Upcoming Workshops
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Workshop Schedule
Creative Writing (an introduction)
One-day workshop
This workshop is suitable for emerging writers planning their first work as well as for more experienced writers wanting to hone their storytelling skills. It’s aimed at all creative writers, whether the dream is to write novels, short stories or scripts, as every successful narrative is built on the same fundamental principles of story design.
Basic information
When: To be decided
Workshop outline
What does it take to write fiction? Determination, commitment and an understanding of the basic techniques of creative writing. It's up to you to provide the required determination and commitment, but this course will make you aware of the writing conventions that underpin all good fiction—and motivate you if you're blocked. Through a mixture of tutor-led discussions, group activities and individual writing, the narrative process is unraveled one loop at a time. Learn how to hook a reader and maintain tension throughout a story. Absorb the secrets of character creation and dialogue. Populate your stories with protagonists who speak and act credibly and engagingly.
This workshop introduces participants to the following aspects of prose writing:
• Gathering and organising story ideas
• Developing character and dialogue
• Show don’t tell: what does this mean and how is it done?
• Plot and structure: developing and maintaining tension
• Becoming unblocked: the games you can play when your writing grinds to a halt
Writing for Children
One-day workshop
Learn to weave story magic for kids and discover how published authors turn bedtime stories into print. This workshop is suitable for adult writers of all levels—even those who haven’t scribbled a creative word since they were 10. So if it’s your dream to recapture the thrills and pleasures of childhood, this is the course for you—just bring along your imagination and a love of storytelling!
Basic information
When: To be decided
Workshop outline
This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of storytelling and magic-making for children up to the age of 12.
Through a thought-provoking and lively combination of expert tuition, practical exercises, tutor-led feedback and group discussion, you will cover all the essential aspects of story crafting for kids. By the end of the workshop, you’ll be in tune with your writer's voice and will be comfortable with the vital principles of plot-building, character development and dialogue.
Stories for children are fundamentally different to those for adults in the way they are plotted and structured—do you know what these differences are? If not, rest assured that you will by the end of this workshop!
As tutor and facilitator, my mission is to provide you with the tools to hook a young audience from the first paragraph and to keep those rugrats spellbound all the way through to...
...the end.
Writing Features—date to be set for next 2010 workshop
One-day workshop
If you dream of writing articles but haven't left first base, this workshop will set you on your chosen path. It is also suitable for 'cub' reporters wishing to hone and develop their feature writing skills.
Basic information
When: To be decided
Workshop aims
To guide you through the process of researching, writing and selling top quality feature articles. Small groups only.
Workshop outline
• Define your writing genre: from travel and health writing to general women’s features
and features with a strong news angle
• Explore where ideas come from and how to make them grow
• Develop your research skills
• Learn how to ‘hook’ your audience in the opening paragraph and then sustain interest
throughout your feature
• Learn to make important decisions about your target audience
• Find out what it takes to ensnare an editor and get those feature commissions rolling