Online Creative Writing- Writing Stories – Exercises and Tips

Date/Time
Date(s) - 20/04/2020 - 25/05/2020
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Join writer and publisher, Andrew McDonnell, for this 6 week creative writing course.

Each week we will look at examples from fiction that will then lead us to debate and tutor led exercises on themes such as setting, dialogue, character, plot, pace and more.

In each class, we will look at short texts and think about how different writers use language to achieve their particular effects. Learning to read as a writer is a key part of the journey.

The sessions will include a carefully curated series of tried and tested creative writing exercises, so you will leave each week with a new idea for a story, a character, a setting; a great opening sentence for a piece of prose.

We will undertake writing exercises which you will be encouraged to share.

What you will need:

Access to a device that allows audio

The app Zoom for classes

Pen and paper / second screen for typing

About the tutor

Andrew McDonnell is a published poet and writer of short fiction. He is the course leader for English Literature and English Literature with Creative Writing at University Centre Peterborough. His latest book, The Somnambulist Cookbook was published by Salt in June 2019. He co-runs Gatehouse Press and is the steering editor for the award winning Lighthouse Literary Journal.

Categories

Bookings

Bookings are closed for this event.

Week	Medium and subject	Materials included in fee (unless otherwise stated)
1 10/4	Pencil and Graphite More drawing – perspective and creating distance in our work – buildings and landscape – graphite	Assorted pencils (Use own A3 Pads)
2 17/4	Mixed media wk1 – landscape, watercolour, inks, pastel, and collage We will look at some new watercolour techniques before we explore the possibilities of using a variety of resources to create a painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
3 24/4	Mixed media wk2 – Continuing mixed media painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
4 1/5	Portraiture and figure drawing – with live model in costume – Charcoal/Pastel We will look at the rules of drawing people.	Charcoal Pastels Mixed papers Fixative
5 8/5	More Acrylics wk1 – botanical painting on a stretched canvas (NB either provide own, or small additional charge for canvas)	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
6 15/5	More Acrylics wk2 – Continuing acrylic painting.	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
	3-week gap 23rd & 30th May & 5th June
7 12/6	Miniature painting – acrylics landscape or botanical (Mini canvass and easel available at £1.00 per set)	Mini canvasses (extra fee) Acrylic paint Fine brushes
8 19/6	More printing – monoprint, ‘poor man’s lino cut’ and tetra pak We will explore some simple print techniques using basic materials	Polystyrene sheets Block print inks Tetra Paks Mixed papers
9 26/6	Abstract approaches wk1 – We will explore various methods of creating an abstract painting through process and decision making. mixed media.	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers
10 37	Abstract approaches wk2 – using materials and ideas from week one we create a finished piece using mixed media	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers

Week	Medium and subject	Materials included in fee (unless otherwise stated)
1 11/4	Pencil and Graphite More drawing – perspective and creating distance in our work – buildings and landscape – graphite	Assorted pencils (Use own A3 Pads)
2 18/4	Mixed media wk1 – landscape, watercolour, inks, pastel, and collage We will look at some new watercolour techniques before we explore the possibilities of using a variety of resources to create a painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
3 25/4	Mixed media wk2 – Continuing mixed media painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
4 2/5	Portraiture and figure drawing – with live model in costume – Charcoal/Pastel We will look at the rules of drawing people.	Charcoal Pastels Mixed papers Fixative
5 9/5	More Acrylics wk1 – botanical painting on a stretched canvas (NB either provide own, or small additional charge for canvas)	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
6 16/5	More Acrylics wk2 – Continuing acrylic painting.	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
	3-week gap 23rd & 30th May & 5th June
7 13/6	Miniature painting – acrylics landscape or botanical (Mini canvass and easel available at £1.00 per set)	Mini canvasses (extra fee) Acrylic paint Fine brushes
8 20/6	More printing – monoprint, ‘poor man’s lino cut’ and tetra pak We will explore some simple print techniques using basic materials	Polystyrene sheets Block print inks Tetra Paks Mixed papers
9 27/6	Abstract approaches wk1 – We will explore various methods of creating an abstract painting through process and decision making. mixed media.	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers
10 4/7	Abstract approaches wk2 – using materials and ideas from week one we create a finished piece using mixed media	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers