ABOUT
Marc Nair has been, at various points in his life, a teacher, photographer, scriptwriter, voice-over talent, performance poet and cat slave. He has published ten collections of poetry and is a recipient of the 2016 Young Artist Award.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2019 – Sightlines (Singapore: Math Paper Press, 2019)
2018 – Vital Possessions (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2018)
2017 – Intersection (with Nicola Anthony) (Singapore: Self-Published, 2017)
2016 – Spomenik (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2016)
2016 – This is Not a Safety Barrier (Eds. Marc Nair, Yen Phang. Singapore: Ethos Books, 2016)
2015 – The Poet of Unlove (Singapore: Red Wheelbarrow Books, 2015)
2014 – Animal City (Illus. Vanessa Chan. Singapore: Red Wheelbarrow Books, 2014)
ACHIEVEMENTS
2016/2017 – NTU-NAC Writer-in-Residence (National)
2016 – National Arts Council Young Artist Award
2015 – Gardens by the Bay Writer-in-Residence
2007 – PGDE (Dip.) in English Language / Literature, National Institute of Education
WORKSHOPS
INSTAGRAM POETRY
For: all students; 8 - 25 pax
Availability: 2 hours per session; single session
Description: This workshop expands the vocabulary of participants’ expression by plugging into familiar forms of media. We look at the relationship between poetry and Instagram by analysing a number of Instagram poems, considering content, community and visual culture. Students will then work with the form to create various kinds of Instagram poetry.
Learning Outcomes: Understanding a poem’s nature through Instagram poetry, the conditions that produce the Instagram poem, creating and reflecting on Instagram poetry. Eligible for Tote Board Arts Grant Subsidy
TRAVEL WRITING: THE FIRST-PERSON TRAVEL NARRATIVE
For: junior college; 8 - 25 pax
Availability: 2 hours per session; single / double sessions
Description: Drawing from participants’ real life examples, the class will focus around building a narrative around a travel encounter. While basic narrative structure will be explored, the focus will be on setting, characterisation and the relevance of how change or shift happens for the traveller.
Learning Outcomes: What differentiates the personal essay from the memoir, developing the ‘self’ in the story, finding a story arc between depicting scene and providing context
CREATIVE NON-FICTION: INTRODUCTION TO THE PERSONAL ESSAY
For: all students; 8 - 25 pax
Availability: 2 hours per session; single / multiple sessions
Description: Lee Gutkind, founder of magazine Creative Nonfiction, defines the genre of creative nonfiction as “true stories well told.” The memoir in creative non-fiction is autobiographical but focuses on one aspect, one period or one incident. Participants will learn the basics of writing a personal essay about an incident they have experienced.
The focus in the workshop will be on developing scenes through description, dialogue and personal voice. Relevant examples will be explored as a class and all participants will have a chance to share and receive feedback.
Learning Outcomes: Developing ‘thick’ description, finding the self in the scene, harnessing memory to build an evocative context
PHOTOWRITE
For: all students; min. 10 pax
Availability: 3 hours per session; single / multiple sessions
Description: A multi-disciplinary journey of image making; both as a writer and shutterbug. Theoretical and practical applications of connecting photography with writing in different genres.
Learning Outcomes: how to pair two disciplines together; how to produce art informed by both theory and practice.
SPEAKING UP: PERFORMANCE POETRY
For: all students; min. 10 pax
Availability: 3 hours per session; single / multiple sessions
Description: An introduction to the fundamental elements of spoken word. What makes it different from poetry found on the page? What does it mean to perform a poem?
Learning Outcomes: what differentiates performance poetry from other forms of poetry; how performance poetry can be used as a tool of social awareness; how performance poetry can be paired with other art forms.
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMME / OUR WRITERS / OUR WORKSHOPS / OUR CAMP / F.A.Q.
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 Marc Nair's availability and workshop rates in Sing Lit Station's Book A Writer programme, do fill in the form below.