Few countries have as rich a ghost heritage as Indonesia. There are things that roam in the dark that can’t be explained by logical analysis. Strange sights appear, the orderly world is turned upside down, but who knows why or how?
I will focus on my encounter with a pontianak in the Kalimantan city of Pontianak, the only city in the world named after a female vampire ghost (which includes the story of the grandmother who spits at ghosts, but only because they spit first). If time permits I might add some wisdom offered by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX who told me about his relationship with the Mermaid Queen, and what happened when I met a spirit in Manado that was identified as Moses.
Many of the stories I’ll tell this evening are included in two of my new books Curious Encounters of the Human Kind – Indonesiaavailable now on Amazon, and Curious Encounters of the Human Kind – Borneo, coming out February 2016.
SHARE YOUR JOURNEY
Writing Your Personal Story
An intensive one-day workshop sponsored by Guardian Masterclass, Kings Cross, London
Perhaps you’d like to write your personal story, but aren’t too sure how to start, how to focus, how to make it interesting for other people.
In this full day, intensive workshop I guarantee that by the end of the afternoon you will have begun to write your about your adventures.
How does that magic occur?
First, we’ll look at each person’s story, focusing on a critical scene or incident.
Then we’ll examine the Ten Writing Tips that will also give you the tools and confidence to write more effective blogs, write for online and print publications, and make more effective presentations.
Learn how to:
Recognize the dynamics of your own hero’s journey
Get started by writing just one scene
Avoid the dreaded “info dump”
Create instant intimacy with the reader
Tell the story by following the Little Red Riding Hood Strategy
Create conflict with the Nancy Reagan Principle
Keep ’em hanging on with the Scheherazade Scenario
Invoke the Story of One to represent the Story of Many
Write like Steven Spielberg directs
Eliminate fluff like Michelangelo
I use lots of cartoons, music, laughter, and exchange of ideas.
This workshop is a repeat of the successful workshop I ran for Guardian Masterclass early in 2015.
I’ve taken the tips and strategies in these workshops (which I’ve given in some 20 countries) and put them into book format: Share Your Journey: Mastering Personal Writing, published January 1, 2016.
“With elegance, deep knowledge, and great generosity, Paul has taken me into story and catalyzed my own writing in a way I’d hoped for but was too scared really to expect. I’m thrilled I did this.” —Shelly from Australia
And a book review:
“Share Your Journey is to good writing as Joy of Cooking is to good food. I wish all my students had this book before taking my writing classes; hell, I wish I had this book earlier in my career. It’s smart, fun, and every page contains nuggets of essential advice.” —Gary Goshgarian, professor of creative writing, Northeastern University; writing as Gary Braver, bestselling author of Tunnel Vision
Conway Hall. Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL (Tube: Holborn)
11.00 – 12.30 (I’ll have 15 minutes of that time)
Free, just come with good heart.
People start countries all the times, for many reasons. Some of these folks are grumpy and impatient. Some folks are dreamers and want to establish a community where there is peace, harmony, and lots of sex/drugs/classical music. Some country-creators are individualists or wannabe royalty. Often it’s a combination of all of the above.
No matter, you can start your own country and have things your way.
I’ve been intrigued by the idea of creating your own country since I was invited to join a modern version of the Knights Templar, which was planning to create their own island-nation in the Caribbean.
In this short presentation I’ll review some of the more imaginative “micro-nations,” offer the legal perspective (yes, there’s an international convention that applies) and tell you how my Knights Templar adventure worked out.
