A series of dynamic one-day Workshops each focusing on those subjects that
writers often find challenging. Using exercises, discussion and literary examples,
we will explore each subject in detail, experimenting with new ideas and
techniques to stretch the boundaries of your writing.
These Workshops will empower all writers, beginners and advanced, enabling
you to tackle these topics with ease and assurance so that you can
confidently include them in your fiction.
The Workshops may be taken individually at £75 each or as a complete series of five for only £300. They take place on Saturdays from 10:30am to 4:30pm, starting 19th January 2008, at Tower Room 1,
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1. Each Workshop is limited to a maximum of 10 students.
19 January - Autobiography into Fiction
Autobiography is often the starting point for writing, but how do you avoid the pitfalls of relying too much on your own story? How can you take your experience not as an end point to be faithfully rendered but as a springboard to launch you into fiction?
This Workshop will enable you to use your stories as a starting point, and gain the confidence to express what you want to say whilst leaving the facts behind. We will experiment with other voices and unexplored points of view and discover how to find the kernel of the story within an autobiography and transform it into fiction that will speak to all readers.
2 February - Family Relationships
Every character in fiction has a family whose influence can play a major role in their story. And a character's relationship with different family members is often a key fictional theme. But what constitutes a family is not always parents and offspring - a group of friends, a religious community or a sports team may also fulfill the role of a family. So how can you develop and explore this theme? How describe the unique and subtle relationships that exist within each family? This Workshop will explore the family in its broadest sense and you will discover how including those powerful relationships in your fiction can add veracity to your characters, giving them depth and a greater reality.
16 February - Writing the Big Scene
All fiction will lead up to a crisis point which presents a real challenge to any writer. How can you write those strong scenes without flipping into melodrama? How find an authentic voice to describe dramatic events and give them their full emotional weight? Can you develop the confidence to write the Big Scene and not shy away from it?
This Workshop will help you to write clear and compelling climactic scenes that a reader will believe in completely. We will experiment with suspense and surprise, and discuss timing and pace. And we will discover that a Big Scene doesn't have to be a major drama but equally satisfyingly can be a scene of revelation or quiet realisation.
1 March - Money
Money is a crucial factor in the relationship between a character and the world they live in. It can reflect their status, aspirations, desires - even their history. By exploring this theme you can reveal unexpected aspects of your characters. What is their relationship with money? Are they mean or generous? Do they spend or save? Do they know how much is in their bank account - do they have a bank account?
This Workshop will examine how money can be a great motivator in fiction and will explore the many themes that can revolve around money - inheritance, poverty, gambling, theft. We will look at how you can mine this rich seam and use it to enhance your work.
15 March - Sex
Sex can be a powerful and motivating force in fiction. But how can you feel comfortable writing about sex? How overcome embarrassment and find the right vocabulary? This Workshop will examine how sex can reveal aspects of a character's personality that can't be dealt with any other way. We will learn how to describe different kinds of sexual relationship, explore writing about sex from different ages and points of view. And we will see how writing a convincing sex scene can make a valid and important contribution to a whole narrative.
If you have any queries,
or wish to discuss the workshops, please phone 020-8809-4725,
or send an email to
Quotes:
"I really loved the workshop and felt there was a great atmosphere. I so enjoyed hearing all the different things people came up with. You lead it all brilliantly and I am amazed how you manage to respond to us all, hit the nail on the head and it all seems so effortless, although it can't be. I came home full of it all, tired but stimulated!"
Penelope Boreham
"The workshops are stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable. Henrietta
provides many insights about the art of the writer and creates a collegiate atmosphere where people can share their writing."
David Lloyd
CLICK HERE FOR BOOKING FORM
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