ABOUT
Don Shiau is a writer, performance poet, and musician. He has been featured in numerous editions of Poetry Festival Singapore, Singapore Night Festival, and Singapore Writers Festival. He co-organises Outspoken, a competitive spoken word event.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Prof Edwin Thumboo Award (Champion), National Poetry Recitation Competition 2023, English Language (Open) Category
Sing Lit Station Manuscript Bootcamp 2024
Oliver Seet Memorial Prize, Poetry Festival Singapore 2024
Sing Lit Station Jalan Besar Fellowship 2025
NAC-NLB Writers’ Lab 2025
WORKSHOPS
THIS POEM IS ABOUT ME: HOW TO PERFORM POETRY
For: all students; 5-25 pax
Availability: 2 to 2.5 hours per session; single or double session
Description: This workshop provides an introduction to spoken-word poetry: what it is, how it differs from page poetry, and why it is a powerful and popular tool for self-expression. Participants will be guided to write and share a short piece about themselves. It can be conducted over one or two sessions—for the latter, session one will focus on writing, and session two on performing. The depth and complexity will be tailored to the students’ ages. For older students, the workshop will also briefly cover the history and culture of spoken word events in Singapore.
Learning outcomes: Greater confidence in public speaking; clarity and focus in self-expression; an appreciation for spoken word as an accessible and enjoyable literary genre.
RATE MY POEM: HOW TO GIVE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK
For: secondary school and above; 5-25 pax
Availability: 2 to 2.5 hours per session; single or double session
Description: Providing feedback is an underrated skill in creative writing. Its key difference from literary criticism is that feedback is given directly to the poet / writer, so one has to bear in mind various sensitivities. In this workshop, participants should bring poems they have written. They will be guided in giving and receiving honest and constructive feedback. They will gain an appreciation for how this skill is valuable in sustaining the practice of writing in adulthood, and in many other spheres of life. This workshop can be conducted over one or two sessions—for the latter, session one will focus on empathy and communication, and session two will apply them to the participants’ poems.
Learning outcomes: Active listening; perspective-taking; kindness in communication
PROSODY: SONGWRITING’S SECRET SAUCE
For: secondary school and above; 5-25 pax
Availability: 2-2.5 hours per session; single session
Description: In this workshop, students will be introduced to the concept of prosody—the patterns of stress, intonation and rhythm that give additional meaning to words when they are spoken. They will be shown how songwriters have employed prosody to write effective melodies and hit songs. They will then have the opportunity to write lyrics to match given melodies, as well as ‘improve’ the melodies of given lyrics. Students will get to suggest which songs to discuss ahead of the workshop, as long as they are in English (sorry K-pop stans), and not offensive. No music theory is required!
Learning outcomes: An appreciation for the inherent musicality of language, and how to use that when matching words to music.
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME / OUR WRITERS / OUR PROGRAMMES / OUR CAMP
Book A Writer is Sing Lit Station's workshop-for-schools programme, featuring a roster of Singapore's most important writers at work today. *Do you want to Book A Writer? For enquiries on Don Shiau’s availability and workshop rates in Sing Lit Station's Book A Writer programme, do fill in the form below.