WHAT WRITERS HAVE SAID ABOUT UNLOCKING CREATIVITY
People with all levels of experience, from those just starting out to seasoned professionals, have loved the Unlocking Creativity process and found the dynamic creative experience invaluable.
"I had already completed my first book and was struggling to keep writing. I used to sit at my PC for hours on end staring at the blank screen waiting to be granted the inspiration to write – as if inspiration came from some mystical source outside of myself. What a load of bollocks that turned out to be.
Unlocking Creativity at The Writers' Studio taught me that the inspiration to write comes from the process of writing itself, not from thinking about writing and that all I had to do was silence my inner critic (which is normally very loud and swears a lot), keep my pen moving and allow myself to write junk. Now as I sit down to write, so long as I have these three basic ‘rules’ going on in my head, I can write and am constantly amazed at what appears on the page.
Writing like this is coming from a different place, that secret place inside us where the magic lives. It all sounds so terribly simple – and strangely enough, it is. Turns out writing doesn’t have to be that torturous hair-pulling affair after all.
I loved Unlocking Creativity so much, I returned and did it a second time and will definitely do it again (and again). The support and encouragement from Roland, Kathleen and your fellow writers is inspirational and hugely motivational.
No matter how experienced or inexperienced a writer you are, UC will blow you away with its simplicity and its power. It’s the best thing I did for my writing and the best thing I did for myself."
Ali Whitelock, author of "Poking Seaweed with a Stick and Running Away From The Smell."
"I’ve found the experience of doing the course completely revolutionary. It has transformed my life. I learnt a great deal about structure and detail that I think I knew from my reading, but having it articulated and taught to me, made all the difference.I found that the exercises, direction and structure freed me and let my imagination out. I am now addicted to positive feedback and I am amazed at how confident I feel sharing my writing with other people. The fact that everyone else was going through it helped enormously."
Stella Collier, Administrator, the Sydney Writers' Festival
"I can’t believe how much I’ve loved this course. How much I’ve looked forward to coming every week, despite some initial anxiety that I’d be a complete failure. It’s made me feel quietly proud that I’ve actually made this commitment to start writing. The doing of it is so wonderfully fulfilling. The positive feedback is brilliant because you don’t realise until you start writing how incredibly vulnerable you are when you lay it on the line. A really empowering experience. Brilliant."
Caroline Roessler, Editor, Notebook magazine
"You've said you've never heard me talk so passionately about my writing as I have after every Wednesday night. At last! The reason is for the first time I'm empowered to get writing. The story I want to tell is inside me and the Unlocking Creativity course has given me the tools to extract it."
Karina Newport
"Have just finished a great creative writing course. It was a lot of fun - more fun than I would have thought but the great thing it taught me is that writing/creativity is within all of us. The process of creation is not forcing or learning, but a process of discovery. I've found that with the right help and advice I can write things even I like. But the ultimate gift is knowing that the daily act of writing will unlock a pathway to my soul."
Laura Watson
"You were right. The course is fantastic. I didn't really know what to expect. But I trusted and went along for the ride and really feel as though I've gained a great deal more confidence than I had before. And this is probably the most profound thing really. Oh and another profound thing I also discovered just how much of a perfectionist I am. I expect myself to be perfect when it's not possible and how much this has stopped me from doing anything in the past like this. I've figured out that I am creative and expressive and I surprise myself with the flight of fancy that my imagination takes me on. What a journey!!"
Karena Slaninka
"I'm a bit of a cynic at the best of times I guess. It's hard not to be when I feel I must be critically alert at work. However, I've really enjoyed this course. It's given me a chance to break out of my mindset. I still have a lot to learn but I've enjoyed the experience so far."
Alison Lennon
"I've just finished that writing course I've been doing and I'm going to miss it so much - the communal creativity and humming of like minded writers on a mission. I nearly missed the last class, but went at the last minute and I'm so glad I did. Because I heard some great stories, and I wrote some more about Del which was nice, since the last time I wrote about him I killed him off! But he lives on. In fact he's driving me mad, telling me his story morning noon and night. But I can't complain. Not really. most importantly I'm writing every day, getting into a routine which I've avoided up until now. So watch out Del - here I come."
Philippa Wherrett
"This has been one of the more worthwhile things I have spent my money on. Truly an inspirational journey of writing and for all walks and levels of life - I'd like to see you do it too. I'd like to see my mother take part in it, I'd like to see it be part of the syllabuses for high school. Yet I wonder if it would lose it's appeal if you weren't actually paying for it. Hmmm... still even just as a creative outlet.... a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday evening it would be a bonus. For those people that truely have intentions of becoming a writer... it was the best recommendation that Rachel Oakes-Ash could have given me. She was spot on! Hit the nail right on the head!"
Be Yeo
"I've just completed the Unlocking Creativity Course at The Writers' Studio. It was a revelation for me. I've been struggling with my writing for years, picking it up, putting it down, writing a couple of paragraphs and forgetting it for months. I did that for various reasons - laziness and not meeting my own standards being the main ones. I've learnt here that it is important just to write. Write anywhere at any time, but whatever you do, write. And don't judge your writing. Tell the inner critic to shut up and leave you alone for awhile!"
Stuart Kay
To read letters written to a friend at the end of a recent Unlocking Creativity Online Course, click here.
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