Creative Writing

Monday 2nd February 2015

Write for five minutes…

Choose a beginning and just keep going• I guessed that something was wrong as soon as I…• The stale smell of the old rug made me…• I always knew…• If only… • As the mist cleared I saw• It was getting late when…• As the train gathered speed, I suddenly remembered• The last thing I wanted to do that day was….

Schedule

This session• An introduction to script writing• Develop coursework • WorkshoppingNext session (week beginning 9th Feb)• More on poetry/script?• Writing the commentaryHalf term (Week beginning 16th Feb)Week beginning 23th Feb – First draft of coursework due

A note on Coursework…

… needs to show development1. First finished draft

Bring your first drafts to the workshop

Come away with notes for

development

A note on Coursework

2.

Take feedback away with you & develop

Aims: Introduce Script & Workshop

• Recap coursework• Contribute key ideas to ‘what makes an

effective workshop?’• Analyse a script and discuss ‘elements of a

play’ • Outline the stylistic conventions of a play• Write to conventions• Workshop own work following guidelines

The Workshop

• What would you hope to achieve by sharing your work with other writers in the class?

• What kinds of advice might you give to your fellow writers?

• Discuss these questions in your groups and list reasons for both

A Script

• In your groups, read aloud through the script – nominate people to read parts and the director’s information

• In your groups – discuss the following questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPX0yYxTCoo

The Art of Dramatic Writing

Three important elements

• Premise• Character • Conflict

Play writing activity

• Think of two characters• One has more power than the other• Put them in a place – describe the set in great

detail – so much that the audience will know who has the power at first glance

• Who speaks first and what do they say?• You could try reversing roles – (just go with it)Think about speech – pauses, repetition, overlapping

You could also try…

• Writing down overheard conversations• Writing down dreams• Writing a complaint to a newspaper (shows a

lot about one)• Write about an event that’s happened to you

as if you’re telling someone about it

Structure

• What are the conventions of a script?

• Make a list of things that could/should be included

Simon Stephens

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PcHQ_oZHdc

The workshop

• Use the provided guidelines to workshop your work

• Ensure everyone is able to share – and that everyone’s work is given equal attention!

Links

• Screenwriting • https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ykCCvT5mG4

• Writing a play• http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Play-Script

Links

• On premise http://www.writerswrite.com/fiction/egri.htm

• Fiction Writinghttp://www.writerswrite.com/fiction/links.htm