Book A Writer / Our Writers

ABOUT

Charlene Shepherdson is an interdisciplinary writer based in Singapore who curates experiences using visual text, interactive narratives and historical archives.

The breadth of their practice spans poetry, creative non-fiction, visual art installations and social sculptures with a deep focus on the ideas that exist in the in-betweens: the intersection where personal histories clash with state narratives, the people and cultural practices that fall through the cracks, the disconnect between humans and nature.

They have diplomas in Mass Communication and Learning Disorders Management & Child Psychology from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and College of Allied Educators respectively.

Shepherdson was a founding member of spoken word troupe Party Action People with Marc Nair, Marylyn Tan, Arun Ditha and Shivram Gopinath. They were also a founding member of the performance writing group, Ministry of Noise, and the literary-visual art collective, spacer.gif, comprising Shepherdson, Nabilah Husna and Vanessa Victoria. With spacer.gif, Shepherdson hosted the popular spoken word open-mic, destination: INK from 2012 - 2017. They were the Station Control of Sing Lit Station, a local literary nonprofit from 2019 - 2022.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• 2018 –  "Shift", Call and Response (Eds. Rolinda Onates Espanola, Zakir Hossain, Joshua Ip. Singapore: Math Paper Press, 2018) 

• 2017 – "On Record", Singapore Eurasians: Memories, Hopes and Dreams (Singapore: World Scientific, 2017)

• 2017 – "Cremains", A Luxury We Must Afford (Eds. Christine Chia, Joshua Ip, Cheryl Julia Lee. (Singapore: Math Paper Press, 2017)

• 2016 – "Written", From Walden to Woodlands (Eds. Ow Yeong Wai Kit, Muzakkir Samat. Singapore: Ethos Books, 2016)

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018 –  In the Twine: A Teapestry of Stories, a spoken word show with Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips (Singapore Writers Festival Commission)

• 2016-17 – For the Record: Exploring Eurasian Narratives a multidiciplinary project with Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips (National Arts Council Creation Grant)

• 2012-13 – Born of Paper, Project LAVA (National Arts Council Commission)

WORKSHOPS

SPLIT NARRATIVES: CREATING INTERACTIVE STORIES
For: all students; 8-15 pax
Availability: 2 / 3 hours per session; single / multiple session
Description: Learn how to write branching storylines for games, interactive fiction and multimedia experiences. Bring all those “what ifs” to life in a broad-ranging, participatory and innovative workshop.
Learning Outcomes: understand the role of creators and receivers for interactive fiction; creating workflows for branching storylines; for multiple sessions: hands-on experience with inklewriter and parallax storytelling.

VISUAL TEXT: A GUIDE TO ART AND POETRY
For: all students; 8-25 pax
Availability: 2 / 3 hours per session; single / multiple session
Description: Learn how to use line, shape, colour, contrast and movement to create your own visual poetry. Gain a better understanding of the relationship between text and images in this multi-disciplinary, all-hands-on-deck workshop.
Learning Outcomes: understand how typography and colour impact the tone and mood of poems through hands-on experimentation; craft your own shape poem; for multiple sessions: create a chapbook of visual poetry, including shape poetry, typographic poems, etc.

GROW A POEM: FINDING WORDS IN NATURE
For: all students; 8-25 pax
Availability: 2 / 3 hours per session; single / multiple session
Description: Learn how to use your five senses to capture the awe-inspiring sunset, or the resilience of weeds growing in concrete. Get your blood pumping and your inspiration running in this energetic and engaging workshop. Multiple sessions include the option to head to the Botanic Gardens or Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve to produce a chapbook of nature poetry.
Learning Outcomes: learning to engage the five senses through sensory activities; hands-on experience writing a poem relating to nature or environmental issues.