Writing Class Winding Down
One more week of the creative writing course to go. It has been really enjoyable and a few of us are thinking of doing the follow-on course next term.
I have written a few pieces over the last 7 weeks and I will post some of them here asap. Apart from motivating me to write, it has given me more understanding of the process of building up a style and voice through practice and experimentation and the unlimited range of subject matter from the smallest incident to universal truths.
It has also been a great way to find out about some excellent authors and publications I hadn’t read before.
You’ll be sorry to finish your course, Ruth. I hope you can continue with writing in future courses. I have met a fellow here who is writing a book and a film. He is new to BB and mowing lawns to get some money that is how I came to meet him as he mowns my lawns.
Have you ever read anything by Robert McKee? He lectures in screen writing in America, although I believe he was here recently also. He talks about how to structure your writing, how to introduce the protaganist and how to find your character’s ‘voices’, etc. He featured briefly (as himself) in that movie Adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Nic Cage. If you are interested in examining the writing process, his books are very helpful. Sean has one called Story.
Thanks - that’s fantastic. I’ll take note and look out for his work. I find it difficult to separate myself from the character’s voice sometimes and also to magine what it is like being them. Sometimes it can feel cliched writing from a character’s point of view. Other people in the writing class recommended Kate Grenville’s book about writing - apparently it has some useful exercises.