Ryan Van Winkle
Home address:
1f2, 13 Drumdryan St., Edinburgh, EH3 9JZ, ScotlandMobile:
077 584 84 558Email:
ravanwin@yahoo.comWebsite:
www.ryanvanwinkle.comBRAW network:
noLL funded:
yesBiography:
I am an American born, Edinburgh based, writer of poems and I currently hold the post of Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library and Edinburgh City Libraries. Recently my poems have appeared in New Writing Scotland: 26, New Leaf 24 and the past two issues of Northwords Now. In 2007 I won 3rd place in the 2007 Ver Poetry Prize and I have been published in two other anthologies: The Golden Hour Book (Forest Publications) and V: New International Writing from Edinburgh (Edinburgh University Press). Further, I have completed an MSC in Creative Writing at The University of Edinburgh earning a distinction. I have been long-listed for the Bridport prize and, in November 2007, DBC Pierre recited one of my poems at a reading in Germany.
In addition the being a working poet, and sometimes a journalist, I am an editor at Forest Publications which has published numerous chapbooks, and two anthologies including a praised volume of “Stolen Stories.” I have been a long-time member of the Forest Arts Collective where I have hosted The Golden Hour – a literary cabaret – since 2006. The Golden Hour has toured the UK and Europe and has been commissioned to perform at the Aye Write Festival in Glasgow as well as the Meadows Festival in Edinburgh.
In my time working at The Forest and the Scottish Poetry Library I have facilitated hundreds of workshops with all types of groups from young men who just want to talk about comic books to the visually impaired. I've hosted and planned parties and other cultural events and I've worked along side thousands of volunteers from every walk of life imaginable.
I also continue to teach Creative Writing at Edinburgh University's SUISS Summer School program. I have a poem due to appear in the American Poetry Review in 2009.
About writer's work:
I am at work on my second collection whilst I try to place my first entitled “Falling”. The characters found in “Falling” are plagued by the persistence of memory and the problems of responsibility. These poems examines those feelings and their causes in what the poet CJ Allen describes as, “a very carefully understated tone, almost the tone of plain speech.”
Currently, my work is taking on a more personal, surreal and abstract feel and I have not been working with characters and narrative as much as I have been experimenting with images and letting the poem speak to itself.
Further, I regularly read my work and have performed in London, Paris, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berlin and Bremen and am regularly invited to read around Edinburgh. I perform solo, “straight” readings of my work but frequently collaborate with musicians. My collaborations have been many and various – from folkie poems read over banjos to, surreal impressionistic readings with church organ, computers, hand-drums, loop pedals and megaphones. Collaborations range from delirious electro to delightfully acoustic.
I am currently working on a poetry-opera with Ragland – an Edinburgh-Based artist who paints in ambient melodies and who plans to turn my poems into a “concept album.”
About writer's events and projects:
I am available to do readings, residencies, and all manner of workshops. I like to work with teens and / or adults of any variety and can tailor Live Literature events to the desires of the client.
Some ideas are:
Nothing But the Poem Sessions – an informal workshop designed to get readers enjoying the experience of reading poetry. We read a poem, we discuss the poem, only the poem we've read. There's no jargon, no experience needed, nothing to fear. Poems are selected by me depending on the group and I facilitate an open discussion of what is on the page. This is a very successful and enjoyable session which is adaptable for every group. I've facilitated these sessions at the Scottish Poetry Library, The Forest, and for the Edinburgh City Libraries' Visually Impaired Reader's Group.
'Zine Making Workshop – How to make a 'zine? All that's needed are magazines, scissors, pens, computers and a photo copier. The 'zine making workshop can take place over one or more sessions and can be based on themes or on the particular goals of a school or lesson. It could involve essays, art, journalism, cartoons, poems, prose and more. I have edited over a hundred 'zines and am quite passionate about the medium.
Writer's Workshop – I've recently done a workshop at Edinburgh's Central Library on writing “war poetry” for Remembrance Day and I have taught Creative Writing at Scottish University's International Summer Schools at Edinburgh University. Writer's workshops can last for more than one session and are utterly flexible. They can involve using props and photographs (i.e. war photos for war poetry) to get people's creativity running. Or, workshops can be more skilled based (i.e. how to write a haiku, renga or sonnet).
The Golden Hour – The Golden Hour is a popular literary cabaret that features poems and prose from excellent writers, original music from a wide-range of talented musicians, as well as cartoons. These events can last an hour or longer and are eclectic, electric and exciting. The Golden Hour regularly attracts crowds of 70 to 100 people and have been well-reviewed in The List. To me, The Golden Hour is an excellent way to sneak literature into a popular format that is enjoyable for all.
Readings – I am available to read to any audience and am happy to discuss my work.
Links to other websites:
www.ryanvanwinkle.comhttp://www.readingroom.spl.org.uk/
http://www.readingroom.spl.org.uk/podcasts/index.html
Language:
EnglishAge groups:
9-12, Teens, Adults
