This is our plan for Monday. There may be small changes made to according to numbers, but we'll always give you more, not less, and will consult you about anything that affects your schedule and other commitments.

10 am: Introduction to Haiku Summer School!

Join us to hear about the week ahead, and meet some of your fellow participants! 

10:30 am: Break

10:45 am - 12 noon: Monday prompts workshop. Theme: "All kinds of seasons".

We use the seasons in haiku constantly. We'll consider the main seasons and what they are around the world, in a short illustrated presentation. But beyond the main seasons, what are the seasons we make for ourselves, through our regular activities, or our local traditions? We'll consider these, our "personal" seasons, and discuss each other's potential material, and start to write some ideas down (writing time will double as a comfort break). After this session, there'll be personal writing time over a long lunchtime. You'll also be invited to book onto a feedback workshop with Alan at a choice of times (in very small and intimate groups) to discuss work stemming from this "All kinds of seasons" prompt workshop.

12 noon to 2pm: You now have a two-hour lunch break/writing time.

Please have a good break! But also, this long lunch time is an opportunity to work on your "All kinds of season" poems. Shortly after enrolment, you'll also have the chance to book your "6-minute surgery" with Alan so that he can personally welcome you to the week, and offer guidance in getting the most out of it with regards to where you are with your own writing.

02:00 pm to 02:45: Where I'm Writing From Session 1

See here for more information about these sessions.

04:00 pm to 4:40 The Americans are Coming! At 4pm we will have the North American timetable Introduction to Haiku Summer School! Everyone is welcome though. Feel free to come for the introductions, and then leave when it comes to a repeat of what you've heard in the morning, or stay and listen again!

Until 5pm. Break, or your '6 minute surgery' with Alan.

Evening Events

You are welcome to relax, feel deservedly good about your day's work, and we'll look forward to seeing you Tuesday! We don't want to wear everyone out! However, if you have an appetite to join in more, there will be "Where I'm Writing  From" session 2, with different participants featured (around 8pm) and at around 9pm, we'll have a short check-in with anyone who wants to mark the end of the day. Feel free to make or pour yourself a drink! 

This is our plan for Tuesday. There may be small changes made to according to numbers, but we'll always give you more, not less, and will consult you about anything that affects your schedule and other commitments.

10 am: Morning check-in!

Join us to hear about the day ahead, and check in with some of your fellow participants! Bring a coffee, a tea, or whatever you fancy. Biscuit crumbs are allowed.

10:15 am: Break

10:30 am: Free writing time/small group workshops with Alan.

During this time, you'll be able to choose a time that best suits you to have your very-small-group workshop with Alan, in a 45 minute or 1 hour session, for feedback on your work from yesterday's prompt session.

12:45 to 2pm: You now have a two-hour lunch break/writing time.

Please have a good break! 

02:00 pm to 02:45: Where I'm Writing From Session 3

See here for more information about these sessions.

According to final numbers taking part, a session to help you plan your Wednesday writing time, may be offered as a Zoom session, or via the private Summer School web pages.

04:00 pm to 4:15 pm Your afternoon check in, at English Tea Time! Come and check in with your colleagues from the Americas.

Until 5.15 pm. Break, or your small group workshop with Alan if you haven't had yours yet.

Evening Events

Optional: If you have an appetite to join in more, there will be "Where I'm Writing  From" session 4, with different participants featured (around 8pm) and at 9pm to 9.15pm we'll have a short check-in with anyone who wants to mark the end of the day. Feel free to make or pour yourself a drink! 

Wednesday is your free day, but we hope you'll have some time for your writing. You're invited to check in with us at the usual times (and an extra time) to help give your day some writing structure and encouragement. Have a think ahead, you might even fancy doing a solo "ginko", either using memory from the comfort of your home, or out and about. There'll be some prompt materials to help you plan for this!

10 am to 11:15 am: Morning check-in!

Join us for a chat about your writing plans for the day, or the opportunities to find haiku poetry ideas in your ongoing life commitments for the day.

01:00 pm to 01:15: Extra check-in!

An extra check-in for anyone wanting a bit more structure, company, or encouragement for this "free" day.

04:00 pm to 4:15 pm: Afternoon check-in

Your afternoon check in, at English Tea Time! Come and check in with your colleagues from the Americas, and have a cup of tea with us!

Evening Events

As usual, we'll have a quick 9pm to 9:15pm check-in for anyone who wants to join us to mark the end of the day. Feel free to make or pour yourself a drink! 

This is our plan for Thursday. There may be small changes made, but we'll always give you more, not less, and will consult you about anything that affects your schedule and other commitments.

10 am: Morning check-in!

Join us to hear about the day ahead, and check in with some of your fellow participants! Bring a coffee, a tea, or whatever you fancy. Biscuit crumbs are allowed.

10:15 am: Break

10:30 am - 11:45: Thursday: Wildcard Workshop

What's a wildcard workshop? Have we run out of ideas? Not at all. Don't worry we will be prepared and organised! However, we find that one of the most interesting things about getting together in a group thinking, reflecting, and writing for a week is that themes of their own start to develop synergistically. So this workshop will find its theme[s] but without prescribing them before the week starts! We'll also take into account that you've had a writing day on the Wednesday and may have found themes of your own to discuss.

12 noon to 2pm: You now have a two-hour lunch break/writing time.

Please have a good break! But also, this long lunch time is an opportunity to work on your "wildcard theme" poems. 

02:00 pm to 02:45: Small Group workshop "wildcard" poems with Alan (part 1)

02:45 pm to 3pm : Break

03:00pm to 03:30: Small Group workshop "wildcard" poems with Alan (part 2)

04:00 pm to 4:15: Tea-time Check-in

Join us, and your American time zone co-participants for a hello! We'll touch base over a cup of tea!

4:15 pm to 5:00 pm. Break/finish.

Evening Events

You are welcome to relax, feel deservedly good about your day's work, and we'll look forward to seeing you Friday! However, if you have an appetite to join in more, at 9pm to 9:15, we'll have a short check-in with anyone who wants to mark the end of the day and say goodnight. Feel free to make or pour yourself a drink to bring along! 

This is our plan for Friday. There may be small changes made, but we'll always give you more, not less, and will consult you about anything that affects your schedule and other commitments.

10 am: Morning check-in!

Join us to hear about the day ahead, and check in with some of your fellow participants! Bring a coffee, a tea, or whatever you fancy. Biscuit crumbs are allowed.

10:15 am: Break

10:30am to 11:45am: Friday Workshop: The Performance Lab!

Reading your poetry well gives it more impact, is more enjoyable for your audience, and really satisyfing to do! But most good readers aren't "naturally" good readers (if you are, then hats off to you!). At Call of the Page we all learnt to read out loud to the best of our abilities, and we want to pass this on to you. In this workshop, come and explore how to best read your work from the week out loud, with tips from professional presentation trainer Alison, and a dash of Karen's voice-over directing experience. There'll be some time after the session to practice further before an optional Summer School reading later in the day.

11:45 to 12 noon: Break

12:00 noon to 04:00 pm: Practice and/or small feedback sessions (& lunch!)

For this period, you may have booked a special small group feedback session with Alan. But also, this is an opportunity to practice reading out your work for the later reading session (we'll have given you some guidance as to how to make your practice most effective). We hope you'll also enjoy a long lunch! 

04:00 pm to 4:15 pm Your afternoon check in, at English Tea Time!

Come and check in with your colleagues from the Americas.

04:15pm to 7:30 pm. A nice long break, and a perhaps some practising in front of the mirror before:

7:30pm to 9pm. End of School Reading/Final Session 

We'll get together in this single event, to read out our work from the week. 

There'll then be a 15 minute comfort break. Look out for your little end of week "goody bag" for participants coming through to you! And then join us again (feel free to bring snacks and drinks) to recap the week, "mingle" with participants, and talk about your writing plans for the rest of the summer!

9:00pm: Haiku Summer School ends. We hope you've had a great week!