Whether or not you’re writing about your own life or someone from history, you’ll need the tools to make your story accurate and compelling. Emma will show you how to make your own or others’ real lives come alive for the reader, without writing fiction. In this practical workshop, she’ll explore how to find the facts you need, and craft them into a compelling narrative; you’ll leave with new ideas and inspiration for your memoir or life writing. Emma is a creative writing mentor and tutor and runs the hugely popular blog This Itch of Writing.
During this informal session from Emerald Paper, you’ll learn vital modern calligraphy basics, from how to use the calligraphy tools, to warm- up drills and alphabet practices before moving onto whole words. Emma will be on hand throughout to give individual guidance as well as giving demonstrations each step of the way. Each ticket includes a starter kit full of the goodies you need to start your modern calligraphy journey.
Stuck on where to go next researching your novel? Have a great idea but don’t know where to begin? Join Jill Dawson in this session for keen writers, at any point on their writing journey, who want to know how to do the research without letting it show clumsily in the work. Jill is an award-winning poet and the best-selling author of nine novels. Her novel, The Tell-Tale Heart, described by Hilary Mantel as ‘an uncanny and atmospheric novel by a skilful storyteller’ was long-listed for the Folio Prize. She currently teaches creative writing for the Faber Academy and the Guardian/UEA Masterclasses as well as mentoring emerging writers.
This is a terrific opportunity to learn a new skill and make your own book with an experienced bookbinder. Under the expert guidance of Ursula Jeakins, creator of Starsmead Books, this session will introduce you to the rewarding craft of bookbinding and teach you how to complete a hard-back writing or drawing book (A5 or A6 size) sewn and bound using the traditional method of rounding and backing. Produce your own attractive and personalised book to write, draw or journal in. All materials are included. Places strictly limited.
Calling all aspiring comedians and comedy writers. It’s a serious business being funny, and writing comedy to sound off-the-cuff can take hours of work. Join Maggie Irving to share observations, craft material and even develop performance in a fun and supportive environment. Maggie discovered her anarchic ‘inner clown’ at Plymouth University. Realising that too few women appeared in the clown canon, she researched the female clown for her PhD, and now teaches comedy skills as a modus operandi for breaking down barriers in all aspects of life and work. Numbers limited.
Forget buying expensive notebooks, this introductory making session will equip you with skills you can use again at home to produce your own beautifully crafted notebooks. Under the expert guidance of Ursula Jeakins, bookbinder and creator of Starsmead Books, you will learn how to make a sewn single-section journal binding which you can repeat at home using simple tools. All materials are included. Places strictly limited.