Writer's Group

This course is for people who enjoy the creative writing process - from beginners to more experienced writers…a place to share, critique and develop your pieces of writing.

For the first session students will need; pen, paper, folder/binder for notes

The course aims to:
• Create a supportive environment in which to share, critique, and develop your creative writing
• Discuss the creative writing process, research the publishing market: competitions, agencies, on-line publishing e.g. WordPress etc.
• Help group members practice a range of writing techniques through creative writing exercises in class and at home
• Allow group members to develop their own pieces of writing over a period of several weeks – whether it is poetry, short story or a longer narrative.

By the end of the course students will have had a great time!!

Brief details of the topics to be covered each week:

Week 1 - Introductory
• Introduction to Writing Group Members
• A look at creativity and the creative writing process
• Look ahead – writing aims over the coming weeks

Week 2 - The Art of Critiquing
• Creating a supportive environment to discuss our writing
• Creative writing technique – Sensory writing exercises
• Time to share writing and feedback

Week 3 – Memory and Creative Writing
• Mining your memory – using your memory as inspiration
• Technique – Tone, mood and setting
• Opportunities to share/get, give feedback on your writing

Week 4 – Plotting/structure
• Examining/developing Story Arcs
• Share/feedback session
• Marketing/looking at competitions – Competition criteria, expectations, any local opportunities

Week 5 – Developing character
• Analysis of different techniques used by authors when creating character – based on extracts taken from stories/novels
• Share/feedback session

Week 6 – Examining POV
• Experimenting with Point of View/perspective
• Share/feedback session

Week 7 – Dialogue
• Different types of dialogue…finding a balance between realism and naturalism
• Dialogue exercises
• Share/feedback session

Week 8 – The Short Story
• Examine the art of the short story – compressed but not curtailed….
• Flash Fiction…
• Share/feedback

Week 9 – Poetry
• How writing poetry an improve our creative writing skills
• Favourite poems
• Share/feedback session

Week 10 – Showcase
• Members invited to read longer extracts in a final week showcase

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