Developing your writing

Inspiration, technical guidance and detailed feedback on your work; this workshop for writers with some experience is an opportunity to develop your writing and work towards publication (if desired) in a supportive critical environment.

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Key course information

Dates
23/09/09 - 16/12/09

Day(s)
Wed

Duration
13 weeks

Time
12:30 - 14:30

Fees
Full fee: £116
Senior fee: £69
Concession: £33

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HW050

Availability
This course has finished

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
Email humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call
020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

Help you improve your creative writing skills and sustain a commitment to your work.
Exploring different aspects of writing and issues around writing.
Developing confidence in giving constructive criticism and using it to revise or edit work.
Learning how to submit work for publication, if you want.

What topics will we cover?

How to develop and improve your writing, which may be prose fiction (short or novel length), poetry, script or a combination of genres, and may be work in progress or finished pieces.
Exploration of aspects of writing, according to students' needs and interests, e.g. how to sustain a piece of writing; narrative tension, structure, point-of-view, character, dialogue, voice; poetic form, language, imagery; genre; and readership; writing practice, blocks and other issues around writing.
Information on how to get published.
Giving constructive criticism.
Evaluating, revising and editing your own work.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- Respond to, and assess, pieces of writing with sensitivity
- Write more effectively and confidently in your chosen genre(s)
- Evaluate, revise and edit your own work
- Identify relevant markets for the publication of work should you wish to do so.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This workshop is for writers with some experience who may also be wanting to work towards publication of their work. Typically students will have been to writing courses previously. Students should have work in progress.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Tutor and group discussion of your written work or ideas for writing.
Presentations by tutor and class discussion on particular aspects of writing of interest to the group (see 2 above).
Suggestions for writing at home where appropriate.
Information on how to submit work for publication.

Most session will consist of a balance of teaching and students reading and discussiong their work. Each week two students will be scheduled to present the group for half an hour each. The rest of the session will consist of an open reading, for studenst to read and discuss shorter pieves of work, and teaching and discussion on a particlar topic.
The tutor will find out from each student what aspects of writing they are interested in, or what they are grappling with, and ensure that these topics are explored in discussion.
The tutor will generally give the first response to a piece of writing before opening up the discussion. If students do not want to read their work aloud other arrangements can be made for sharing their work. Confidentiality will be respected by the tutor and stndents and the feeback offered will be constructive.

The Tutor
Caroline Natzler's collection of autobiographically based short stories Water Wings was published by Onlywomen Press and her stories and poems have appeared in many anthologies and journals. A selection of her poetry Speaking the Wetlands was published by Pikestaff Press in 1998 and her full length collection of poems Design Fault was published by Flambard Press in 2001. Caroline has been running writing workshops for over 10 years, both in adult education institutions and on a freelance basis, and is a contributor to Treating Reality by Surprise: Writing for pleasure and publication, ed Susan Sellers (The Women`s Press).

City lit reserves the right to change course tutors or venues from those advertised in this outline. In line with our refund policy we are unable to grant a refund on the grounds of a change of tutor/venue.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You should bring paper and pens or pencils. You will need to make copies of work you bring to present to the class (Usually 5-8 copies depending on the number of students enrolled). These will be returned to you as soon as the class ends.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made. Feedback on your work is provided by the tutor and by fellow students within group discussion in the class.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; study support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 189 of the 09-10 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

The City Lit runs several advanced fiction writing courses/workshops.
Other options include informal writing groups; private writing and reading; publishing/performing work; other classes including Mas.

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30

Select another date / day / time

Dates	Day(s)	Time	Duration	Fees	Snr	Conc	Code	Availability
13/01/10 to 17/03/10	Wed	12:30 - 14:30	10 weeks	£97	£58	£28	HW021	Started	» Select
15/01/10 to 19/03/10	Fri	12:30 - 14:30	10 weeks	£97	£58	£28	HW037	Started	» Select
14/04/10 to 23/06/10	Wed	12:30 - 14:30	11 weeks	£106	£64	£31	HW051	Available	» Select
16/04/10 to 25/06/10	Fri	12:30 - 14:30	11 weeks	£106	£64	£31	HW038	Available	» Select
23/09/09 to 16/12/09	Wed	12:30 - 14:30	13 weeks	£116	£69	£33	HW050	Finished	» Select
25/09/09 to 11/12/09	Fri	12:30 - 14:30	12 weeks	£116	£69	£33	HW036	Finished	» Select

Contact us

Humanities

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30

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