UNLOCKING
CREATIVITY - ONLINE COURSE
Course
dates and earlybird specials
For
people unable to attend live classes, the Unlocking Creativity Course
can be done entirely online. The structure, content and course outcomes
over the 4 weeks are identical to the live class.
The
structure for the 4 weeks is as follows:
In
Week One you will do a series of exercises that will give
you tools and techniques to tap into the power of your imagination.
You will do writing exercises and post them on the internet and give
and receive feedback from your tutor and classmates.
In
Week Two you will learn how to create emotion in your writing,
using bricks of detail. Again you will do a series of exercises and
post them on the internet and give and receive feedback. This will
help you connect with your reader and bring your characters to life.
In
Week Three you will be introduced to the character journey,
how story structure works and you will start writing scenes. You
will also learn how to build images into your work, one of the fundamental
building blocks of fiction.
In
Week Four you will write a guided five scene short story.
By
this time you will have learnt how to connect with the characters you
are writing, make them come alive on the page and learnt to develop
your writing voice.
Most
people are amazed at how much their writing improves from the very
first session. They discover that their writing is far better than
they could have imagined and they have more to say than they ever thought
possible. As Albert Einstein said, "Imagination is more important
than knowledge."
Even
though the course is fiction-based and a lead-in to the Novel and
Script First Draft Course, it is a complete course in itself.
Many
people, after completing Unlocking Creativity, have gone on to have
their work published, both fiction and non fiction, including novels,
short stories, articles, short films, feature films and non-fiction
books. See alumni and testimonials.
The
tools and techniques you learn will dramatically improve your writing
and your relationship to the creative process. Whether it be ficition
writing, journalism, academia, film, television, advertising, the corporate
world or for your own pleasure.
HOW
THE ONLINE COURSE WORKS
One
day before class commencement, you will be sent a welcome email with
instructions as to how to get into the site and to access the course
materials and Writers' Board. These can be accessed 24/7. You then work
at your own pace throughout the week working directly from the site
or downloading the course materials.
Please
note: It is not a chat room where you have to be online at a certain
time.
Each
week, you access the course materials via the internet
and work through a series of steps, incorporating the information about
the art and craft of writing and the tools and techniques of the course.
You
then do specific daily exercises that are designed to put the tools and
techniques into practice and dramatically improve the quality of your
writing.
Once you've done the exercises you post them on your class Writers' Board
(a secure site) where you learn how to give and receive feedback.
You
will enjoy the fun of being instantly published and enjoy the support
and stimulation of being part of an online Writers' Community.
Your
online tutor (s) will give
feedback twice a week on one piece of work on each of those days.
The
feedback is a source of inspiration and a great way to develop your confidence
and writing ability. You can also read fellow participants' work, as well
as their feedback.
Learning
to give
feedback will improve your writing. The first step to becoming a better
writer is to become a better reader and understanding and appreciating
what works in other people's writing, will greatly improve your own work.
In
addition to feedback on the Writers' Board, you are also encouraged
to email your tutor at any time regarding any problems or questions
that may arise for you during the course.
TIME
REQUIRED FOR THE FOUR WEEK COURSE
The
time required for actual writing per day is 10 -15 minutes. It is
by doing a little every day and forming a writing habit that one becomes
a writer.
However,
the whole process from reading your lessons, writing your exercises,
typing them up and then posting them onto fhe Writers' Board and giving
feedback should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour a day, five times
a week.
Students
need to have access to a computer and to the internet. The course materials
are on the internet and can be only accessed by password. You will
not need any course materials sent to you.
As
we have stated, it is not a chat room set up where you have to be
online at a certain time. However, it is advisable to finish
Week 1 in Week 1 and Week 2 in Week 2 etc. and not fall behind too
far behind.
COURSE
OUTCOMES
During the course you will:
• Unlock
the power of your unconscious. Develop your creative potential and
build confidence in your writing ability.
• Find
your voice and learn the tools and techniques to create the stories
you want to write.
• Experience
the creative joy and fun of writing from your imagination. You'll
learn to get out of your own way and make the process of writing
fun and exciting. This is one of the keys to unlocking your creativity.
• Discover
what is stopping you from writing to your potential. Overcome writers'
block forever and learn to silence your inner critic. When you free
your imagination your writing has that quality that makes other people
want to read what you have written.
• Learn
how to create images that evoke emotion in your readers. Images are
one of the fundamental building blocks of fiction. Evoking emotions
in your readers is one of the key elements in creating powerfful
fiction.
• Develop
the ability to draw readers into your fictional world and keep them
there.
• Discover
the power of using significant detail, the lifeblood of good writing.
Learning to use detail effectively, will have an immediate, powerful
impact on your writing.
• Be
introduced to how story structure works. You will learn how story
structure exists to reveal character. They are two sides of the same
coin.
• In
the final week you will write a guided short story to demonstrate
the power of combining your imagination with classic story structure.
| "I
have just completed the most extraordinary course – Unlocking
Creativity ONLINE at The Writers' Studio. You know I’ve
wanted to be a writer for so many years and have been trying
for at least the last ten – well this course has finally
made me into one. I’ve never written or thought about
creativity so much before on any previous course, not even
at tertiary level: created so many characters, captured those
images in my mind, committed them to paper and seen them really
come to life for the first time.
The
course has challenged me many times on a number of levels:
over-coming self-doubt; confronting that fear of criticism
from myself and from others; forcing myself to write and be
disciplined about the process – that
is to write every day, no matter what your mood; and the struggle
(but great joy) to create and engage with characters and settings,
forming those bricks of detail, to show the emotion of a scene.
Unlocking
Creativity has taken me on a remarkable journey into a territory
that I didn’t know existed within me, and, more
amazingly, I have shared what has come out of that strange unknown
place with all the other writers on the course. The writers’ board,
where we post all our pieces, and read and comment on each other’s
work, has been a place of wonder, surprise and inspiration. Our
online tutor, Andrew, is incredible with his feedback – unfailingly
perceptive, generous and encouraging and as a result everyone has
experienced a great surge of confidence in themselves and their
writing – you can see everyone’s faith and belief in
themselves as writers grow with every piece of writing they post.
I
have learnt so much from having to give feedback on people’s
writing – that is hard work in itself, because it really
forces you to pay such close attention to those words you know
they care so much about. Each piece I read (and as you can imagine
I read nearly everything!) has opened up new and unexpected worlds
- fantastic images, sights, sounds, smells, tastes of other lives.
I was constantly amazed and always impressed by the writing on
the board. I hope this came through in my comments as I often felt
I wasn’t doing their words justice at all. The positive comments
on my work overwhelmed me at times and it helped so much, giving
me the courage to continue on this journey.
The
whole experience has left me exhilarated and optimistic, with
a feeling that I am finally on the way to fulfilling my dream.
I have discovered something wonderful – that I am
a writer, and I know now that it is something that I will not
be able to stop doing or being."
Morgan Stewart
"What
a liberating month I have just worked through! From day one
of this course I have just finished – the Unlocking
Creativity Writing Course – I have done just that!
I was a bit terrified at first but have been increasingly
encouraged and motivated until at last I now feel like I’m
getting back into the stride of writing. Although at times
the course has been extremely challenging, I’ve managed
to finally be conscious of not letting my inner critic rule
my creative being, to rediscover the importance of creating
imagery through my writing, of showing rather than telling
through ‘bricks’ of sensory detail and being aware
of the emotional impact a setting can have on the MC’s world.
I’ve found myself flourishing in the abandonment of just
writing, letting the words flow forth, often I have no idea where
I’m headed while I’m journeying but the destination
usually becomes clear and is often a surprise to me. When these
moments of truth happen, what a liberating feeling of freedom and
success!
The
way the course is structured both our tutor Andrew and my
fellow classmates give feedback on my work – positive and
extremely constructive with out a trace of judgmental nonsense.
It’s been so cathartic to be part of a creative environment
where you feel excited about posting your work, and each day I’ve
looked forward to reading the critiques, on both mine and others’ works.
I’ve also really enjoyed giving my feedback to my fellow
students on their work too. I’ve read some amazing pieces
of writing, which have stirred up all sorts of differing emotions
when read, and have been slightly awe-struck by the traces of genius
that have shone through in their various works. I have been lucky
enough to spend the past 4 weeks in a virtual world accompanied
by some extremely talented writers.
Throughout
the 4 weeks our tutor, Andrew, has boosted my confidence beyond
belief through his insightful feedback, and it’s him
I have to thank for rekindling my enthusiasm for writing, for making
it fun again and for encouraging me to explore and unleash my creative
spirit!
Whether
it’s to
dust off the cobwebs, or to commence a journey into unchartered
waters, I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to
reconnect with the spirit of writing and to learn a little bit
about themselves in the process."
Stacey
Mitchell, Kuwait
"This
has been such an exciting adventure, not only in inviting me to bring
out the best in my writing but also in bringing out the best in myself.
Turning up at the page is a bit like life. You turn up, you write
one sentence, and then another. In life you live a moment, another,
and then one more, as truthfully as you can, staying open to all it
brings you.."
Peter Taylor UK |
See
Unlocking Creativity Online
Testimonials
To see
a slideshow overview of the course click slideshow. You
can adjust to fit your screen and how you view it.
Click
here to Enrol
Please read Terms and Conditions carefully for refund and deferment policies.
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