Create Workshops
Outland Opera’s Create workshops took place in autumn 2022, in partnership with Dorset Council and the Library Service.
The workshops in Portland, Bridport and Weymouth Libraries were on the theme of ‘spooky stories’, ‘environmental cautionary tales’ and ‘personal pilgrimages’. Participants were told an example story, and were then given the structure to create their own. The workshops also included a mindful exploration of how to get into the ‘write frame-of-mind’. The emphasis of all of the workshops was how we relate to spaces and places; all of the stories included locations that the writers were familiar with.
“It was so fulfilling to use the time to discuss and reflect on what pilgrimage means to me”
With thanks to Dorset Council and the Valentine Trust.
Ghost Stories
Written by participants from “Mining for Ghosts” at Portland Library
“I enjoyed the writing part but your stories should have more gore”
“The sharp “scree” of a skidding bike pierced the twilight, followed by the crunch of gears shifting. The two boys dismounted and gazed out over the tangled mess of iron bars, weeds and ruined bunkers…
… suddenly a scream resonated through the tunnel, full of other-worldly meaning”
“It was good to explore things that create a scary story”
“Elisa Andrews was a somewhat normal teenage girl. She had short, jet-black hair and glowing blue eyes that one could get lost in, but under this disguise was somebody capable of treachery. Murder".”
“Next time I’d like even more time for writing!”
“I ran. Pushing the doors of the church open, I escaped into the open air. The sea air had thickened into fog, blocking out my view of the grave stones, of the stone angels.
… when I heard the noise I was crouched by her grave, crying. I turned, the mist reaching its icy tendrils around the edges of my vision. There was no one there. I sat, my heart pounding.”
“The creative exercises really made me believe that I could write something myself!”
Affirmations for journeys
Written by participants from “The path well trod” at Weymouth Library