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THE QUESTION OF WHO IS TALENTED CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Sam de Brito for getting a two book deal with Penquin. His first book, No Tattoos Before You're Thirty … What I'll Tell My Children, is in the bookshops now. He says, “It's the perfect gift for any younger couple expecting kids and will give you a laugh.” _________________________________ THE QUESTION OF WHO IS TALENTED We often say that everyone who wants to write has the talent and our Unlocking Creativity classes prove it. But still, this question of ‘do I have the talent?’ plagues most writers when they start out, and, when they write something good, they don’t really believe the feedback they receive. Writing is a process and the only failure, if you want to write, is quitting. Here’s what best-selling Australian fantasy author, Sara Douglass has to say on the subject of talent. (Thanks to one of our very talented writers, Nicholle from Perth, for passing this on.) “One of the major misconceptions about writing is that writing is a 'talent'. I don't know how many times I've had someone say to me, "Oh, I've always wanted to write, but I don't have THE TALENT. Not like you." This kind of comment always makes me irate, firstly because in one fell swoop ("You find it easy to write, because you have THE TALENT") all the years of labour and work and sweat I've put into developing the skill of writing have been brushed aside, and secondly because that kind of remark is such a cop out ... the person twittering on and on about how they've always wanted to write but they don't have THE TALENT is merely announcing to the world that they don't have the energy and the courage to actually do so. Writing is not a talent; no-one is born with WRITER stamped across their forehead. Individuals who write successfully have managed the feat because they have spent years developing the skill associated with the craft of writing.” So if you want to write, it comes down to learning the craft, developing a writing habit and putting in the work even when you don’t feel like it or your confidence in your ability is at an all time low. Here’s what, Nina, one of our writers in a recent short story course said, “At the times when I was feeling down on my writing, I just remembered that if I could just post something on the site, anything, I would be connected to a world of writers who are going through much the same thing. The feedback was always positive, encouraging and constructive, from all the students and Alex from the Writers' Studio. Actually Alex was awesome - even though he was feeding back to everyone on the course, his comments were always sensitive, thoughtful and positive. His advice was always helpful, caring and neutral. Good dude. Anyway, I think the most exciting thing about the course for me was that I feel like I'm starting to think a bit like a writer. Like a writer of stories. The other day I caught myself telling a friend about a character I was writing about, and telling them what she was like and where she was from, like she was a real person. Cos for me she kinda was. It was the first time that had ever happened. Very exciting stuff :)" Writing is a confidence game. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are probably right. _________________________________ COURSE FEEDBACK ILLUSTRATES THIS POINT The quality of the stories from the recent GENRE CHARACTER SHORT STORY AND CRITIQUE COURSE prove the point that writing is not just a question of talent. "Dear Writer’s Studio. Thanks so much for yet another wonderful and very enlightening course. I have to admit I wasn’t all that interested in the genre topics when I first read them, but after digging deep and doing all the easy-to-follow steps I really surprised myself. Once again, you have proved that ‘you can always do the thing you think you can’t do’, if that makes sense. I always thought ‘I can’t do fiction, I can’t write comedy’, and how wrong I was." Nicola. Like we said, writing is a confidence game. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are probably right. To read more feedback from the course. _______________________ THE WRITERS’ STUDIO GET TOGETHER & READING NIGHT: When: Thursday JULY 27, 2006 from 7.00pm – 10.00pm Where: THE ROBIN HOOD HOTEL UPSTAIRS, FUNTION ROOM, corner of Carrington Road and Bronte Road, Charing Cross. We’d love for you to join us at our next get together and reading night. The get together and reading we had there last year at Xmas was great fun and people have been constantly asking when we’ll be holding another. The time has come. We’ll be providing some food, drinks and inspiring readings from some of the classes. So please come along for a bit of fun and inspiration. _____________________________ UP
COMING COURSES 2) SIX
WEEK CHARACTER & CRITIQUE SHORT STORY COURSE 1. FROM THURSDAY
AUGUST 17 Thursday AUGUST 17, 2006 is an OPTIONAL live class with Roland Fishman from 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm. We run only a couple of these a year. Pre-requisite: Unlocking Creativity. For
more information see ONLINE.
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