohn

the groom fiddles

with his carnation

1st place, Caribbean Kigo Kukai #13, May 2010

lingering heat

the dogwood’s leaves

curling inward

2nd place, Sketchbook Kukai, July/August 2010

What is novel about Kukai contests, is that unlike traditional haiku journals or competitions with a single judge, Kukai are “judged” by all of the participants, creating a kind of vox populi effect. Kukai are also inclusive—anyone can participate, and everyone is made to feel equally welcome—whether this is their first haiku, or they have been writing and publishing haiku for years. The best way to get started with any of these Kukai is simply to familiarize yourself with the rules, read the past few months of results to get the “flavor” of that particular Kukai, and start writing!

Cara Holman lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, the youngest of their three children, and their two cats. She finds inspiration for her haiku in the garden and on forest trails. Visit her blog, Prose Posies, for links to all of her writing, including her creative nonfiction.

Quick Tip #2 for Freelance Writers

Interview using all of your senses.

When doing a face-to-face interview, don't just hear what the person is saying, 'listen' with all of your senses engaged. Look at the way their eyes light up over certain topics, the way the sunlight picks up different colours in their hair, the smell of their home or perfume, the background sounds of children, pets or music, whatever you can pick up about that person and their situation from their surroundings.

Taking in all these aspects when interviewing someone for an article (which is what makes up half of my freelance writing work) brings to life your experience of your time with that person. The reader gets a more rounded view of the interviewee, and your article is more enjoyable to read as it is richer, deeper.

This would not apply when interviewing people for short quotes or when interviewing via email. However, you can extend your listening skills when interviewing via phone to pick up when the person felt tense or excited discussing certain topics, for example. Practice when talking to your friends and family.

A Tanka for Leukaemia Appeal Week

This week is Leukaemia Appeal Week (Nov 1-7) in New Zealand so I'm sharing the first tanka I wrote in hospital while having chemotherapy for Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML). This tanka was first published in Kokako 13, September 2010

walking to work
they kiss
before parting:
the nurse turns left
the doctor turns right

Copyright © 2010 Kirsten Cliff



This photo was taken as part of the Leukaemia Appeal Week campaign, photographed by TJ Alderson in conjunction with the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation. It's of me with my mum and sister in my favourite second hand bookshop, Browsers, in Hamilton.

You can see other leukaemia survivors and read their stories by following this link, as well as some facts about leukaemia and details of how to donate online and go into the draw to win a Farmers gift card worth NZ$100!

The Haiku Foundation FREE Haiku Contest on Facebook

The Haiku Foundation is pleased to announce its first-ever haiku contest on Facebook! It starts today and will run through to the end of November 2010. This contest is FREE.

Jim Kacian, the founder of The Haiku Foundation, will be judging and will offer a copy of this year’s Red Moon Anthology for the top three haiku. Anyone may enter one haiku by posting it in the comment section of the post about this contest on The Haiku Foundation Facebook page.

A Poem & Book Give-Away for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A few years ago I had the opportunity, as a freelance writer, to meet a group of truly inspirational women. I not only interviewed Boobops, the Bay of Plenty Women’s Dragon Boat Team, but also took up the opportunity to paddle alongside them at a training session on Tauranga Harbour.

I discovered that these women were friendly, fit and fierce competitors. They were women on a mission – to get the sport of dragon boat racing up and running in the Bay. Their uniqueness stemmed from being survivors of breast cancer.

Boobops, like similar dragon boat teams around the world, began as a way of moving on after breast cancer; building strength in mind, body and spirit. The camaraderie and fitness that Boobops members experience is something special, but Liz Sinclair, founding member of Boobops says, “Competing is important too. We all need something to strive for.”

Every year Boobops host a regatta in Tauranga where breast cancer survivor teams from around New Zealand compete against corporate and family teams. A highlight of this regatta is the flower ceremony, which commemorates all women who have lost their fight against breast cancer.

At the end of the last breast cancer survivors’ race, the teams join together on the water while a reading is performed. The survivors then cast their flowers onto the water during the one-minute silence that follows. Long-time Boobops member, Sue Batty, says, “It’s a way of remembering friends who can’t be with us.”

I'm honoured to have paddled alongside these survivors, and share my poem as a tribute to all those who have been touched by breast cancer.

Paddling the Dragon Boat

We paddle across Tauranga harbour

Twelve women in a dragon boat,

Early on Saturday morning

The summer sun climbing high,

Twelve women in a dragon boat

Zipped tight into life jackets,

The summer sun climbing high

Taste of salt water on my lips,

Zipped tight into life jackets

Grip the paddle with two hands,

Taste of salt water on my lips

Our coach calls out the rhythm,

Grip the paddle with two hands

We quicken the stroke pace,

Our coach calls out the rhythm

My muscles begin to ache, as

We quicken the stroke pace

Early on Saturday morning,

My muscles begin to ache, as

We paddle across Tauranga harbour.

Copyright © 2010 Kirsten Cliff

I wrote today's post as part of the WOW-Women on Writing Blanket Tour for Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey by Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN. The book includes Diana's experiences, reflections, poetry and journal entries, in addition to writing prompts for readers to express their own personal stories. A survivor of both breast cancer and multiple myeloma, Raab views journaling to be like a daily vitamin--in that it heals, detoxifies and is essential for optimal health.

Diana, the author of eight books, spent 25 years as a medical and self-help writer before turning to poetry and memoir. She teaches creative journaling and memoir in UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

If you comment on today's post you'll be entered to win a copy of Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey. To read Diana's post about breast cancer and a list of other blogs participating in Diana's Blanket Tour visit The Muffin.

My Haiku Year

This article was first published as a Write Place column in the Bay of Plenty Times, Saturday, October 27, 2007.

I hunger for haiku and began 2007 strolling the Haiku Pathway in Katikati on New Year’s Day. Then mid-year, in celebration of my thirtieth birthday I set myself this challenge: to write a haiku each day for the next year. I knew that at the very least, I would produce a unique documentation of my 31st year.

The idea originally came from the book, The Haiku Year (Soft Skull Press, 2004), which is the product of seven friends who made a pact to write haiku every day for a year as a way to keep in touch with each other. I found this very interesting and believed my challenge would be a way for me to stay in touch with myself.

I draw immense pleasure from reading and writing haiku. There is so much life contained in those three lines: I can see it, feel it, taste it, smell it. For me writing is ultimately about my connection with my spirit. Haiku is one way I can create and benefit from this connection. It’s my simple form of instant gratification.

I’m not a drinker but I imagine it’s like a fine wine: taking in the complete experience a glass of grapes has to offer. The clarity and smell, the texture and taste, the way it feels in the back of your throat. The utter pleasure of consuming it to it’s fullest potential. Yes, this for me is haiku.

Three months on, the rewards of writing a haiku a day and sometimes more, have been many. I have a journal with me always, received on my thirtieth birthday, so when inspiration hits I can record the sensations immediately.

However, I often take time in the afternoon or before bed to reflect over the events of my day. I’ve found it a great way to offload negative stuff that’s occurred, much like journalling.

Thinking back over every detail allows me to find the magic moments of haiku in a day that would have otherwise passed me by. It’s taught me to be more aware of the small triumphs and beauties in my life. It’s also good practice for that skill writers should have in their tool belt: writing on demand. It’s definitely an exercise in discipline!

I now have heaps of haiku, some that need further work, to enter in competitions and submit to publications. It feels good to know that I am writing, creating, every day in a small yet powerful way. And at the end will indeed have an insightful account of an important year in my life.

Frogpond Submissions Open

Frogpond, the Journal of the Haiku Society of America, is open for submissions for it's Winter Issue. The cut off date is November 15. See full submission guidelines here. And you can connect with the HSA on Facebook.

I had the pleasure of meeting, and writing with, editor George Swede in 2009 when he came to New Zealand. A linked haiku verse that was written over lunch with George Swede, Catherine Mair, Pat Prime, Owen Bullock, Steve Cordery, Margaret Beverland, Sandra Simpson and myself is published in Lynx (scroll down to find 'Spider's Strand').

Two Online Opportunties for Your Haiku

Four and Twenty: short form poetry

A monthly online pdf poetry journal interested in fresh and emerging voices. Named for their guideline on what short form poetry is - poems with four lines or less that have no more than twenty words. Full submission guidelines here. The website also features a Four and Twenty of the Week, and if you join them on Twitter or Facebook you'll receive their Monday to Friday writing prompts.

a handful of stones: celebrating the extraordinary in the ordinary

This poetry blog zine is edited by author Fiona Robyn. A small stone is described as, "...a very short piece of writing that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment." One is published each day. Read more about the small stone philosophy here and check out the submission guidelines here.

Returning Refreshed

After a two-week break from haiga making (due to my health, and my inner critic!) I've returned this week refreshed: writing a handful of new haiku and tanka about my leukaemia journey and beginning to create my collage-style haiga with new materials, bought and found.

I delight so much in this process that the hours often go by unnoticed. Creating these art works is a full body experience, engaging all the senses, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I dream of extending my art space, so one day I might have a room all of my own just for making and enjoying art, in whichever form that may present itself.

Right now it's collage-style haiga, with a bit of photography creeping back in (after not touching my camera for several months). I'd like to learn how to use a photo editing software so I can add text to my photos. But presently my haiga is all consuming, and any other art projects I've had in mind will have to stay in the ideas vault.

Photography Competition - floral and garden photos

As part of the Garden & Art Festival from 8-14 November in Tauranga, Katikati, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke, a photography competition is being held.

The Festival team is calling all floral and garden photographers to submit their best photograph in this competition. The winning image will be displayed as part of the Bay of Plenty Times Art in the City project this November. Full details here.

Some of my best photos are close-ups of flowers so I've sent in my favourite!

Quick Tip #1 for Freelance Writers

Check Your Spam or Junk E-mail Folder Daily.

E-mails end up in your spam/junk folder for any number of reasons, and unbeknown to you, you could be missing out on a communication from an editor.

It happened to me, even though I had the editor's e-mail address saved in my contacts folder: two emails went straight to spam and a third came through to my inbox. Luckily it wasn't too important as it wasn't for a writing gig but for having my details listed on a website. However, I did send an apology.

Now I check my spam/junk e-mail folders daily: no good opportunity is going to slip by me!

Head Lines NZ E-zine open for poetry submissions

I found a new and interesting e-zine over the weekend: Head Lines NZ . It's essentially a blog of poetry by people who have experienced mental illness. The editor is happy to receive submissions at any time and is looking for poetry, of any style, that relates to mental health. Full submission guidelines here . A print anthology is to be published annually to showcase the year's best poems and poets.

My first haiku submission,"taking a mental health day", went live on Saturday and I'm really pleased with it. The editor adds an image with each poem and asked if I wanted to add my own image seeing as I've been doing haiga. So the photo you see above the haiku is my work too. Enjoy :)

Haiku Tattoo Anyone?

I imagine that the haiku masters never thought their poems would be inked into someone's skin. I feel it would be an honour: the ultimate contemporary haiga, perhaps? Definitely as good as having your haiku carved into a boulder on the Katikati Haiku Pathway . Both as permanent as permanent can be in this world.

I got onto the topic of haiku as tattoo when my little sister asked if I knew of one around the theme of family that might work with the tattoo she is about to get: seven birds in flight, which symbolise the members of our family. A quick Google search revealed that people were indeed being inked with haiku, in traditional Japanese Calligraphy .

I'm excited that my sibling would think to include a haiku in her first tattoo, and happy that I have brought haiku into the lives of all my family members. I hope they are richer for the experience. I look forward to talking with my sister this weekend about how we can express her thoughts about our family through haiku.

Processing the Journey through Poetry

I am thoroughly enjoying the creative work that I'm doing these days. Long may this deep slow flow of self expression continue. The haiku, tanka and haiga that I'm writing and collaging is the type that sits with me for days: themes, words and images, marinating in my mind and mind's eye, being sketched in my journal, sparked off by photos and found objects, and the raw emotion still within me from my recent journey through leukaemia.

I never thought that I'd write about my cancer/chemo/hospital plight. I felt that poetry and memoirs about cancer had been done so many times already, and anyway, I wasn't inspired to write about what I was going through at the time. During my many weeks in hospital, over a 4-5 month period, it was also very difficult for me to write: I couldn't concentrate, or was too exhausted, or in too much pain... You get the idea. As a result, only one small journal entry and less than a handful of haiku and tanka were written.

Now, in the 10 weeks since I've been home (in remission, but still in active treatment), I've finally found the space to process my intense experience, and what other way would I do that than through poetry and hands-on art. Somehow, I've begun working towards a collection of haiku and tanka, which will all become haiga. And I'm doing it for me.

This is not about which publication I can get my work accepted into, or what my peers will make of my efforts. It's all about me. I feel this creative work is what I need to do to heal my heart and soul. I've even come up with the saying, "My art is my heart", because that's what producing this type of medium means to me.

I don't know what will become of this collection: maybe it will be published, in whole or in part, some day, maybe it will be exhibited some where. I don't know. And if ever I feel anxiety brewing I remind myself that I'm doing this creative work because it's what I need right now, not about what may become of it in the years ahead.

I've written five haiku and five tanka that I'm really happy with (and a few others that aren't so strong) and have so far made four from this into haiga. It's such an exciting process! It's something that I'd love to bring to my teaching some day: running day-long workshops where students (of any age) learn about haiku or tanka in the morning, and write some of their own, then make one poem into a haiga in the afternoon. What the hell - let's just make it a whole weekend workshop! I love being immersed in haiku and it's related forms, and am so happy that my faithful old haiku is there for me once again.

FREE online haiku self study course

When I was first teaching myself about haiku in 2007, I started with two things. One was The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share and Teach Haiku by William J. Higginson with Penny Harter, which I still highly recommend today. It's a book that I dip into a few times a year, and I've even used the lesson plans in it for teaching children haiku. If you're in New Zealand, you can buy it from Fishpond (my favourite online bookstore).

My other main learning tool was a FREE online haiku self study course, which I still recommend to beginners: In The Moonlight a Worm...  

You will see on the left hand side under 'The Lessons' section, 'Basho's Spirit', the third one down says 'self study' - just click on that and follow the instructions. There is also a 'Show Don't Tell' lesson with a self study module, which is great learning for any genre of writing.

This self study course is a great introduction to haiku. The website also has information for teachers with lesson plans that you can download, photocopiable poem sheets and a reference section.

I hadn't looked at this website for a while so had forgotten that they had resources for those teaching haiku. I'm going to check out the lesson plans myself now!

The FREE e-newsletters about writing that I read

Weekly:

FundsforWriters -
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
FFW Small Markets -
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/smallmarkets.htm 

Both edited by C. Hope Clark, founder and editor of FundsforWriters.com, a website, family of newsletters and ebooks about incomes streams for writers.

Monthly:

New Zealand Book Council E-newsletter - http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Readers/Newsletters/Information.htm 
Newsletters from the Victoria University centre of the International Institute of Modern Letters (not strictly monthly)
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/modernletters/resources/newsletter.aspx
Helen Heath's Monthly Newsletter (recently signed up so haven't received first issue yet)
http://www.helenheath.com/

What writing related e-newsletters do you read and recommend? Please share via the comments section.

Kokako Tanka Competition

The 3rd Kokako Tanka Competition

Closing Date: 31st October 2010

First Prize: NZ$200

Second and Third Place prizes of NZ $50 each.

Judge: Richard von Sturmer

Send entries to:

The Kokako Tanka Competition,

Patricia Prime, co-editor

42 Flanshaw Road

Te Atatu South

Auckland 8

New Zealand

Please make cheques out to Kokako

Overseas entrants may send cash at their own risk

               Conditions of entry

1. Tanka must be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
2. Entry fee is NZ$2 per tanka or 3 for NZ$5; for overseas entries, US$1 per tanka, or 4 for US$3. Any number of entries.
3. Send two copies of each tanka, or group of tanka, with your name and address on one copy only.
4. Winning tanka, highly commended and commended entries will be published in Kokako 14 (April 2011).
5. Winners will be notified by mail.
6. Any theme is acceptable.

Learning about haiga, and loving it!

Over the past year or so I've been branching out from haiku into writing tanka and haibun as well. I've really enjoyed experimenting with these forms, and have found I've grown as a writer through extending myself in this way. I've had a few tanka and haibun published now (see one of my haibun under 'Links to My Writing') and feel reasonably comfortable writing them. I've only scratched the surface of how I can use these forms to express and record my journey through this life. I'm sure I'll continue writing them, along with haiku, for many years to come.

In recent weeks, I've found myself drawn to haiga. It feels like a natural progression for me as someone who delights in playing with words and crafts, and likes to explore the relationship of how one can inspire the other. I actually made my first haiga before I really knew I had. But when I realised what I'd come up with, and how fun the creative process had been, I was eager to learn more about the connection between words and images that is the basis of haiga.

What I discovered was http://www.haigaonline.com/
Haigaonline is an online journal of haiga. From the traditional to the experimental, you can emerge yourself in this form through these pages. Each issue has a haiga workshop and I'm steadily making my way through them. If you Google "haiga" you will find lots of examples, but the articles on Haigaonline are a great place to start.

Go here for a definition of haiga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiga

First day of sping and it's all about poetry

Happy first day of spring! And the good news keeps coming for me and my poetry leanings...

My page on the Haiku NewZ Showcase is now live. You can see it here: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/kirstencliff and also check out another newcomer to the showcase, Margaret Beverland: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/margaretbeverland

A big thank you to Sandra Simpson for inviting me to be part of the Showcase and for expertly putting together all the Haiku NewZ pages. I have added the link under 'Links to My Writing', which are on the right hand side of this blog under the photo of me.

I love it when things come together. I haven't submitted anything for months and then the good news flows forth in a rush! I've had a haiku accepted for the 2010 New Zealand Poetry Society anthology, which will come out in November with a launch in Wellington. And a poem accepted for publication in Takahe sometime in 2011. This came about after Stylus was unable to publish the feature '12 New Zealand Poets' that Pat Prime had put together, so Pat contacted Siobhan Harvey, poetry editor at Takahe, and she agreed to publish the poems throughout 2011. Superb news for me having never had a poem in Takahe before. Thank you, Pat and Siobhan!

My final piece of good news isn't directly poetry related, but haiku could well end up involved! I volunteered to be one of 10 people to represent leukaemia survivorship in an ad campaign for Leukaemia Appeal Week (Nov 1-7). I did a photo shoot last week at Browsers Quality Secondhand Bookshop in Hamilton with photographer TJ Alderson. It was a great experience and I'm proud to be able to help the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation in this way. My image will end up in various places, which could include posters, pamphlets, books and websites.

TJ enjoys incorporating words into his images and, knowing I was a haiku writer, asked me to send him any that spoke of my leukaemia journey. Watch this space - haiku could be flooding the media come November!

Two haiku comps that I just couldn't pass up!

As a result of my long stays in hospital, and now the months needed to recover, I'm not chomping at the bit to submit haiku to any publications or enter competitions. I'm taking as much time as I need to process all that I've been through, to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually, and I know that much poetry and other creative ideas will come from this. In fact, it's already happening.

I'm currently designing my own set of affirmation cards. But back to the reason for this post: Two haiku comps that I just couldn't pass up! Why you ask? Not only are they FREE to enter, they both also have an online entry form that makes it just so easy!

The first is the Kusamakura Haiku Competition, which closes September 13, 2010. You can enter up to two poems. The amazing first prize is an air ticket to Kumamoto, accommodation, and ¥50,000. Winners are announced in mid-November and the awards ceremony is on November 27. A magazine containing all entries will be sent to winners in late February 2011 and winning haiku will appear on the website. You can find all the information and past winners here: http://kusamakura-haiku.jp/boshu/index_e.html (see on-line entry form at bottom right-hand corner).

The second is the Haiku International Association Contest, which closes September 15, 2010. You can enter up to two poems. Last year I received and Honorable Mention in this competition. Winners are announced November 26. The results will be published in the HI Journal and on the HIA website. You can find all the information and past winners, along with the online entry form here: http://www.haiku-hia.com/cont_en.html

Need funds for your literary arts project?

Are you thinking about organising an event for writers? Maybe you'd like to put together a poetry anthology? Is it your dream to study writing at university?

The Max Foundation for NZ Women stems from the Max chain of retail stores, and could be a source of funding for your next literary arts project.

“In the spirit of believing every woman should have the opportunity to be the best they can be, we've created a charitable trust called the Max Foundation for New Zealand Women. The aim is to support women (or groups of women) whose actions enhance the wellbeing and advancement of New Zealand women.” http://www.maxfoundation.co.nz/

All applications are via on-line application form. The Summer funding round is open NOW. Applications close 4pm, December 31, 2010. Categories include: Creative Arts, Work/Study, Personal Dream/Goal and Special Event.

Summer 07/08 saw them grant Sophie Prebble the full fees of her Masters of Creative Writing in Scriptwriting at Victoria University. You can check out her story here: http://www.maxfoundation.co.nz/default,100,summer_0708_recipients.sm

The Literary Gift Company

I came across The Literary Gift Company when reading Joanna Preston's blog this week and I couldn't resist going straight to the website.

I wasn't disappointed! Filled with glorious delights for book lovers, this UK company is into wares that recycle old books, and began out of a family book selling business.

These people are the real deal. They have jewelry, kitchen items, clothing and stationery, amongst much, much more. I want you to go and discover it for yourself, but will tempt you just a bit further with three that took my fancy...

1. the Virgina Woolf typewriter pin - "Books are the mirrors of the soul"
2. the "Go away I'm writing" mug
3. the 'Paperback' Perfume (for that wonderful book smell we all love)

They even have a haiku t.shirt, which I find funny and offensive all at the same time. Let me know what you think. Cameron has challenged me to write a better one. I haven't yet accepted.

August is their first birthday so it's discounts all round. Just type 'dickens' in the 'voucher code' section at the checkout for your 10% discount. I put my first order in today so will let you know how it goes.

The Literary Gift Company blogs at http://giftsforbooklovers.blogspot.com/
Joanna Preston blogs at 'A Dark Feathered Art' http://jopre.wordpress.com/

For my scriptwriting/filmmaking friends

Three opportunities I have come across recently for my scripwriting/filmmaking friends out there...

Fresh Shorts

Fresh Shorts is a new low budget short film scheme run in-house by the NZ Film Commission. It aims to identify the next generation of New Zealand feature filmmakers by nurturing and inspiring up-and-coming talent. Each year Fresh Shorts will support up to eight narrative short films at $10,000 per film, and up to eight narrative short films at $30,000 per film. The level of funding will be based on the director’s experience. Applications close on Friday 8 October 2010. See the website for more details about the scheme, including the Fresh Shorts criteria and application information. http://nzfilm.co.nz/DevelopmentAndFinancing/ShortFilm/Fresh_Shorts.aspx

2010 Short Film Lab

Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts are calling for applications for the 2010 Short Film Lab. If you are a budding film writer or writer/director and are developing ideas for short film, then you won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to take part in our inaugural Short Film Lab. Participants in the workshop will be mentored by experienced industry practitioners who have excelled in short filmmaking, including producer Ainsley Gardiner (Boy, Eagle vs Shark, Two Cars One Night, Tama Tu), writer/director Mark Albiston (Run, The Six Dollar Fifty Man), and screenwriter, producer and academic Shuchi Kothari (Firaaq, Apron Strings, Coffee and Allah).

Up to six writers (or writer/directors) will be selected to workshop their short film ideas during the full-day lab on Saturday 6 November in Auckland. Those selected can come on their own or can bring up to two key creative collaborators along with them. Thanks to the support of the New Zealand Film Commission, participation in the Short Film Lab is free for all selected applicants. Application Deadline: September 10
http://www.script-to-screen.co.nz/2010/08/2010-short-film-lab-how-to-apply/


The Beginners Guide to Screen Writing

Joanne Rye McGregor (Tauranga Film Collective) and Nyree Sherlock (Continuing Education Adviser) have teamed up to bring you this weekend workshop at the University of Waikato in Tauranga. The tutor is well-known scriptwriter Kathryn Burnett. Dates: 21st - 22nd August. Cost: $60 for a weekend of intensive learning. Workshop participants don't need to have previous writing experience. Find out more and enrol online:
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/pathways/community/tauranga/cce_screen.shtml.

First post back is about haiku, of course!

Hello, hello! It's good to be feeling well enough to start blogging again :)

The world of haiku has been chugging along while I've been in hospital, and the fruits of my labours in late 2009 and early 2010 have now come to fruition. So while I wasn't doing much writing, the past months have seen me receive third place in the Katikati Haiku Contest 2010 (judged by Sandra Simpson), two haiku published in the haikai pages of Bravado 19 (edited by Barbara Strang), and a haiku in, what ended up being, the final issue of moonset. I also saw my first ever tanka published in Valley Micropress (Vol13:Is3) and had my angel photo appear on the following month's VM cover (Vol13:Is4).

I was in between hospital visits when the Katikati Haiku Contest had its prize giving on June 6th so was able to attend and catch up with my fellow lovers of the Japanese poetry forms. The Katikati Haiku Pathway was also celebrating its 10th anniversary that wet and wonderful day and you can read a write up, complete with pics and the winning haiku, here: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/node/502 . The Wai Taiko drummers were thrilling once again, but hearing them indoors this time round was a full body experience!

The biggest haiku event, however, to have put a smile on my face since returning to Wordsmith House is my invitation to appear on the Haiku NewZ 'Showcase' of talented haiku writers in NZ. I'm honoured that my name and haiku will sit alongside such great haiku writers, those whose work I have studied, aspired to; some I am lucky enough to have met and call 'friend'. You can see the 'Showcase' here: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/node/275 . I have to get organised and choose 10 of my haiku and write a short bio for my inclusion, which should appear online next month. Will keep you updated!

The long awaited 14th blog post...

My blog has suddenly had to go into hiatus for an unknown length of time while I receive treatment for leukaemia, which I was diagnosed with on March 2nd. It will be a long road ahead, they say 2yrs, but my chances of a full recovery are 95% so we all have lots of hope. Please send me your healing thoughts.

Kirsten x

FREE 28-Day Creativity Journal

Do you want a FREE 28-Day Creativity Journal? Well you won't get it from me! But I can point you in the right direction.

Head to the Creative Muse Coach http://www.creativemusecoach.com/ Fill out the Creativity Survey and get your FREE 28-Day Creativity Journal as a thank you gift!

So why would you want to do this?

The Creativity Survey "Your Creativity and You: Blocks and Dreams" is an on-line survey being conducted by Creative Muse Coach to discover how creative people address obstacles to expressing their talent. I found this to be very interesting and it helped me begin to recognise what my creative goals are and what's blocking me in my pursuit of those goals. It was worth the 10-15mins I spent filling it out.

The FREE 28-Day Creativity Journal. I have been using this journal, which recipients can print out for their own use, and am up to my fourth and final week. It has been a very enlightening journey and one that I'm very happy to have taken.

The journal begins with an explanation of its use...

"This journal was developed to support you in your creative process by providing a place to record your inspirations, track your challenges, and deepen your connection to your Inner Muse."

The journal uses the 9 Most Common Creative Blocks as identified and defined by Creative Muse Coach. By signing up to Muse News (an e-newsletter) you will receive a FREE e-course about these Creative Block Busters. So you can learn exactly what's holding you back instead of lumping it all under 'procrastination' and beating yourself up yet again!

Before you begin the journal, you list your creative goals. This had me focused right away. Then each day you fill out things like how you fed your muse, your creative successes, what your creative blocks were and how you overcame them. All this has made it clear to me where I'm spending (or wasting) my time and energy, what activities truly feed my creative self, how much time I'm spending creating, and what my main creative blocks are.

So I've gathered a dossier of information about me and my inner muse. I know what to work on and what activities to do everyday to keep myself fed. Could you benefit from having this knowledge about yourself?

Bravado call for submissions

Bravado 20 is now looking for submissions of poetry, fiction and prose for their November 2010 issue – deadline is May 14th, so you have plenty of time to come up with something that matches their criteria of ‘bold and contemporary’.

Bravado is a literary arts magazine from the Bay of Plenty. Guidelines are available online at http://www.bravado.co.nz/
You can submit by e-mail or send a clearly-presented ms. to the relevant editor to Bravado, PO Box 13 533, Central Tauranga 3141.

The editors would also like to remind potential contributors that they are open to submissions of haikai – Japanese forms of poetry – and black and white artwork or good quality photographs for internal pages.

The Poetry Archive

“The Poetry Archive is the world's premier online collection of recordings of poets reading their work. You can enjoy listening here, free of charge, to the voices of contemporary English-language poets and of poets from the past.”

This is a user-friendly site: search for a poem or a poet, or browse poems by theme, form, title or the poet’s last name. Also included are a glossary of poetic terms and resources for teachers, students and librarians. Each poem is in recorded form as well as written with the poet’s bio below and a link to which books contain that poem. A must see (and hear) website that’s expanding all the time!

Click on the title of this post to be taken to The Poetry Archive.

Side Stream Poetry Brothel

Side Stream is a free pocket-sized bi-monthly poetry zine edited by Miriam Barr. And this is the best idea for a fundraiser I've ever seen!

The idea for the Poetry Brothel came from New York group The Poetry Brothel and their events. See a You Tube clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G1wsmTRRQk
Or visit their website: http://www.thepoetrybrothel.com/

This event will be the first of its kind in New Zealand, and Side Stream, with the byline 'Poetry from the Fringe', is the perfect poetry crowd to pull it off!

How it works: The venue is transformed into a 1930's poetry brothel. You buy tokens and proposition your choice of poet(s) for private 'lap-dances' (a 1-on-1 reading), peep-shows (watch two people make poetry together) and three-ways (make poetry with two other poets). All performances take place in private booths. Also features live music by Reb Fountain, Paul Williams and Sea Train.

Date/Time: February 27th from 9 pm
Location: Fordes Front Bench at 122 Anzac Avenue, Auckland
Prices: $10 on the door + 1 free lap-dance. $5 if you are in costume. Additional lap-dances $3, Peep-shows & Three-ways $5. All proceeds raise funds to keep Side Stream going for its fourth year!

Follow this link for more information including a full list of the Poetry Prostitutes - http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2010/feb/auckland-cbd/side-stream-poetry-brothel

Jumping Tangents

I first stumbled upon the Jumping Tangents online gift shop when looking for Cameron's Christmas present – a wooden handled wax seal in the letter 'E'. Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for, but I found a haven full of other treats for writers!

Jumping Tangents is essentially a paperie & design store, which is based in Wanaka, New Zealand. They sell beautiful imported European stationery including quills, ink and writing sets, notebooks, diaries and leather journals. A delight for the writer who loves history or just wants to be surrounded by exquisite objects.

For all the readers out there (and writers too!) they have a fun range of products with the slogan “reading is sexy”- mugs, fridge magnets, and T-shirts. http://www.jumpingtangents.co.nz/shop_product.php?page=0&sci=103&pi=1263

They also sell books, fine chocolates, clothing, and jewellery. My latest delight is their range of Frida Kahlo (my favourite painter) rings, brooches and earrings. http://www.jumpingtangents.co.nz/shop_product.php?page=0&sci=156&pi=2010

Jumping Tangents don't just have great products on a user friendly website, they follow it up with fast, personal service and fabulous gift wrapping. Remember them when you next buy a present for someone special in your life. Or just visit them now and treat yourself!

Bravado - now with haikai pages!

Bravado 18 is out now with the first, of what will be a regular feature, of four haikai pages in the magazine's centre.

This issue's haikai pages were edited by Owen Bullock, and showcase haiku by Nola Borrell (2), Sandra Simpson (3), Tony Beyer (1), Barbara Strang (3), Patricia Prime (1) and karen peterson butterworth (2). There is also tanka from Andre Surridge (1), Tony Beyer (2) and karen peterson butterworth (1).

The next editor of Bravado's haikai pages is Barbara Strang, recent editor of moments in the whirlwind, the New Zealand Poetry Society's 2009 anthology. I look forward to seeing who and what appears in the mix!

Bravado 18 has an interview by me of cover artist Timo Rännäli, my last as Bravado's 'roving arts reporter'. You can see more of Timo's work here: http://timodesign.co.nz/

A photograph of mine also appears in Bravado's pages - angel - the colour version of which won 2nd prize in the 2009 Creative Te Puke Forum Photography Competition, man-made structures category.

Calling New Zealand tanka poets!

For a special web feature, M. Kei, editor of Atlas Poetica and the Take Five Anthologies 2009-2010, is seeking published tanka from New Zealand poets. He is looking for one previously published poem per poet, together with date of publication and where the poem was published.

Patricia Prime is co-ordinating the New Zealand material, which M. Kei says, will draw attention to New Zealand poets. Please email me for details of how to contact Pat.

Katikati Haiku Contest

The Bi-annual Katikati Haiku Pathway Contest is open for entries.
Closes: April 16.
Cost: Within NZ: 18 & over, $5/ 3 haiku or $2/haiku. 17 & under $1 / up to 2 haiku. For overseas entrants: $US5/3 haiku or $US2/haiku.

Unpublished haiku only (broadcast or appearing on the Internet is deemed to be publication). Send 2 copies of each poem, with one copy only including your name, address, phone number (no mobiles please) and email address. For the junior section please also include your age. Haiku should preferably be typewritten, 4/5 poems to an A4 sheet is fine. A judge's report will be sent by email, otherwise include a stamped addressed envelope with your entry.

Senior section judge is Sandra Simpson, with Catherine Mair judging the junior section. Cash prizes totalling $NZ175 in the senior section (18 and over) and $NZ90 in the junior section (17 and under). Prizes will be announced and awarded at an event in Katikati on June 6.

Send entries to: Katikati Haiku Contest, PO Box 183, Katikati 3166, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. No email entries.

NZPS Poetry Comp. open for entries!

The New Zealand Poetry Society's 2010 Annual Poetry Competition is open for entries.

Deadline: Entries must be received by 31 May 2010
Entry Fee: Can now be paid via PayPal, NZ$1 per haiku, NZ$4 per poem (in adult sections)
Four sections: Open Section and Junior Open Section, Haiku Section and Junior Haiku Section.

Find full details here: http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/about2010competition

One of the great things about this competition, is that if your poem doesn't win won of the prizes, you still have the chance of the competition anthology's editor choosing it for the annual poetry anthology. The 2009 anthology moments in the whirlwind was edited by Barbara Strang.

Mslexia magazine – for women who write

Mslexia means women's writing (ms = woman, lexia = words) and this UK magazine is packed full of articles about writing and writers, competitions and publication opportunities, news and reviews.

I first encountered Mslexia a few years ago when a woman in my local writers' group brought it along to share (her husband is a pilot and used to pick up copies for her whenever he was over that way). This year, I decided to treat myself to a subscription as I knew just how inspirational this magazine is.

My first issue (#44 Jan/Feb/March) arrived this week and I'm not disappointed! The articles and profiles are top quality.

“Mslexia is dedicated to encouraging, nurturing and empowering women writers to produce, publish and have their work read, with the parallel aim of improving the reach and quality of women's literature.”

For those of you that don't want to shell out in pounds sterling, they now offer digital subscriptions at a lower price and you get back issues from #35 onwards. A great deal!

Their website has heaps of valuable resources. One thing I recently had great fun doing was a poetry writing exercise, which you can find here (scroll down a bit to where it says February's Workshop: Poetry and I): http://www.mslexia.co.uk/magazine/workshops/workshops.php

Enjoy!

Go Web Magazine

A writing opportunity for you...

Go Web Magazine is a travel website produced, and personally funded, by Lisa Pham, an ambitious young writer currently studying a Master's Degree in Journalism in Paris and interning at the International Herald Tribune.

This is not a paid market but Lisa spends a lot of time work-shopping articles with writers - an experience I've benefited from having worked with her on projects in the past.

"Go reflects the travel experiences and preferences of people wanting to get away from pre-packaged tours to see where they end up. Go is not interested in mainstream tourist attractions, hotels or restaurants. It's about the people, the place, and, most of all, the feeling. Go is yours: the experiences, the photos, the memories."

Go Web Magazine is looking for Features, Stories, Profiles, Photographs, and even Recipes. Check out the submission guidelines under 'How to Contribute'.

You can read my article here: http://gowebmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:mosaics-of-inspiration&catid=34:stories&Itemid=30

Interested in Photography?

I recently discovered two great New Zealand photography magazines that I now recommend.

The first is D-Photo – a bi-monthly glossy on digital photography at NZ$9.90 an issue. It's got news, product reviews, competitions, profiles, tips, and more. You can check out their on-line community here: http://www.dphoto.co.nz/

The second is NZ Photographer - a pdf e-zine that's FREE and arrives in your inbox every three weeks. It has all the how-to articles, competitions, tips, etc., but also holds photography field days and events around the country, so check it out as they could be coming your way soon! You can subscribe here: http://www.nzphotographer.co.nz/

Both these mags have Facebook sites so you can easily connect with other photographers and feed your photography habit 24/7 no matter where you are in the world!

The Haiku Foundation's 'Haiku Registry'

Welcome to the first post of my new blog - Swimming in Lines of Haiku. And yes, the first post is about haiku!

I wanted to draw your attention to The Haiku Foundation's 'Haiku Registry' which you can be part of if you've had haiku published in an edited journal. It's a brilliant idea and a great way to connect with others that are passionate about haiku.

Here's how you can apply to be listed -

Email the following information to haikuregistry_at_thehaikufoundation.org (replacing _at_ with @):

Name
Date of birth (optional)
Place of birth
Present place of residence
Brief biographical statement not to exceed 50 words
Awards or other honors
Books published, with date of publication and publisher’s information
Up to 10 English-language haiku that have been published in an edited print or online journal, with publishing credits (up to four will be selected to appear in the Registry
Photograph in jpg format
Email address (optional)
Web site address (optional)

Check out my listing here: http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/resources/poet-details/?IDclient=117

Other New Zealander's up on the Haiku Registry so far are Sandra Simpson, Margaret Beverland, Patricia Prime, Dick Whyte and Andre Surridge.

The Haiku Foundation's website has heaps of other great info and is definitely worth a browse. You can also join them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000212044634&ref=profile#!/pages/The-Haiku-Foundation/346457215437?ref=ts