'Location, Location' Creative Writing Workshop - Southbank, London SE1

Venue: Royal Festival Hall

Address: Belvedere Road, London SE1

Price: £47

Duration: 7 hours, including lunch/coffee breaks

Class Size: Maximum 10 students (6 required for workshop to proceed)*

Format: in-group discussion & writing exercises via comprehensive worksheets.

Age: all ages, though 16s and under to be accompanied by an adult.

(I am DBS checked)

Workshop description: Location is an often overlooked, yet absolutely vital, aspect of fiction writing. Locations are key and integral to our stories.

Locations are the canvas upon which our stories are told, and with the location’s unique characteristics woven in to make our novels as compelling as possible, we can deliver the escapism and literary experience our reader’s crave. Personally, I believe that locations become characters themselves, and that everywhere - be it an iconic beach or a smoke-stacked industrial town - is interesting, even if we have to dig beneath the surface to discover its treasure trove of details to sprinkle into our writing.

As a writer, our aim is to capture and transport our reader’s imagination into our scenes and chapters. We must make the reader feel as if they are there, in that location, which will a) allow us to deliver the most compelling and immersive reading experience possible, and also b) once achieved, our reader will absorb our story on the deepest, most compelling and enjoyable level.

When we go to the theatre or watch a film, we marvel at the plot and actors, yet without compelling stage sets/backdrops, the power and emotion of the performance is diminished. Location, therefore, is a fundamental to the success of a novel, and the capturing of a location’s characteristics is huge fun too.

Held in the iconic and wonderfully-inspirational setting of London’s Southbank, this workshop is ideal for writers of all abilities, from beginners through to seasoned writers with projects underway. It is suitable for all genres and writers of both novels and short stories.

Workshop format:

Via extensive notes, in group discussion and numerous writing exercises, we will practice the techniques, tips and tricks to not only set the scene in your writing, but to also maintain that bond between reader and location as the scene/chapter continues through the pages.

Workshop goal: to be a thoroughly interactive and great fun day, with all students leaving with an advanced understanding of the importance of location, and the tools to easily, efficiently and effectively layer in descriptions into their writing.

Reviews:

“Wonderful fun and a revelation. I never considered how key location is to a story.” Donna, Margate.

“Dominic is a great coach. His explanations are clear, the writing exercises very useful, and it’s great to spend the day with other writers.” Jayne, Exeter

“Location, location, location - never a truer phrase. It’s key and makes the difference between an average story and a compelling, gripping literary experience. Do this workshop, you won’t look back!” Ralph, Shoreditch.

FAQ

Are there any session requirements? Yes, you’ll need basic written and spoken English skills to benefit from it.

Is previous creative writing experience required? No.

Are there any other costs? No, unless you wish to buy food or refreshments on the day.

Is there anything I need to bring? Just your own writing materials – pens, paper, laptop etc.

Refund policy: once enrolled, should the workshop not go ahead and there’s no alternative workshop/course you’d like to transfer to, you will receive a full and immediate refund. Please note: refunds via Eventbrite can take 3-5 working days.

For any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thank you and I hope to work with you on your writing goals.

Best wishes & happy writing!

Dominic

Dominic Canty

dominic@creative-writer.co.uk

www.creative-writer.co.uk