IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS with Vivien Morgan (5-week writing course)

Do you want to be better at writing whether for work or storytelling? Do you need to correct your grammar and your English language skills? Can you deliver that important letter, document- or just a wonderful creative story that you are happy with?

If yes, then this is your opportunity to spend 5 weeks thinking and learning about the art of good writing in a small group that supports each other and shares writing-and enjoys each session. Come away with practical advice and experience on how to improve your skills whatever your goals and ambitions.

This course is for all kinds of writing, whether it’s for a blog, newsletter, short story, public relations, job application or news piece.

It is a practical writing course with plenty of exercises to expand your range and talent from writing to a given subject, different format, genre and even word count..

We’ll analyse and discuss; offer tips using Powerpoint; develop your skills and give you individual attention to find your voice.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

· Learn about story structure,writing to length and different formats

· Get practical advice for career advancement through better writing and research

· Look at how better grammar and language can help achieve your goals

· Develop a personal style: narrative, factual, persuasive etc.

· Take away tips on reviewing, editing and refining your writing

· Have the opportunity to share your work with others in the group

· Know how famous authors and journalists practise the art of writing and storytelling

Career advice for aspiring journalists and publishing information for everyone.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING:

Please note: YOUR SPACE IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOU FILL IN THE ENROLMENT FORM, so please respond to a message from the tutor, Vivien Morgan, which will arrive once you book here.

The spaces on this course are offered free of charge - they are subsidised by GLA. The £3 booking fee is for administering the bookings. If you want to apply without paying this charge please write to libraries@rbkc.gov.uk and request a space for the course.

You can sign up to the whole course only (!) - please book only if you can attend all five sessions.

DATES:

Monday 29 September - 5.45pm to 7.45pm

Monday 06 October - 5.45pm to 7.45pm

Monday 13 October - 5.45pm to 7.45pm

Monday 20 October - 5.45pm to 7.45pm

Monday 27 October - 5.45pm to 7.45pm

The free spaces on this course are subsidised by GLA and eligibility criteria applies. Eligible: Full UK / London residents aged 19+ (Please note that applications from those who are unemployed and residents of Kensington and Chelsea will be given priority). You can claim ONE free course in an academic year.

NEXT STEPS:

Names and addresses of all who book here will be shared with the tutor, who will contact you to send you an enrolment form. Contact libraries@rbkc.gov.uk if you have any queries about booking.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE CONTENT

Mondays, 29 September to 27 October

Over the 5 weeks you will be encouraged to share, think and learn about all the aspects of writing:

• Share and set objectives for your personal aims and ambitions
• Get personal attention to overcome any inhibitions and worries about writing
• Help you develop your kind of storytelling and your audience
• Join in discussion and analysis about the difficulties of writing for work and pleasure, how to set about it and prepare.
• Gain practical, illustrated advice on the steps needed to improve writing and answer your questions
• Make the journey from developing story ideas and where to find them,to planning and structuring before writing
• Provide the course time as the space to write and work on a piece for review
• Build your confidence in self expression in a friendly and helpful environment
• Get close to realising your ambitions and progress your writing
• Earning a living writing- facts and suggestions
• Learn from a published novelist about her tips and writing career

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO COURSE

Individual introductions by the group

Sharing of aims and outcomes from the course.

Examples of good writing by well-known authors and journalists

Discussion of what defines good writing.

What skills are useful and how to apply them for work and pleasure

Looking at the different marketplaces for getting stories/features/blogs etc. published.

Fun Exercises in developing a storyline as a group

Homework on first piece of writing to share with the group

WEEK 2: BEFORE WRITING - DEVELOPING STORY IDEAS

Defining storytelling and writing. How to structure a piece. The storyline, voice, angle. Length of a piece, is it a short story,feature or news? Fiction or fact?

Looking at the four main types of writing styles: persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive

Exercises in writing in different styles. Peer review and Discussion

Work on individual ideas to progress. Suggestions for homework to bring to the next session

WEEK 3: IMPORTANCE OF FINDING YOUR VOICE

Examples of writing in the first or second or third person

Bringing emotion into your writing to engage your reader

Exercise in trying out a new style

Looking at good and bad examples to discuss

How to apply this to building characters, plots and structure

Update on participants’ individual writing with Course Leader’s assistance.

Q&A and next homework on writing

WEEK 4: DEVELOPING A WRITING STYLE

Discussion about difficulties in writing and participants to update on their progress and questions.

Language, grammar, punctuation- all important

Re-writing,editing and reviewing.

Exercises in writing short pieces to a specific word count and deadline

Q&A Discussion. Revision and progressing of individual pieces

WEEK 5: PRINCIPLES OF WRITING

Re-capping the course information:skills of writing for a specific marketplace, in a particular style and with a defined approach.

Review of participants’ progress

Sharing of writing to date with the group

Information on copyright, infringement, dangers of using living characters in your writing

Earning a living writing- facts and suggestions

ABOUT THE TUTOR:

Vivien Morgan started in broadcast TV journalism working for many of the major network channels including BBC TV, CNBCEurope, ITN and CNN in news, current affairs and business programming. She has extensive print journalism experience as an Editor of supplements for The Telegraph and Journalist for the Sunday Times magazines. A features writer and contributor for many national newspapers, Vivien taught broadcast and online journalism at 3 UK universities, before moving into PR and communications.

Now an Author of 3 books on videojournalism and a history book on cross-dressing women soldiers, she enjoys inspiring others in the art of writing for different platforms and developing their skills.

TESTIMONIALS FOR VIVIEN:

-Very much enjoyed the course. Well delivered and guest speaker was very interesting.

-I loved the course and Vivien was great, thank you!

-Such a brilliant course! I would love to do it again in the future. I have already recommended this course to several of my friends and colleagues.

-The teacher is fabulous, no better opportunity for collaboration and connection.

-More courses like this please; Vivien is a very good and knowledgeable tutor.

-I just wanted to send you a brief thank you for the writing course.My goal was to improve my writing skills and I believe I achieved this thanks to several practice opportunities and your feedback! I enjoyed this class in the past weeks.

-You gave me this wonderful memorable experience of writing and it's given me even more confidence to write whatever inspires me next.

-Thank you for a most stimulating and inspiring 5 weeks, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed attending your writing sessions — I’ve learnt so much which I am now putting into practice.I treasure your advice, your gems of wisdom.