UCLA Extension Writers Studio, February Courage and Craft: A Writing Workshop to Jumpstart Your Creativity Barbara Abercrombie

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1 Note to students: this public syllabus is designed to give you a glimpse into this course and instructor. If you have further questions about our courses or curriculum, please contact the Writers Program at (310) or via at writers@uclaextension.edu. We are happy to answer any questions and to help you find the best class to achieve your writing goals. UCLA Extension Writers Studio, February Courage and Craft: A Writing Workshop to Jumpstart Your Creativity Barbara Abercrombie If you have any administrative or facilities-related questions, please visit the Studio Office in room 418. Course Description: Whether you're an experienced writer currently feeling stuck, or taking your first steps into a writing career, this workshop helps jumpstart your creativity into concrete literary form and offers you what writers need most, courage. By exploring fiction, memoir, and essays, you discover how each literary genre can inform and enrich the other, and which one is most suited for your story. Writing exercises help you break through blocks and forge new directions in your work, whether fiction or nonfiction. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed a first draft of a personal essay, short story, or chapter of a novel or memoir. No previous writing experience is required. Enrollment limited to 15 students. As UCLA's principal provider of continuing education, the majority of UCLA Extension courses are designed for the post-baccalaureate professional-level student. Enrollment is therefore normally reserved for adult students 18 years of age and older. The Writers Program may consent to enroll younger students based on special academic competence and approval of the instructor. Students who enroll in a Writers Program course without first receiving permission from both the department and the instructor are subject to withdrawal. To request approval, please contact the Writers Program at 310/ Required Textbooks/Readings: A recommended reading list will be given in the workshop. Grading Criteria: For a grade, students will submit a letter about what grade they deserve and why. Workshop Guidelines: - Be generous, honest and specific when you critique someone s work. - Take notes as work is read so your feedback can be detailed. - Don t veer off into personal comments stick to the writing.

2 - Try: I don t understand. I want to know more about I m not sure what the point is. I really liked xyz because xyz made me feel. Writer does not respond to comments until the end of feedback he or she just takes notes. Daily Schedule: Thursday, February 6 9-9:45am: Introductory Breakfast and Opening Remarks at Lindbrook Center 10am-1pm: - Discuss syllabus, handout and how to get a grade - Introductions Discussion/Lecture: Courage & Craft The courage part: writer s block/learning to live with fear of writing finding a community/support group learning your own needs for inspiration and confirmation kicking in walls learning to kick in your own wall and jump start your creativity The craft part: genres: to bend or not? guidelines (later today) for fiction, for memoir and personal essays finding both courage and craft in the next four days. Writing exercise The why and how of 5 minute exercises Writing exercise based on choice of genre

3 1-2pm: Lunch 2-5:30pm: Fiction and Non-fiction: Similarities and differences. choosing the genre to write in the first 3 pages, cutting to the chase Guidelines for fiction: character, plot, setting, theme, point of view why write fiction? discussion of three current novels: Gone Girl, Beautiful Ruins, Where Did You Go Bernadette? Writing exercise based on fiction example Guidelines for memoir: a window into a life telling the truth narrative arc privacy issues Writing exercise based on a true event Guidelines for essays: as journey through specific experience personal essay, op-ed pieces, columns, blogs: similarities and differences Writing exercise based on essay ideas Writing time continue with one of the exercises or on current work (one on one time) Workshop: new material or current writing project (one page) Homework: Bring in the first three pages (double spaced) of your work to read in class.

4 Friday, February 7 10am-1pm: Schedule for today: staff visits, photographer Questions? Problems? New ideas for stories, or current work? Books by instructors on sale tomorrow About Mark Salzman (speaker): his novels and memoirs his monolog handout excerpt read from his memoir Poem/ Writing exercise based on poem Discussion: Story the art of narrative, turning event into story what is story? the importance of story finding your story Workshop first three pages 1-2pm: Lunch 2-6pm: Finding Your Voice as an ongoing quest examples in current novels and memoir first person or third? Past or present tense? Exercise based on voice and tone: Rewrite a page of previous work in an alternate tense, and POV.

5 during break take notes on something observed (one on ones) Read - notes taken during the break Writing time (one on ones) Workshop Homework: Questions for Mark Salzman. Saturday, February 8, 10am-1pm: Today s schedule: Speaker and film Poem/ Writing exercise discussion of questions for speaker the next 8 weeks, a writing plan forming a writing community/making a literary life Mark Salzman: a one hour version of his monolog about getting over writers block and then Q & A 1-2 pm: Lunch 2-6pm: Discussion about speaker s talk Read excerpts from Talent of the Room and discuss Writing exercise Writing time Documentary film: Anne Lamott (and one on ones) Homework: Prepare a chapter, short story or essay with copies for Sunday workshop, eight pages or less. Sunday, February 9 10am-1pm: Discussion: On inspiration

6 Why and how you can write without constant inspiration Workshop (20 minutes for 15 students = 5.05 hours of workshop) 1-2pm: Lunch 2-5pm: Workshop 5-6pm: Closing Reception in 4 th Floor Gallery