'Structure & Plotting' Creative Writing Workshop - South Bank, London SE1

Venue: Southbank, London SE1

Address: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1

Price: £47

Duration: 7 hours, including lunch/coffee breaks

Class Size: Maximum 10 students (6 required for workshop to proceed)*

(*Once enrolled, should the course not go ahead and there’s no alternative you’d like to transfer to, you will receive an immediate refund. Please note: refunds via Eventbrite can take 3-5 working days.)

Format: in-group discussion & writing exercises via comprehensive worksheets.

Age: all ages, though 16s and under to be accompanied by an adult.

(I am DBS checked)

Workshop description: fiction writing is one of the pure joys in life, yet after twenty-years of writing and ten years of teaching, I know all too well how vital it is to underpin the joyous, descriptive, compelling scenes/chapters we write with a solid foundation; a foundation that allows the story to reach its glistening potential and our reader to enjoy the very best literary experience possible.

Held in the iconic and wonderfully-inspirational setting of London’s Southbank, this workshop is ideal for writers wishing to sharpen their story structure and plotting skills. These two aspects of story writing dovetail perfectly, learnings from each complementing the other, thus being taught together. This is a tried and tested and highly-popular workshop perfect for all genres, and for those writing either novels or short stories.

Via comprehensive worksheets, the day is divided as follows:

Morning 10am - welcome, intros and general discussion about your specific goals for the day

10.30 - 1.30pm: structure - via writing exercises, group discussion and priceless brainstorming, we look at the story arc for your novel/short story, exploring the purpose of each key stage (the start, middle and end) and the vital role each plays in delivering the evry best reader experience possible.

We also look at the incremental layers needed to keep our reader hooked, immersed, and to keep those pages turning. As with all creative writing projects, looking at the content/story we have so far from a different angle/perspective can so often unlock golden nuggets of content, plus also breakthrough any plot jams or brickwalls you may be facing. And as I always say - there’s nothing like being in the company of fellow-creatives to really get inspired.

1-1.30pm - a well-earned break for lunch, to refresh for the afternoon session.

1.30-4.30pm: plotting - again, via writing exercises, we can now home in on the specific plot points of your story to assess the overall arc, i.e., the path of your story from the start, through the middle, then on to the end. At this stage, don’t worry if you don’t have all the elements to make a complete story. As with other exercises we will do, the aim is to identify the content we have and, more importantly, any gaps.

When writing, we zoom in to deliver a rich compelling scene or chapter. However, when working on the overall route map of plot points that lead to the ending, we need to zoom out and focus on the story’s core framework. The writing exercises we do will bring this into perfect clarity, in the process creating new plot possibilities on their own. Enjoy!

*During the sessions, you can, of course, grab coffees/refreshments (many bring their own snacks/food) to maintain your energy levels. I hasten to add - it’s a fun, relaxed day, just scheduled to ensure you to get the most from it :-)

4.30-5pm - end of day round up, review, any additional questions

Workshop goal: to be a thoroughly interactive and great fun day, with all students leaving with an advanced understanding of structure and plotting

Reviews:

“This workshop gets to the heart of what makes a story work, or not. Simple as that. The techniques shared were, for me, lightbulb moments. Highly recommend.” Danny, Carlisle

“ I used to write and write, then hit a brick wall. Dominic showed me ways to overcome that with sound planning. And the writing exercises are so good, they develop the story too. It’s a win, win!” Paula, Luton

“Dominic removed the doubt and resistance I felt towards planning. I write a lot but get all jammed up when the plot threads don’t align. Now I have techniques to knit it all together as I want. Dominic is fun, relaxed, encouraging and knows his subject inside out.” Barbara, Margate

“Though a fair way down the path with my novel, I thought I’d give this a whirl. Honestly, the wonders of a fresh perspective and a good old brainstorm brought such positive enhancement. Great coach, wonderful group and in such a fab location. Go for it!” Tamsin, Virginia Water

FAQ

Are there any session requirements? Yes, you’ll need basic written and spoken English skills to benefit from it.

Is previous creative writing experience required? Yes.

Are there any other costs? No, unless you wish to buy food or refreshments on the day.

Is there anything I need to bring? Just your own writing materials – pens, paper, laptop etc.

Refund policy: once enrolled, should the workshop not go ahead and there’s no alternative workshop/course you’d like to transfer to, you will receive a full and immediate refund. Please note: refunds via PayPal or Eventbrite usually take 3-5 working days.

For any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me on [email protected].

Thank you and I hope to work with you on your writing goals.

Best wishes & happy writing!

Dominic

Dominic Canty

[email protected]

www.creative-writer.co.uk

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