CREATIVE WRITING - Part 2

Please note all names have been changed for confidentiality.

I hope you weren't actually watching this space because I'm afraid I can't tell you what it was like to read my work aloud - I didn't do it. For different reasons, only three did read aloud, but I think I had a good reason for not reading out my (thrice re-written) homework. In my defence, I was trying to save someone’s feelings in the group. After hearing an intensely personal and harrowing story about alcoholism, my attempts to be witty about an AA meeting would’ve sounded horrendous and glib. (That could only happen to me – and THANK GOODNESS that person went first!!!!)

As the next person read out their piece, I was sorry to realise I had missed the last part as I was so busy thinking what an amazing title they had given to the work. (Plus I hadn’t thought to give mine a title: another learning point!) One of the others didn’t do the homework as they ran out of time, (which happens to us all when we leave it to the last minute). Gerald then read out his piece which was about how he felt coming to this class. Funny, warm, and totally engaging, we were all spellbound. The final member of the group had written two pieces but decided only to read the shorter one. In this, they chose to make a joke, (or a point?), by saying a one-liner. After the intensely personal account, and others who were nervous had shared, I found that a bit disrespectful. (Though maybe that person felt their longer piece was also not suitable for today?)

I was incredibly disappointed that two of last week's ladies didn't come back today. I really hope they will return and have not left the course. Perhaps last week put them off with all that form-filling? Perhaps they didn't think the course sounded like it was going to be what they expected or needed? Perhaps, as the tutor suggested, the rain and wind put them off? Fortunately, a new student joined us - but we didn't learn much about him this week. Maybe next week he will tell us a little about himself?

The arrangement of tables was different this week, with a horse-shoe arrangement instead of a solid block. I was not the only person to find this a little more comfortable, and it was easier to see everyone. I was surprised that the tutor decided to sit amongst us rather than at the front in the obvious teacher's seat. This made the session more informal and more like a big discussion of other people's writing than a class being specifically 'taught' lessons. I discovered today that this description could possibly sum up the course in a nutshell.

I had gone with a pre-conceived idea of what the course would be like, which was more or less the live version of some of the ‘How To Write’ manuals, but with a bit of discussion, subjective critiques/suggestions and homework exercises thrown in. My approach would probably have been sessions on genre; character (building and arc); scene setting; viewpoint and ‘voice’; so-called rules: show not tell etc; story structure/plot; titles and endings; idea generation; dialogue; and the final lesson would have been held in the pub. However, after today, I think it was a case of ‘I didn’t know what I didn’t know’ – in that the above things are all writing topics that I can, and have, already read something about. It is purely the writing itself – the practice if you like – that teaches you the most.

This was a bit of a revelation and I realise now, (whether it is intentional or not), this course mirrors the writing experience itself: you can’t re-write/edit/improve your writing until you have actually written something (doh!) and we cannot learn from this course until we start ‘practising’ the art rather than just reading about (or being told) how it should be done. It was staring me in the face all along. I have read several books on watercolour painting recently – techniques, tips, step-by-step guides, what brushes/paints to use, colour theory etc., but still I produce what can only be described as muddy puddles on my poor, wasted canvasses that held such potential in the right hands...

Fortunately we did undertake a writing exercise this week. We were split into 2 groups, and given a passage from a book. We had to analyse it in terms of style etc. and then write the next section, as a group, in the same style. I was relieved to get a passage I hadn’t read before, (no knowledge of the whole story to restrict us), and so relieved not to get the other group’s section, which was the start of a chapter of ‘From Russia, With Love’. I hate James Bond even more than I hate books on how to paint watercolours... Our new member agreed, calling the 007 story ‘soulless’, so I am really looking forward to hearing some of his work.

Actually, I think that is why I enjoyed today so much; I am fascinated by the others’ work – their writing style and their ideas in discussions – some good, some not-so-good, but all incredibly fascinating.

Homework this week is to begin writing about a character without doing ANY editing on the piece. We will be working on these drafts next week, in small groups to help with re-drafting and editing.

It will be hard not to edit it a little methinks..... ;o)

But WHO should I do?
Who would you do?