Tusiata Avia of FIKA Writers will run a creative writing workshop at CoCA to help you explore your current writing practice.

Wherever you are at: newbie, old pro, chugging-along-but-a-bit-bored, totally stuck – come as you are. We’ll try to cater for both poets and prose writers, do a few helpful exercises, stretch our creative muscles. There will be an opportunity at the end of the workshop for you to read/ perform a short piece. Spaces are limited, first preference given to FIKA Writers.

To apply:

Please email fika.writers.making.space@gmail.com or PM us @fikawriters on Facebook ASAP with a couple of lines about why you want to be part of the workshop. Make sure you include your name and Facebook name, email address and cellphone number in your message. Successful applicants will be notified by phone or email by Thursday 3 August.

About Tusiata:

Tusiata Avia is a Samoan-New Zealand poet, performer and writer. She has had a long association with Christchurch’s FIKA collective, editing their self-titled publication and remains a proud supporter. She is also a huge fan of the other collectives involved in MAKING SPACE, particularly the fantastically fabulous Fafswag and the subversive and sexy SaVage K'lub.

Tusiata has published three books of poetry: Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, Bloodclot, Fale Aitu/Spirit House, a chapbook and two children’s books. Her one-woman theatre show (also called Wild Dogs Under My Skirt) toured internationally from 2002 to 2008 and was remounted as a show for six actresses in 2016.

Tusiata has held a number of writers’ residencies and awards, including a Fulbright Pacific Artist Fellowship at the University of Hawai’i and the Janet Frame Literary Trust Award. This year she was shortlisted for the 2017 Ockham Best Book of Poetry. Currently she is working on a novel and living in Christchurch.