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. 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 will include in-class writing, exploration of extracts from published stories and novels, and optional sharing of your own work. This is a great way to muster your creative potential, heighten your appreciation of everyday life, and gain new perspective on reading and literature. You will come away with a collection of habits, hints and hacks, and exercises that you can use far beyond the eight-week class.
Previous students have gone on to have stories accepted for publication, create a writing critique group, publish their own anthology, and embark on creative writing degrees.
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 received an MA with distinction in Creative Writing For Young People. Her first children’s book, Granny Magic, was published by Chicken House in 2019.