Lesson 1

Creative writing and reading.

Welcome to the first lesson in your creative writing course. Make sure you have a notebook and a pen at hand as you will need them throughout this lesson. Please follow the instructions carefully. 

What is creative writing?

   Do you understand the term "creative writing" before diving into it as a desired profession? Think about it and write your definition down now before reading any further. 

   Now read below for the definition

   "Creative writing is any writing which goes outside the lines of professional, journalistic or academic forms of literature, mainly emphasizing on the use of literary techniques, narrative craft and character development."

   Was you definition in any means similar? If not, don't worry now you know for sure, be sure to make a note of it if you missed the definition completely. 

Next make a note of WHY you have chosen to do this course, to constantly give you a reminder and to ensure motivation. 

Next write down three immediate short-term goals that you want to get from this course, to brick a path of your progress. Once you have done that, write down three long term goals. 

THINK: "How do you think this course will help you achieve these six goals?"

Write these thoughts down as a mission statement.

Most important things to do as a writer? 

Write down what you think are the three most important things to do as a writer before continuing and reading on. 

1. Read

2. Read

3. READ

"If you want to be a writer, you just do two things above all others: Read a lot and write a lot. There's no short cuts." - Stephen King. 

Reading is important because with a lack of it, especially in your favoured genre you could be:

1. Writing poorly. 

2. Writing things others have already written.

3. Create dull, uninteresting characters, situations or stories. 

"...offers you a continuous growing knowledge of what has been and what hasn't been, what is trite and what is fresh, what works and what just lies there dying/dead on the page. The more you read the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or processor. " - Stephen King.

Exercise

What books or films can you remember reading or seeing in your life?

Sit somewhere quiet for twenty minutes and jot them down as they flood into your mind. It may take longer or quicker than twenty minutes. 

Once you have written them all down, look at them. Is there any pattern? Common themes? Reveal any particular interests or obsessions? 

Now, adopt the same procedure and make a second list of the things you:

1. Have written.

2. Want to write.

3. Are writing. 

Is there any correspondence between the two lists? Does anything surprise you, or as it as you expected? Are there any glaring omissions? 

Finally, in this lesson I want to know:

HOW DO YOU READ?

We all know how to read but what do you look for when reading as a writer?

Write down a maximum of five things. 

Once you have written them all down, now you are aware of what you could be looking for when reading material around your favoured genre or topic. You can relate to them in your own writing.

Thanks for reading. Lesson two will be up shortly!

In the meantime, feel free to ask me to read work or ask me any questions on my page!

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