| |
This Month
Delving into your creative potential
Success Stories
Course Feedback
Delving into your creative potential
Even
the best writers doubt their ability and their stories. But experience
has taught them to move forward and dig deeper despite their
misgivings.
The writer and creator of the much acclaimed television series Deadwood, David Milch, is always pushing his fellow writers, producers, directors and actors to trust the process.
In a documentary about the making of the show, the caste and creative team all said David Milch would say just try somethingm trust the process and see what happened. Practically every time, they'd be amazed at what came out.
For those just starting out, writing your story is very much an act of faith. The path is never perfectly mapped out, and for many reasons this is a good thing.
Often in a group, people can see the potential of other people's stories before they can see it in their own.
The process of writing your story is an adventure. It is only by doing the work and taking risks that you realise the potential of yourself as a writer and the story you are writing.
The art is very much in the doing and like David Milch you have to learn to trust the process.
As you move through the process you begin to understand that your story will just keep getting better, provided you have faith and do the work. This takes practice.
Carolyn Myss writes in her book Sacred Contracts, “You are not born knowing how great an artist you could be in this lifetime.
“In order to discover your potential you have to learn to act with courage, self confidence and faith.
“These are potentials you need to discover within yourself. These are spiritual qualities that must be earned.”
“Like heroes in mythic stories we are meant to struggle to make the right choices.
“Our creative potential calls us to rise above the self's basic need for survival in the physical world. We're called to grow beyond our self.”
Developing a writing habit and pushing your creative boundaries, means you have to develop courage and faith. You must learn to push ahead when you don't know the way forward.
This not knowing is part and parcel of the creative process. You need to learn to embrace it, because it is out of that space that inspiration comes.
Julia Cameron, who wrote The Artist's Way, says faith is an essential ingredient in the creative process.
She says, “Take a small step in the direction of a dream and see and watch the synchronous doors fly open. Seeing, after all, is believing. Leap and the net will appear."
Success Stories
1) FIRST NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED
One of our past writers, Rhonda Godfrey Gibson, who did a course with Roland about ten years ago, contacted us to let us know that:
“Patience is a virtue; for on November 17th I am to have the book launch of my first novel, by publisher Zeus, here in Queensland. ALF MARTIN Godfrey is my Grandfathers story - an Outback Australian Story set during the violent attempt to suppress the rising union movements in the 1890's. It is a paperback and has a RRP of $24.95
It will be available through Dymocks and Angus & Robertson
and online direct from Zeus- publications.com
Thank you Roland for your informative direction.”
2) INTERNATIONAL OPEN POETRY CONTEST
One of our just starting out First Draft Writers, Ghania Hleis, recently entered the International Open Poetry Contest and has been short listed as a semi-finalist. Her poem will also be published in a poetry publication called "Immortal verses".
“The poem I submitted (titled "Mother") was actually inspired by one of the very early pieces I wrote in the Unlocking Creativity Course.”
Course Feedback
FEEDBACK FROM THE SIX WEEK CHARACTER AND CRITIQUE SHORT STORY COURSE
Dear Roland and Kathleen
I have just finished this online course and I couldn't wait to write to you both to tell you what an inspiring, fun and supportive experience it has been. The structure of the course and the whole set up with reading other people's work, commenting on it and providing and receiving feedback works like a charm.
But the absolute best thing about the course was Andrew (online tutor). I have never come across a talent such as his. His ability to delve into each text, really understand it - it's strengths and weaknesses as well as his ability to get close to each writer and understand exactly where they were coming from was extremely impressive.
The first story that I gingerly posted - he immediately picked out its strengths but also he picked up that I never made cuts, I was too scared to make cuts and he encouraged me to experiment with them - which freed up my writing immensely. I think my last story was more competent, engaging and confident than my first and I really can't think of a better investment.
Also I noticed that because Andrew supported everyone so wholeheartedly and equitably, this course didn't develop that competitive dynamic between participants that sometimes these courses do. Please feel free to use these comments in any promotional material.
THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY/PENGUIN BOOKS SHORT STORY CONTEST 2007
It is on again. The chance to win $10, 000 and be published in The Australian Women's Weekly. And second and third place each win $5000.
We know many of you entered last year and we are challenging you all to enter again. Remember, a professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.
In order to enter your story into this contest you need an original entry form.
Your story can be any genre you choose. The only requirements are that the central character must be a woman and the story length is between 3000 and 5000 words.
XMAS READING NIGHT
Yes, it is on again. Please book in Monday December 4, Robin Hood Hotel, 7pm-10pm. More details later.
BERKELOUW BOOKS: STORES IN PADDINGTON, LEICHHARDT & ROSE BAY
If you print this email off and take it to a Berkelouw Bookstore, you will receive a saving of 10 per cent on their new books, stationary and at their café. (excludes secondhand, rare books and other discounts.)
Berkelouw Books
 >
|
|
Your success stories
Please let us know of any successes you have so we can use them to inspire others.
Contact Us |
COURSE
DATES AND EARLY BIRD SPECIALS
Unlocking Creativity
This is our introductory course. You will learn tools and techniques to dramatically improve your writing and gain an introduction to story structure. About Live
About Online
Testimonials |
10 Month Novel and Script First Draft Course
Find the story you want to write and complete your first draft in ten months.
Prerequisite: Unlocking Creativity About Live
About Online
Testimonials |
6 Week Character & Critique Short Story Course
Develop and explore the characters you want to write about within the framework of four key genres: love, comedy, thriller and fantasy. You will write a 1200-1300 word story every ten days in each genre and your online tutor will critique every story you post.
Prerequisite: Unlocking Creativity More...
Testimonials |
Advanced Courses Second Draft Third Draft |
|
