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"This is without a doubt the best writing course in Sydney. I strongly recommend it to anyone with a story to tell and more to the point - to people unsure of what the story they want to write is." Sam de Brito - Journalist and Columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, Script Editor - White Collar Blue, Water Rats. "I
have good news...I have two books being published this year. Since I did
my first Writer's Studio course in 1998, I've had over 100 articles published,
now three books, had three short film scripts made, and published poetry
and short stories in small press magazines. I owe so much of that to what
I have learnt from you over the years. So a big Thank You!" "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." "Wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed the Unlocking Creativity course that I have completed over the past four weeks. First and foremost, it achieved its aim of unlocking my creativity. In the first two weeks I struggled against my inner perfectionist demons and it was hard work to complete the pieces. Midway through the course I found writing literally pouring out of me and I struggled with my impatience with the 3 step process of writing by hand first, transcribing and editing in Word and then finally posting to the Writers Board. I wanted to skip at least one of the steps, such was my urge to get my stories out. That said, I found the discipline and structure of the proscribed process itself very useful in the act of unlocking. This sounds contradictory but when I compare it to other artistic processes with which I have some familiarity, such as fashion design, it has a lot of similarities. One starts with a sketch, the sketch is then developed in more detail with fabric swatches and the like, then a pattern is drafted and finally the end product is completed. The practise of giving feedback was also highly instructive although it seemed a chore in the beginning. Not only did you get to see the work of others develop and dramatically improve, by giving advice you tended to learn about what you could improve on in your own work. It was also very interesting to see the unique writing personality of each of the participants start to emerge. They were all quite different. I am now buoyed up with enthusiasm to take the next step which is the 10 month First Draft of a Novel program. Where in the past I have always wanted to write but felt I had nothing to write about I now find myself with 3 or more ideas for a novel which in itself is very exciting and energising. All
in all, it has been an excellent investment of my time and effort." "It
was fantastic - the best course I've ever done. I now look at the world
differently. I've learnt to trust myself - however wacky - keep writing
- so many things - too numerous to mention! I'm sure my writing has improved
- the way I understand and write and feel about the world surely has.
It was brilliantly organised, seamless, lovely leaders - hard to believe
that so many great writers and lovely people could be in the room at the
same time." "Roland
Fishman is a journalist-turned-author who also happens to have a Midas
touch with teaching people how to get in touch with their imaginations.
Unlike many who think there's magic or romance in writing and that it's
a gift bestowed by the gods on a special few, Fishman adheres to a far
more pragmatic approach. He believes writing is a craft that can be learned,
with techniques and tools that can be applied, like chisels, to characters
and scenes. He's convinced that all of us can write a novel or short story
that people want to read. The biggest barrier is learning how to silence
our inner critic that tells us we have nothing original to say, and trusting
the creativity of our unconscious minds instead." "A
truly practical approach to the secrets of good story telling." "Well!
I feel like I've learnt more in this course that I did in my whole MA
in writing at Sydney Uni. Fabulous. Finally someone who really does have
the key to practical help for writers. I really really loved finally feeling
like things were coming out of me, when for so long I've felt like a big
dried up prune! Congratulations Writers' Studio and Roland, great course." "I
have just completed a wonderful course that really does deliver what it's
title promotes. Inside all of us - I know that now, all of us - is a creative
force that can be harnessed. At times over the the past weeks I have felt
like it' been hard work, I've felt under pressure, I've felt confronted
and lain bare. But then, so has everyone else. I now have an inkling of
what I might be capable of, and must resolve to never forget that. Most
of all, it really has been more a fun experience than just a "learning"
one." "I
have discovered that writing isn't all about this fantastic creative talent
hidden or otherwise. There is a process to it and I like the fact that
there is actually a simple step-by-step guide and procedure to it. Of
course there are days when I just don't think I have enough discipline
but when I do, it is pure pleasure." Fiona Seres, studied scriptwriting at The Australian Film and Television School and at New York University. She worked on a treatment in the Novel and Script Course at the Writers' Studio and on the strength of that treatment, had her next script optioned by Working Title film who made Notting Hill and Billy Elliot, which she was working on in class with us. She is also working on a project with Columbia Tristar. |
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