WORKSHOPS – COMING UP IN MAY/JUNE 2023

Creative Writing Essentials

From finding your story idea to revising your first draft, this practical course shows you everything you need to know to write your novel from start to finish. We’ll look at story ideas, genres and the different types of markets. We will then examine characters and plots, discussing how to create and develop these key elements. We will touch on the all-important issues of setting and dialogue, and consider how to make them work with your story, rather than against it. We’ll discuss how to write your first draft – and then how to improve it! We will even look at how to best approach publishers to help improve your chance of getting published.

Blog Writing Course

Having an online presence is becoming increasingly important for all sorts of reasons. This course looks at why you might want to start your own blog, whether it be to promote a business, promote yourself as a professional, share your expertise, or simply have fun expressing yourself and interacting with people from around the world. We will look at the different blogging platforms available, in particular WordPress and discuss what you can write about, always keeping in mind your readers’ needs. We will look at what makes a good blog post and how to avoid some common errors. We will talk about how to attract traffic to your site and build your online community. There will be an emphasis on the interactive nature of blogging – meaning we’ll discuss online etiquette, spam, dealing with comments, and how to deal with difficult situations. We’ll also look at the different ways that you can earn money from blogging and how effective they may be.

Journalling for Creativity

Journalling is a private record of expressive writing. It’s not shared with others – rather, it allows you to create freely without the fear of judgment. By exploring your inner thoughts you’ll understand yourself better, build confidence, and create a treasure trove of material that you can draw from. When people decide to do something creative, they often feel a pressure to perform. Staring at a blank page can be stressful, but journalling can overcome that anxiety. By writing small amounts every day in a private journal, you can get the creative juices flowing and develop ideas that would otherwise not occur to you. We will examine some of the different ways to use a journal. You can use it to plan your day and then reflect on your experiences. You can use it for goal setting, and for identifying obstacles to these goals. You can use it to record your dreams, feelings and observations, and to gain a better understanding of what makes you tick. Please keep in mind that nobody needs to see anything you put in your journal – we certainly won’t be sharing our writing in this class! This course will improve your writing skills in a friendly, non-judgmental environment. It’s suitable for beginners who want some help getting started on their creative journey, and for more experienced writers who feel they need a quick boost!