This will be an overview for those new to or curious about the haiku genre, as well as more experienced writers who would like expand their perspectives and workshop poems-in-progress. We will concentrate on contemporary English Language Haiku (ELH): current trends and developments, as well as derivative genres, beginning with the elements of the form—poorly understood by most people who were introduced to haiku in school. There will be writing exercises and interactive comments and critique in each session, i.e., a very “hands-on,” “learn-by-doing” approach. The overall goal of this series is to develop a haiku-mind, one that seeks and captures those epiphanic moments of awareness that arise from our everyday lives.
Session One: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. The Elements of Haiku: form (length, lineation, punctuation, presentation), season-words (kigo), pause (kireji), juxtaposition, voice, focus and moment. There will be in-session writing exercises, an ad lib questions-and-answers session, and presentation of materials for further study. Prior to this workshop, please read the current issue of The Heron’s Nest, an excellent online haiku journal published quarterly at: http://www.theheronsnest.com/.
Session Two: Saturday, February 12, 2011, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Spinning the Classics in English-Language Haiku. We will study examples from the ELH canon, exploring a bit of the Japanese history that underpins contemporary writing trends, as well as the concepts of wabi, sabi, and yugen. There will be a brief haiku-walk (ginko) through the East Village with quick, on-site writing exercises, followed by an anonymous interactive workshop of fresh work.
Session Three: Saturday, March 12, 2011 – 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Modernist Haiku and Related Forms / learning to break the rules. We will study examples of Post-Modern and surreal haiku (gendai haiku), contemporary trends, directions, and controversies, followed by some imaginative and fantastic writing of our own. We will also briefly explore several other Japaniform genres: Haibun (prose and haiku), Haiga (pictures and haiku), Rengay (linked collaborative verse), as well as the venerable Tan Renga. Please read a few issues of the online modernist publication Roadrunner Haiku Journal at http://www.roadrunnerjournal.net/.
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NAIA is a fifth generation native Californian. She attended college at California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Naia's poetry and haiga have appeared in books, antho-
logies, e-journals, newsletters, and magazines in the U.S. and internationally. She belongs to a number of haiku and tanka poetry associations, is a long-standing member of the Southern California Haiku Study Group (SCHSG), and is co-founder of Haiku San Diego. Naia edited two SCHSG Haiku Anthologies: above the tree line in 2008, and shell gathering in 2009. She currently serves as Haiku Society of America Regional Coordinator for California. Naia's website, featuring some of her published work: http://naia.ws/
logies, e-journals, newsletters, and magazines in the U.S. and internationally. She belongs to a number of haiku and tanka poetry associations, is a long-standing member of the Southern California Haiku Study Group (SCHSG), and is co-founder of Haiku San Diego. Naia edited two SCHSG Haiku Anthologies: above the tree line in 2008, and shell gathering in 2009. She currently serves as Haiku Society of America Regional Coordinator for California. Naia's website, featuring some of her published work: http://naia.ws/
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BILLIE DEE is the former Poet Laureate of the U.S. National Library Service. She earned her doctorate at the University of California at Irvine, and has worked for the last 25 years as a writer and multi-media artist. Co-founder of Haiku San Diego, she is very active in the Southern California poetry community, as well as international collaborative-poetry groups. Although she publishes in a variety of genres, her main focus is on haiku and related Japanese forms. Billie’s recent projects include editing An Island of Egrets: the Southern California Haiku Study Group Anthology, as well as generating enthusiasm for haiku through workshops and readings. Billie publishes both online and off. You can visit her web portal at http://billiedee.net 
To enroll, please go to the San Diego Writers, Ink website and register online. Cost: $35/SDWI member, $40/non-member. Contact Billie Dee at haikusandiego@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thanks for a great Haiku workshop experience on
ReplyDeleteSaturday. Terrific discussions, feedback and respectful guidance by our two master teachers, Naia and Billie, made for an enriching creative environment. Anxiously anticipate the next one. Anita