Getting it Down & Mining for What Matters: Creative Writing Essentials
Course Overview
"But at a certain point in the process of writing, you have to think. You have to do the sort of thinking that hurts...You learn to listen to your intuitions, but then you have to learn to build on them. To use your intelligence, consciously, as well." Helen Garner
Whether writing to publish, or for family and friends, or to please yourself; writing for the stage, the page, big screen or phone screen... this full-day workshop will take you to the heart of all you need to know to have a great Writing Year.
There are no strict rules for creative work, but there are many established wisdoms and tricks-of-the-trade that can help you to establish a regular, effective, and productive writing routine. Learn some key principles and competencies, and put into practice important good habits, while experimenting with in-class exercises designed to enhance your creative capacity, boost confidence, and carry you forwards with renewed enthusiasm and knowhow from 'first impulse' to 'finished work'. Discuss where ideas come from, how best to get your writing to grow, what makes great prose... and have your questions answered around literary talent vs story talent; art vs craft; content and form; narrative structure and shaping an ending.
Meeting a group of fellow writers is friendly and fun! Be guided on how best to critically read your own work, and usefully listen to and give feedback to others.
Beginner or seasoned scribbler? Fiction or creative non-fiction: memoir, personal essay, social media, nature- or travel-writing... ? Whatever your writing ambition and state-of-play with your project, this workshop should reveal the task ahead and get you started.
Please bring writing materials with you and something to eat and drink. A variety of hand-outs and further assignments, along with opportunities for in-class readings and feedback are included.
"All elements of good writing depend on the writer's skill in choosing one word instead of another. And what grabs and keeps our interest has everything to do with those choices." Francine Prose
Testimonials
“ I hung on every word Janet said, she got me writing for starters and she's given us the tools to keep going. She has a penetrating intellect and a generous nature. The wealth of information she provided was like getting a mini master’s degree on the subject.”
"The tutor was very energetic, happy, funny, easy to listen to, helpful and covered EVERYTHING."
“ I found the course very informative and worthwhile. The tutor was well read, very well prepared, shared a lot of knowledge, insights, gave confidence and enthusiasm. Very helpful. “
"I'm very eager to learn more - your first course literally transformed my life!"
“ Excellent, clear, sticks to the point. Doesn’t get into back-slapping, doesn’t let people waffle. Very structured and detailed.“
“ A lot of material covered - loved her energy and perspective.”
“ Lots of information, lots of suggested exercises, lots of prepared sheets - very good for revision. The tutor was very committed and enthusiastic and encouraged me to get writing.”
“ Janet is a ‘live wire’ and kept everyone interested all the time.”
The subsidised cost of this workshop for participants is made possible thanks to support from the North Sydney Council Small Grants Program.
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Janet Fennell
Janet is published as a short-story writer (general fiction, SF&F, 'romance'), novelist, reviewer, essayist and poet and ran her first creative writing course for the NSCC in 1998. After the sudden and early death of her husband, the eerily prescient nature of her first novel Only Myself (about a young widow) caused her to destroy work and she stepped away from all creative writing for some 15 years. But she continued to coach others to words and, eventually, her teaching persuaded her back to the page so that now she feels more dedicated than ever to the regenerative power of creative endeavour, and to completing her writing projects, and to helping others find their voice and reach their writing goals. She is currently at work on a novel and a 'memoir-meditation-manual' on writing and life.
Janet studied English (BA), Librarianship (DipLib) and Writing (MA) at university, as well as performance writing at AFTRS & NIDA, and spent many years working in librarianship and corporate communications prior to and alongside her creative work. In 2023 she spent six weeks as Writer-in-Residence as St Mark's College in Adelaide (a residential university college) and most recently (Mar-May '24) she undertook residencies in Italy and France and was a participant at the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano.
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