Open Book

These vibrant and thoughtful monthly Open Book sessions are back in 2022.

Open Book, Monday 5th September, 10am to 11.30am, Online, Zoom, Free, 16+, Women* Only

Read poems and short stories together as prompts for your own creative writing. Each session focuses on a theme such as Home, Grow and Transform, or Garden. This is one of our “take part” events this Summer!

Beth Godfrey is a writer and performer with a background in theatre. Her work has been commissioned by Open Book Unbound, Strange Town and the Festival of Physics, and has been published by Oxford University Press. She is an experienced facilitator interested in elevating the voices of women and young people. For Open Book she leads group poetry sessions with Shakti Women’s Aid, whose work has been published and discussed on BBC Radio 6.

Event Outline

9.55am: Signing in. Get settled and sign in to the session before it begins at 10am.

10am: Welcome and Housekeeping. Welcome from GWL team member. Opportunity to familiarise ourselves with Zoom and the GWL approach to workshops.

10.10am: Introduction and Word Gathering. Introduction from Facilitator and first exercise to generate words.

10.15am: Feedback Words. Group share the words they’ve generated.

10.20am: Read Poem Together. Facilitator and one volunteer both to read poem.

10.25am: Discuss Poem. Opportunity to share your responses to the writing.

10.35am: Writing Practice on Theme. Opportunity to write in response to a prompt from the poem, attempting to use some of the words gathered from the start of the session.

10.45am: Share Writing. Individuals share writing and other members are able to respond (but not critique) with what resonated. There is no obligation to share your work.

11am: Read 2nd Poem Together. Facilitator and one volunteer both to read poem.

11.05 am: Discuss Poem. Opportunity to share your responses to the writing.

11.12 am: Writing Practice on Theme. Opportunity to write in response to a prompt from the poem, attempting to use some of the words gathered from the start of the session.

11.18am: Share Writing. Individuals share writing and other members are able to respond (but not critique) with what resonated. There is no obligation to share your work.

11.28am: Poem on Theme to Close: If time, Facilitator will read a final poem to close.

11.30am: Session ends.

Booking

This event is now sold out. If you’d like to be on the waiting list please email info@womenslibrary.org.uk

This event is for Women* only.

*All women-only events are inclusive of Trans and Intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experience of women.

Accessibility

This session takes place via an online video call link. If you would like to attend, please book below and we will share an email invitation along with simple and straight forward instructions on how this will work. If you have any concerns about how this will work for you, please do get in touchand we’ll do all we can to support you in joining the session.

An automated live transcript using Otter.ai is available during this event. See here for upcoming events where live captioning with Stagetext is arranged