Exploring creativity: from words to stories

Through creative games with writing and imagination, escape the constraints of the logical mind. Give yourself permission to play and generate raw material for your art.

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Key course information

Date
17/06/12

Day(s)
Sun

Duration
1 week

Time
10:30 - 16:30

Fees
Full fee: £47^NC

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HW209

Availability
Available
(status updated every 15 mins)

^NC: No concessionary fees available as there is no government funding for this course.

Enrol now

Call enrolments: 020 7831 7831

Still got questions?

humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

A day of discovering ways to start (or restart) creative writing. There will be exercises, games and brainstorming sessions in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. It will be stimulating, challenging and fun. The aim? To energise your writing.

What topics will we cover?

Starting stories
Conquering the blank page
Creating characters from scratch
Developing existing characters
Describing people and things
Different ways to tell a story
Transforming the raw materials of narrative into enthralling drama.

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

Feel more confident about starting writing

Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity

Have at your fingertips a variety of ways by which you can generate stories

Understand strategies for combating writers block

Cultivate good writing habits.

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

The course is for beginners and more experienced writers who may feel blocked or frustrated with their writing.
The ability to speak and write fluently in English would be useful.

The Tutor
Jonathan Barnes is the author of two novels, The Somnambulist and The Domino Men, published in the UK by Gollancz and in the USA by HarperCollins. They have been translated into eight languages. He writes regularly for the Times Literary Supplement and the Literary Review and is currently writer-in-residence at Kingston University, where he has taught on the MA and MFA courses for the last four years. His latest project, a drama about Sherlock Holmes and the sinking of the Titanic, The Adventure of the Perfidious Mariner, will be released later this year.

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.

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

There will be exercises and games, organised by the tutor. Work will be read aloud to the group, shared and discussed in a friendly, nurturing manner. There will be no work outside the class, though you should leave eager to get started on your own project!

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

Please bring a couple of pens and a notebook with plenty of blank pages.

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.

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; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

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

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.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.