WELCOME to the Fire in the Head Course Programme for 2011

Whether you are one of the 'regulars' who joins us each year, or are considering joining us for the first time, I'm delighted to welcome you to the programme for 2011.

You'll find here courses for novices and experienced writers; for poets and novelists; for people interested in land, in reflection, in renewal, in personal history and  personal development, and in creative 'time out'. Be warned – people tend to come back, over and over. (Scroll down for some of 100s of testimonials.) 

One of the joys of my working life is the groupwork. I feel eternally privileged to do what I love and to do it with people who bring so much inspiration, heartfulness and courage to the writing process. I never fail to be moved by the breadth and depth of your stories, poems, imagination and willingness to explore.

However, for various reasons, I'm doing fewer residential courses this year. (Look out instead for my online/snailmail correspondence course STORYMAKING: a unique approach to writing the novel, drawing on myth and archetype [with the support of Arts Council England]. This has proved to be both popular and successful; you can now join at any time. I also have launched a poetry correspondence course.) I am also hoping to spend more time on my own creative practice, writing and painting, and less on admin.

At this turbulent time in our world history, things that nurture the imagination may seem scarce or even irrelevant; but I passionately believe that the act of nourishing the creative process, with the accompanying sense of increased self-awareness, wellbeing and empowerment that brings, might be one of the small candles that are at times all we can light against the dark – not least because they also nurture the inner compassionate nature. Novelist Lindsay Clarke said that without imagination it's not possible to be empathic. It's that simple.

These ideas are at the core of my work. (I am a member of LAPIDUS, the association for the literary arts in personal development, and was opening keynote speaker at their conference in September 07.)

For the Fire in the Head spirit in print, check out my Books page.


Fire in the Head is committed to an environmental ethos. The publicity material and some of the books are printed on recycled paper, and I am very conscious of careful consumption, as also are most of the people who attend these courses. Many of us are seriously concerned about climate change; and, while clearly the only true way to do anything about this issue is to simply reduce our consumption in every way, one thing you might like to consider doing, as I do, is to 'offset' the environmental cost of travel to one of the courses, especially if you drive, or fly (many of my courses can be accessed by trains, which is of course a greener option; and much better for the soul!). An organisation local to me will plant a tree on Dartmoor in your name (or as a gift) to help offset carbon outputs: www.moortrees.org. You might also like to look at www.climatecare.org

WHAT THEY SAY

'Roselle has an extraordinary ability to get you to write.' (The Guardian)'

'Thank you for an absolutely wonderful and inspirational workshop... You have lifted my spirits and I can't begin to tell you how ecstatic I feel!'

'I want to tell you how much that truly amazing weekend touched me. We did more in those two days than ever happened on [any other course elsewhere], and my high expectations were far exceeded.... You've helped me refind my belief, my courage and my voice, and I am profoundly grateful. Thank you for your full heart and your wisdom.'

 

'I really loved the weekend - possibly the best of its kind I've been on. I was high as a hawk most of the weekend... thank you for making these times-out-of-time happen - it's a special gift you have, to say nothing of the attention and work required.'

'A basketful of thank yous for a wonderful weekend. A delicious combination of relaxing, challenging, inspiring, enchanting, terrifying & nourishing.'
'Magical, extraordinary, transformative, captivative... even these descriptions are not enough to describe the weekend. It was utterly wonderful... Thank you for making it happen, again and again and again...'

'I have to say that zen poetry weekend with you and Martin [Pitt] had a profound effect on me... it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done...'

'Brilliant. I arrived feeling like a lardy suet pudding past its sell-by date, & went away feeling like an organic fresh fruit salad! Just brilliant!’ & 'Contact with you is like having a blast of organic  electricity.' (I THINK that's a compliment...R.A.)

'A huge & solid thank you... I was high when I got home & it’s lasting... it’s better than being in love!’

'I have taken part in a variety of workshops & readings over the years, & nothing can compare with the magic atmosphere of Fire in the Head!'

'My soul needs me to be at your poetry sessions.’

'In her enlightened way she charms her way in past our fiercest defences to drag out by the ear a torrent of passions.’

'...a fabulous course. I got so much out of it in so many ways, & since I got back my head’s been buzzing with new ideas & words.’

'So many gifts from you - sensitivity, perceptiveness, clarity, support, keys to unlock dark rooms & let the light in... one of the many virtues of how you teach is that you offer many alternatives: if the first loose end doesn’t unravel then another one will... so I’m not so frightened of being unable to start, which is yet another of your gifts.’

'Thanks so much for your teaching and wisdom - it was really very, very good (and extremely reinvigorating at a usually blue time of year)...'

'I still think writing my first novel on your first novel writing course was probably the happiest time of my life.  Dear Roselle, you are such an inspiration.'

'We would like to thank you so much for your wonderful workshop. We had great feedback from all who attended and everyone agreed that it was a challenging and creative session. You seem to have a great talent for inspiring an imaginative response, and all those present produced work which encompassed both the creative impulse and a response to the poem we looked at. This, of course, spurs people on to improving and continuing that success...'

'That was an amazingly stimulating weekend - thank you so much for your always imaginative approach.'