6 week creative writing course with authors Karen McLeod and Paul Burston, starting on Wednesday April 10 and ending on Wednesday May 15, presented as part of the Polari Prize National Showcase, supported by Arts Council England.
60 for the six week course.
Join published, prize-winning authors Paul Burston and Karen McLeod for a motivational series of workshops focussing on writing long and short form fiction which may or may not be inspired by true events.
In this course, they'll tackle such meaty subjects as -
Truth or fiction - how real people and true life events can inspire our
stories.
Character and plot - and how they shape each other.
Identifying the themes of your writing.
What to leave out and why?
What form should your writing take? From flash fiction to short story to
novel.
Problem solving.
How to set the right tone.
Publishing opportunities.
Authors of both memoir and fiction, wPaul and Karen will be on hand to answer questions, give advice and discuss any dilemmas which may arise. This course will take you through different elements of writing, using exercises for you to write in class, in order for you to develop your writing and understanding of what it is to write about a life.
Karen McLeod is a writer, performer, creative writing tutor and
writer-in-residence at Bookseller Crow. Her debut novel, In Search of the
Missing Eyelash, was published by Jonathan Cape. It won the Betty Trask Award
and was translated widely.
She wrote 'The Eyelash' in hotel rooms across the globe while working as
cabin crew. Coming full circle, her soon to be published memoir, Lifting Off
(Muswell Press, June 2024) is about the years she worked as cabin crew. When
she's not writing, or talking about writing, or thinking about writing, she
can be found treading the creaky boards at theatres, cabaret clubs and pubs
as the self-appointed Poet Laureate of Penge, Barbara Brownskirt.
Paul Burston is the author of six novels and five non-fiction books and the editor of two short story collections. He is the founder of Polari literary salon and the Polari Prize for LGBTQ+ writing. His latest book is the memoir We Can Be Heroes (Little A, 2023), described by ES Magazine as probably the gay book of the year and by Bernardine Evaristo as "a compelling and hugely enjoyable memoir about a fearless life lived to the full.
He is the founder and host of Polari literary salon and creator of the Polari Book Prizes for LGBTQ+ writing.
The cost for the full 6 week course is 60 + booking fee.
Tickets can also be purchased and gifted to writers on lower incomes. Please notify us if you wish to gift a course.
The workshops will be hosted on Zoom. A link will be sent to you before each session.
