It’s interesting isn’t it, how we build our resistance, how we become more versatile? I find it is the same with the writing itself. The more you do, the more relaxed you become, it becomes your practice. I started new writing over the holidays, which came out of a need to process thoughts & feelings in the best way I know – I free flowed! When the workshops began, I found myself applying the structure of the exercises I was working on with the groups to my own writing. For example, at our Kingston Carers Group we were looking at literary lyrics – in particular lyrics which juxtaposed unlikely images. New material was generated by writing different lists such as objects, professions, lines of dialogue and abstract emotions/concepts. We then picked a random combination of words & used them as a trigger for poetry and lyrics. It was liberating and exciting to discover a new form for my existing ideas. I realised that I felt very comfortable with leaving my writing for a while and then returning to it, it was there waiting for me and easier than it used to be to continue. I have learnt to trust the process. The same will happen with your writing, keep going. Try this: As above, write lists – at least ten items for each of the categories and then work with different combinations, creating your own poetry and/or lyrics. If you are already writing something, challenge yourself to apply this new structure to your existing work.
If you are a carer and would like to join our New Malden creative writing group on Tuesday afternoons, please contact me. The group is free to attend.
On Tuesday evening, I started to teach a new Writers’ Workshop at a college in Kingston. I am not used to working in colleges and felt a little hesitant. The first thing I did was move the furniture in the classroom, to give it a cosier feel! Once the group arrived, I was totally at ease and we had good fun with a range of exercises around objects. The college would like to recruit some more members for this course, please contact me if you are interested. The course runs on Tuesday evenings until Easter.
We have some new members at our Kew creative writing groups, which is great. Before the holidays we were working on setting and as some of the group had expressed an interest in travel writing – I thought that this would be a natural extension to the work on setting. So in the first week back, we were writing postcards to each other from places we had visited and places we hadn’t visited! We also took inspiration from contrasting examples of published travel literature and experimented with writing in the different styles.
Try this: 1) Research travel literature that inspires you. Try writing in the different styles – you could continue on from their opening paragraphs. 2) Write postcards from places you have and haven’t visited, great for descriptive language and pushing your imagination.
If you would like to join us in Kew, please email me. We have two creative writing groups – Monday mornings & afternoons and also a monthly book club.
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| North Bank house & gardens, Muswell Hill |
Last night, I was delighted to be back at North Bank in Muswell Hill for the first of a new block of Wednesday Writes. There was a wonderful writing energy and the two hours flew by. We warmed up with some ten minute basic free flows, including topics taken from quotes about the writing process from well known authors. I sent the group away with lots of homework options and I am looking forward to next week.
Looking ahead, I will be partnering up again with Rochelle Scholar from Mendham Writers to deliver a reminiscence and creative writing workshop at the All you Read is Love pop up shop in Walthamstow on 2nd February. To reserve your free place, please email me.
I am also taking bookings for the monthly Creative Writes Themed Workshops. The Creating Character Workshop on 26 February is booking fast.
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| Sutton House, National Trust |
I return to my beloved Sutton House in Hackney for Saturdays in March...We will explore this wonderful historic house, hear about its stories and respond with our own words.
For further information and booking for all workshops, please see our bookings page: https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings-workshop-info-how-to-book.html or email me: info@creativewrites.co.uk
Bye for now!
Nichola