The meeting started at 12.30 pm in our usual venue at The Box Factory, 59 Regent St South, Adelaide. We welcomed new member Meirwen Whewell, who brought an elegant, illustrated book of traditional Japanese haiku to the meeting. This was Meirwen’s first attempt at writing haiku.
Workshop: A few basic techniques for writing haiku (led by Lynette Arden)
The workshop started with a reading of some of Janice Bostok’s haiku from her online resource: http://members.dodo.com.au/janbos/haiku.html
We read the haiku one by one around the circle and then commented individually on the haiku, discussing their meaning and impact.
Four techniques from Jane Reichhold were discussed.
The technique of sense shifting
The technique of narrowing focus
The technique of humour
The technique of simile
After each of the techniques, members composed some examples on the spot, writing their work on the whiteboard so we could discuss each haiku. It was impressive to see such a great variety of themes appear as members attempted each topic, and most enjoyable to read the results.
Members then shared and workshopped any additional haiku and tanka they had brought.
Present: Lynette Arden, Margaret Fensom, Athena Zaknic, Roger Higgins, Meirwen Whewell.
Apologies: Lee Bentley, Julia Wakefield, Sara Abend-Sims, Dawn Colsey, Jill Gower.
The meeting closed at 2.30pm.
NEXT MEETING: Saturday 1 December
Minutes taken by Lynette Arden 6 October 2018
Australian Haiku Society 