Introduction to Creative Writing – explore, practise and progress with Alison Chandler

The perfect place to learn to write and start your journey to become a writer.

This introductory course will help you understand the basics of writing fiction or memoir. Our classes are friendly and relaxed so you can grow in confidence and begin to tell the stories you want to tell.

Whether you’re starting out, coming back to writing or looking to fill gaps in your writer’s toolbox, making progress is so much easier with the support you’ll find at Writing Room.

We'll focus on the basics of storytelling before moving on to explore the things you can do to give a piece depth and richness. We’ll look at examples of great writing each week and use active reading* to work out how the writer has achieved the effects they create. We’ll also try out what we’ve learned through writing exercises. You’ll be encouraged to notice what appeals to you, to help you work out the kind of writer you are.

In Week 6 we’ll talk about writing workshops and how giving and receiving feedback can enhance our writing, and you'll be able to share a short piece if you’d like to. Then in Week 12 we’ll have a full workshop where it’s wonderful to hear from everyone if they feel ready to share.

At the end of the course you’ll be well-prepared to progress your writing, and we’re always happy to help you plan your next steps.

Week 1) Character-building.

Week 2) Setting – where am I?

Week 3) Dialogue – talk to me.

Week 4) Point of view – whose eyes am I looking through?

Week 5) Plot versus story. Structure.

Week 6) Beginnings and endings. Thinking about writing workshops.

One-week break for half term

Week 7) What kind of writer am I? A look at genre.

Week 8) Character relationships – friends and enemies.

Week 9) Themes and motifs.

Week 10) Flash/short story/novella – thinking about form.

Week 11) Fiction and life-writing, fiction in life-writing.

Week 12) Me and my reader. Final mini workshop.

* ‘Active’ (rather than ‘passive’) reading simply means thinking about how a text actually conveys its meaning, as well as taking on board what it says.

CORRESPONDENCE VERSION POSSIBLE, £310, PLEASE ENQUIRE

EXCELLENT CLASS

“Each excellent class gave me an insight into specific aspects of creative writing.  And whilst there was quite rightly some topic overlap week to week, each class felt like a separate unit. I found the course very informative and inspiring.”

Caroline

Intro to Creative Writing

STIMULATING SESSIONS

“Thank you for the stimulating sessions. Alison was very well organised, and encouraging. It has been very interesting to experience different approaches. It has made this undisciplined scribbler produce stuff that's halfway readable!”

Bev

Intro to Creative Writing