We have 2 creative writing courses for our autumn term. Please see the information below to help you decide which one is for you.
Valija’s Class
This course is for anyone who would like to try creative writing; anyone who has tried it before but needs some inspiration or structure; and anyone who already writes but would like to improve their skills. It aims to dispel the mystique that surrounds writing, using a practical approach. We will explore memory, setting and the use of the senses; character and voice; ways to win and sustain your reader’s interest; and how to mobilise and enrich your writing practice. Class meetings last two hours and will include analysis of published extracts, in-class writing, and optional sharing of your own work. You will come away with a collection of habits, hints and hacks, and exercises that you can use far beyond the eight-week class.
Valija Evalds has a PhD in art history from Yale University. She’s lectured in architectural history, the history of dress, medieval art, and the history of illustrated books for children. In 2016 she completed an MA in creative writing for children at Bath Spa University. Her first children’s book, Granny Magic, was published by Chicken House in 2019.
Robins Class
An open invitation to any, and all, eager writers – whether you are currently developing a writing project or enthusiastic to start a short story. I am offering my own personal experiences of writing short stories and supporting other fledgling authors, to assist any keen writer that feels they have a story to tell.
Although there will be equal opportunity to cover areas of writing to support individual writers needs, as a collective we shall cover: creating and developing characters, ‘setting the scene’, the importance of story perspective, and sharpening grammar and punctuation to make the most out of our word count.
Learning will take place in an open forum environment – encouraging each author to voice their ideas in a place of mutual respect and common goals. Each season will consist of: A tutor concept input (challenging how we perceive writing), studying examples of established author’s techniques, peer sharing, and tutor feedback/response to a writer willing to share their work.
Robin has been running Creative Writing courses for more than six years – ages ranging from 7 to 70. He is proud to have supported individuals to create pieces of work which have included: Non-fiction historical, Flash-Fiction, short stories, creative writing for blogs/social media and fictional stories of many genres. He is a passionate believer in writing’s ability to boost well-being and challenge individuals to push their academic capabilities beyond expectation.
