Creative Writing: Written in the Style of...More Iconic writers

This course will make use of a mix of informal feedback, lecture using PowerPoint slides, some focused group discussion/creative tasks in breakout rooms and feedback. Each session with examine the reoccurring approaches, style and traits of a different author be this plot, theme, approach to characters and cast design or anything else. We have fun and develop our creativity as we put the focus on tapping into the styles, structures and themes of a selection of iconic writers - what can we learn, what fresh inspiration and techniques can be gained for ourselves? With something or someone to hopefully suit most tastes: Val McDermid and her approach to Crime Writing, Roald Dhal and what he can teach us about the unexpected twist in a tale, classic writers such as Charles Dickens and Emily Bronte and the fantasy world of Terry Pratchett – how much to take the reader into another world but not quite leave too much reality behind. Suitable for beginners and seasoned scribblers! We examine story, structure, characters and genre conventions we should adhere to or disregard. Also considering our potential readership – could we really do a hard hitting crime novel suitable for young teens? And what if we were to update Dickens and/or Bronte – would/should our approach change?