Writers Workshop
The local business community is facing some of the toughest economic times ever. Our markets are shrinking and the situation impacts all of us in one way or another.
This has inspired us to challenge other businesses in Knysna to take action. By positively addressing the situation and creating reasons to work together in pursuit of a common goal; we believe it is possible to use the internet to open doors to new markets, expoiting opportunities that exist for those that that take the trouble to look for them. All it requires is imagination, and the understanding, that we can achieve so much more simply by getting seen to be making ouselves useful.
There is a growing global demand for well-written web content and our idea is to showcase our local writers, by doing whatever we can to get their work into the public domain, thereby generating an income from the commissions they need to keep writing. Very simply, we would like to invite emerging writers to submit short features to a writers workshop, building up a portfolio of their work. The content of which, we will promote locally, nationally and internationally.
We want to create a ‘shop window’ for both local writers and the Garden Route in general. By encouraging people to write, and at the same time to promotinge the natural beauty, of what is one of the most stunning and diverse travel destinations in the world, we can establish a resource and a thriving cottage industry in Knysna.
Witnessing established businesses of this town closing one after the other, is soul-destroying, and we intend to challenge that. There is an enormous amount of talent seeking an outlet and our intention is to prise open the door and allow it to flood into a corner of the internet, attracting attention to this unique area.
Ultimately, if we can generate work for one hundred and twenty five people, each earning one thousand US dollars a month, every month, this will inject an extra million rand a month into the local economy. Imagine how many restaurant meals that translates into! The month end bills that will get paid, the rent, electricity, school fees and vehicle repair payments. The cycles of growth are all connected.
Surely it has to be worth trying. What have we got to lose?
Hi there
I am a writer, based in Knysna. I am currently published in the Edge under the heading, Slow Diaries.
I would love to be involved.
Do you need assistance with web design – my husband is a web designer and also deals with mobile phone web sites (www.gomobi.co.za).
Regards
Michelle
Always need assistance be it with web sites or writing. I would like to see a pool of writers marketing their services to a global market and starting a cottage industry which grows into other areas such as internet marketing, design and development. But having had no experience selling writing skills I may be way off target. Does it make sense? When you say you are a writer, how easy is it to become a writer? Besides the Edge how do you get seen?
Mark
Hi Mark,
You proposal sounds interesting and I would like to know more about it. Do you have a contact number or e-mail where we can contact you?
Chris
Hi,
I would like to know more about this project as it sounds very interesting indeed, please send me details. We moved to Knysna from Durban almost 4 years ago and have grown to love this town, it’s amazing history, the different people who live here and last, but certainly not least, the beauty of nature that surrounds us here. Sometimes I think we should just keep quiet about Knysna and not “share” our town, but then that would be extremely short sighted and not good for our local economy. We need to promote all aspects of Knysna, from the festivals to the bike rides, our crafters to our shopping malls, these along with the sea, lagoon and forests are what make Knysna such a special place to visit.
Thank you for having such a good idea.
Regards
Brenda
There is no money in town. It is drying up and the local businesses are all battling. This town is dying and we have to do something to stop that. We believe, possibly naively, that this could be done very simply by giving our local writers the incentive they need to write about the area, to then pool their work and promote it to an international market that is constantly looking for web content and those people who can write content for the web.
It should be that simple. But the question is whether we as a community make it work?
I am an experienced (mainly travel) writer and editor formerly at Independent Newspapers. I am also struggling, though I still have contacts at IN. I have tried the international online service Elance.com and though I did do some work for a client in Australia, I find the competition for jobs overwhelming, from all over the world. So it’s not easy!
My blog jonvdhwritings.blogspot.com gives me a lot of satisfaction and is widely read. Happy to help and share ideas.
Neat. I think the question we have to ask ourselves is how we can catch the eye of the professional consultancy services that are looking for writers who can write.
The Garden Route is a brand we should be able to capitalise on. If we can persuade enough people that we all have very compelling reasons to work together and to promote ourselves as integral part of that brand, we might make it into our own league.
What I want to see developing out of this is a cottage industry where those that can, recognise that they do want to mentor those that would like to start writing. Do you not think that is something that will attract attention? A village where everyone sitting in the coffee shops is busy writing and spending money that none us have to justify running our respective businesses right now?
The difficulty here, is in breaking the ice and getting started?
Hi all,
What a great idea, let’s make it happen together! So many people from Europe etc. are bowled over when they visit our country – if we could get together articles in different languages, we could promote our town/area even more. I lived in France for a while, and I know we have many French and German expats in Knysna, many of them in the guesthouse industry – how about marketing our town using articles written or translated by them – we can reach more than just English-speakers!
Also, local craft is another area of interest for me – I would love to submit articles about specific crafts/crafters (e.g. featuring a different craft each week/month) and blogging about that, plus “publishing” these articles so as to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Hi there!
I’m an author from George, Garden Route. I co-hosted the Knysna Literary Festival in April 2011 and found that there is a need to create literary awareness.
Please contact me with more information regarding your suggestions. I’m interested.
James Fouche
http://www.jackhanger.com
domaingrp@yahoo.com