Small World Small Wonder

My Small World Small Wonder poetry workshops are about to roll out in Young, Goulburn and Yass in that order, over the next few weeks. We will be exploring people and place in our own small worlds. 

The focus is on small poems (or brief prose) from quick glimpses and fleeting observations to the small detail. There may be poetry around the corner or right at your feet. Beginners and the more experienced are invited. Includes young people 16 years and over. 

Dates & Venues: 

Young: Saturday October 25, 10 am – 3 pm The Ibis Room, Young RSL Club, 42 Cloete Street, Young Goulburn: Saturday November 8, 2025, 10 am – 3 pm St Brigid’s Hall, 36 Vernon Street, Goulburn 

Yass: Saturday November 22, 2025, 10 am – 3 pm Yass Library, Comur Street, Yass (Please check whether it’s still in the old library or in the brand new one.) 

Bookings essential: www.humanitix.com or contact Lizz Murphy on 0428 005641 or lizzmurphy7@gmail.com Cost: $35/$20 (concession)/$10 students 16 years and over. 

This project is supported by the Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Southern Tablelands Arts on behalf of the NSW Government.

BOOK NOW 

— I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU

BRANCHING OUT POETRY WORKSHOP

Out on a limb with your writing? Fancy exploring your love of trees through poetry? From leaf tips to root tips, trees are full of stories and inspiration. Spend a day drafting and developing poems about trees and related themes. Be inspired by the artwork in Tree Whispers an exhibition by members of the Networks Australia group, on show from October 14 in the Pivot Gallery at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Branching Out is a poetry workshop for beginners and the more experienced, writing poetry in any style. Participants are encouraged to bring photographs/images of trees to share and any information that may help you branch out. Don't forget your pen and paper/journals/notebooks/iPads — whatever you use for writing :) Please book below.

Looking forward to spending time with you at Branching Out.

--

An Exhibitions Live Workshop with Lizz Murphy

10:30am-4pm Saturday October 15, 2022 

Cost: $115 per person

Book now

WRITING & HAPPY ACCIDENTS

Just had a chat with the ACT Writers Centre via their Taking Five column - Capital Letters blog about writing and writing workshops including the imminent Land•Sea•Air series (see the plug top right).

It begins with my writing career - a happy accident ...

Ends with the most common tips I give out at workshops - the need for the old standbys never goes away: have a dedicated writing space (of some sort), have a routine (of some sort), carry a notebook, take yourself seriously even if others don’t, be selective about who you seek feedback from, dream, set goals, just write.

A RAFT OF DRAFTS - POETRY WORKSHOP

A Raft of Drafts

Facilitated by Lizz Murphy for the ACT Writers Centre

Six Saturdays over 7 weeks.

Dates: October 10, 17, 24; (31^st free); Nov 7, 14, 21.

Time: 11 am-1 pm

So you have a raft of draft poems and you don’t know what to do with them! They’re in all states. Some poems still need a lot of work while others are getting close to the finish line, but when it comes to the next step you feel a bit at sea. Don’t jump ship! Book into A Raft of Drafts and get help to catch the next wave.

A Raft of Drafts is a series of six workshopping sessions guided by published poet Lizz Murphy, suitable for new and developing writers with a small folio of poems in progress. Lizz will help you develop your self/critiquing, drafting and editing skills with the aim of advancing or even finalising some of those poems. Includes feedback, advice on related issues and writing exercises.

More information including bookings and costs at the ACT Writers Centre website: http://www.actwriters.org.au/events/upcoming-workshops-events.shtml

See more workshops below.

HIDDEN TREASURES POETRY WORKSHOPS

Two poetry workshops facilitated by Lizz Murphy during the Hidden Treasures Community Exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre (BAC), Emu Bank, Belconnen. Both workshops include writing exercises and discussion with an emphasis on generating ideas, developing poems and setting goals to help you continue on. Both workshops are for aspiring, new and developing poets with an interest in hunting for writing treasure. Attend one or both.

Buried Treasure Saturday September 5, 10.30-1.30 @ BAC Meeting Room

Uncover, discover, excavate, explore - your world is a treasure trove – dig in.

Treasure Hunt Saturday September 12, 10.30-1.30

Time for a poetry scavenge - rummage in your cupboards and sideboards, comb your streets and garage sales for trash or treasure you might turn into poems. Share your loot – bring some treasure to the workshop.

Cost: $35/$30 concession or ACT Writers Centre members  - per workshops. Bookings: BAC 6173 3300 or http://belconnenartscentre.com.au/whatson/poetry.html

A Belconnen Arts Centre and ACT Writers Centre partnership.

PLEASE SEE: MY WORKSHOPS - CANBERRA 2015 - more information; more workshops.

BROADEN YOUR PALETTE POETRY WORKSHOP

It's that time again. Our regular poetry and music shindig will be held this Sunday at the Black Swan Binalong. Workshops in the morning on offer from myself and Robyn Sykes (bookings essential) and a 1.30 for 2 pm start for the shared mike event. A mix of emerging and established poets and a great variety of styles with some music thrown in. All welcome. Sorry this is a last minute post but my provider went out of business and I've been off the air for some time - sadly having to sip wine at Hotel Binalong while I borrow their wifi today. Please note my new mobile number in the meantime.

LIZZ MURPHY POETRY CALENDARS

Welllll I thought - April 1 - time I updated my poetry calendars for the 'new' year. Please see above menus for readings and workshop dates coming up. Readings include No Small Thing with Kathy Kituai - taking it to Canberra this year and the Tasmanian Poetry Festival. The ACT Writers Centre has booked two of my workshops - Writing the Everyday (July 12) and Re/Word (August 16). Room for more and looking forward to them all.

Writers tip: do lots of workshops - especially look out for or request or organize some by Lizz Murphy wink wink nudge nudge.

Inspire anything?

FILL YOUR OUT-TRAY WITH POEMS

GET IN TOUCH IF YOUR GROUP OR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE A WORKSHOP
Meanwhile watch for Broaden your Palette in Binalong NSW beginning March 30

A POETRY WORKSHOP GIFT

Another happy day of writing poetry at the ACT Writers Centre with a roomful of fascinating poets. A first for me: one poet attended because someone gave him an enrolment to The Small Disturbance as a birthday present. (He assures me it turned out to be good gift.) So - do disturb - give poetry books and workshops for those special occasions.

Poetry: From Little Things Big Things Glow!!

Still a couple of spaces in Russell Erwin's Opening Lines poetry workshop on Saturday 27th at Goulburn: 

Where do I begin? Hey that sounds like it might work up into something promising!! From little things big things glow!!

As everyone interested in poetry knows, that leap onto the page can be challenging and exciting. There are no silver bullets or sure paths, silver paths or sure bullets to making that leap! Every poem is a matter of standing back and then letting go!! And you’re “Off to the races!!” You may even find that your work now leads off in ways you’d not thought before.

GRUBBING OUT POETRY

Russell Erwin lives on a farm west of Goulburn where he raises beef and prime lambs, grows native plants and grubs out poetry. He has had three books published which have been well-received : Clear Hills, Empty Sky, Taken By the Enemy (which was a runner-up to Rosemary Dobson in the Age Book of the Year Award) and From Here. His work has appeared quite widely in literary journals, magazines and anthologies, though mostly greets the world in Quadrant with Literary Editor Les Murray. The publication of a fourth title in 2012 is currently under negotiation. His work is marked by its strong visual element, its “accessibility” and its connection with the stuff of everyday life particularly the rural world where he has made his home.

Opening Lines October 27, 1-5 pm Goulburn Club, Market Street, Goulburn NSW

Cost: $30 / $15 (Australian Poetry Ltd, ACT Writers Centre, Southern Tablelands Arts members, unwaged). Pay on the day.

Bookings essential: phone Sam Abotomey on 02 48712687 or email: sampan33 [at] gmail [dot] com 

CASP FUNDING: New time frame

Note the new time frame for the Regional Arts NSW’s Country Arts Support Program (CASP). Applications for the 2013 round are now open. Closing date: 2 October 2012.

Grants of up to $3,000 are available to groups and organisations based in regional NSW for projects occurring between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013. Outcomes advised: 30 November 2012.

If you are thinking about writing workshops and projects for your group or region, application forms and guidelines are now available at: www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/grants.html

The Country Arts Support Program is devolved to Regional Arts NSW by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

Lizz Murphy Poetry Workshops

Available for poetry workshops (contact me direct) including: Writing the Everyday, Who are You/Who ARE You, Topical Topics and Re: Verse. Latter includes critical feedback and guidance on work sent in advance - this workshop will be adapted soon for online. Willing to go to regional towns and happy to accommodate mixed groups and interests. Throw me an interest or an issue and I'll probably design something for your group. Think ahead - scout around for relevant funding or other assistance to make more writing workshops available in your area eg try your library, local government, regional writing centre, Regional Arts Development Officer (RADO) etc. Cheers.
PS We always have a good time!

Poetry mentoring & assessments

Available for: poetry manuscript assessments through the ACT Writers Centre; mentoring poets through the NSW Writers Centre. I enjoy meeting poets through their work and get excited about their potential! Get in touch.