PK's Writing Course (on Zoom): Sept 11-Oct 16

Are you a writer looking to improve? Or want to be a writer, but don't know where to start, beyond your name at the top?

This 5x90min course, across Mon-Fri mornings, is for writers, wannabe writers, and anyone who wants to tell stories better.

Our focus is narrative comedy, but that doesn't just mean sitcom. It means engaging an audience - viewers, listeners or readers - telling a dramatic tale with lightness. Previous course participants have used this for their novel-writing, short film scripts, documentaries, sermons or even business presentations.

Whatever your level, from total newbie to established writer, Paul's online course will encourage and equip you.

"Paul's friendly and relaxed style makes it very accessible and enjoyable. It renewed my enthusiasm for my own writing project. I now have a stronger framework to build my project on and an idea of what might work or not and why. Very well prepared and covered a lot in the relatively short time." - RB

This version of the course will span six Saturday mornings:

• Monday 17th to Friday 21st January 2022, 10:00-11:30am
• 5 x 1hr30 sessions (1hr15 of main content, 15mins for questions + clarifications)
• Recording of each session online to revisit for a limited time
• Follow-up PDF one-page summaries (so you don't need to take notes)
• Small bits of achievable homework
• Supportive Facebook group (optional)

Paul's writing seminars have been used by BBC Writers Room, London Screenwriters Festival and various arts festivals. Now it's made public and expanded over several sessions. Adapted to each set of students, it touches on big story theory but focuses on what's useful in getting your story told.

The 6 sessions will be:

• SESSION 1 : Character
• SESSION 2: Story, Structure + How To Use It
• SESSION 3: Comedy/Genre
• SESSION 4: Productivity
• SESSION 5: Pitching + The Industry

Character and Story: that's the meat of it (or plant-based substitute). Everything else is salad dressing.

We'll have a session on comedy, but won't exclusively deal with that. So if you're writing drama, the comedy session will be just as much about using comedy (and other genre conventions) in your dramatic writing. We'll look at sitcom, from a character/story perspective.

Our focus is long-form narrative writing - which is a fancy of saying anything with characters and a story: novels, non-fiction, screenplays, stageplays... You don't have to have written any of these yet - just want to.

(We won't be as focused on shorter-form writing - sketches, stand-up, Post-It Note reminders etc... but what we talk about will certainly help short-form.)

It'll be interactive, to ensure you get the best out of the course. 'Homework' is set purely for your benefit, rather than to be handed in/assessed, though you're encouraged to get involved in the Facebook group to share what you've found, if you'd like.

The sessions will be held on Zoom. Paul will do most of the talking, but with times for questions and thoughts during each session. It's an open forum, content guided by you to stay relevant. One person's question can be another's nagging thought, and one person's answer can be another's penny-drop moment.

"An enjoyable, easily accessible and above all informative course hosted by someone who knows not only the theory but the practice of writing, whether it be novels, stand-up, scriptwriting or whatever. Paul is a fun, friendly, considerate and helpful tutor who puts you at your ease whether you're a first-time writer or an old hand. He's a very effective communicator - I feel I've learnt so much from his sessions, not only about character, story structure and genre, but also I've picked up some hints and tips about sharpening my writing and being more productive. And did I mention that it's excellent value for money as well? My only complaint is that it's now finished and I'm going to miss it!" - PG

If you miss a session, they'll all be recorded and uploaded to Youtube on a private link for a limited time. You can revisit them there whether you made it to the session or note.

(If you're interested but can't make these times, email Paul, as there may be scope for alternate timings if there's enough interest. There'll be another course in the Spring, on different times/days.)

Paul's background includes writing sitcom (BBC's Miranda, Not Going Out), entertainment shows (Top Gear, TFI Friday, BBC Music Awards, Royal Variety Show), children's TV (CBBC's Andy and the Band), radio (The Now Show, The News Quiz, Pause For Thought), books (Amazon Top 100 bestseller Hark! The Biography of Christmas, children's books), articles, tweets and blurbs like this one.

"Paul Kerensa undersells himself. As a successful writer of books, scripts, TV sitcoms and more he was able to give real-life examples of how what he teaches really works, using both his writing in sitcoms and books, and that of many other writers too. To be able to identify their methods makes writing seem much more achievable, it was as if we were able to peek behind the curtain. In a very understated way, he delivered staggeringly good content that had everyone enthuisatic and eager to put it into practice, wherever they were in their writing journey. The added value of an interactive Facebook group where we could compare notes and share writing if we wanted to was unexpected and really good." - TD

Further queries? Email paul@paulkerensa.com

Want to book? Go for it. Places are limited, to one Zoom screen's worth (the new classroom). On the ticket page, click any date - it doesn't matter which - that bags you attendance for all of the sessions.

Have friends who write and might fancy it? Share this page with them.

Book soon. Because we start soon!

Hope to see you then then.

Write soon.

p

PS: This is not a course that says 'YOU MUST WRITE LIKE THIS' (some courses do). No 'on page 11 there must be this moment'. Just what works for me, the tips and tricks I've learned over the years, with an open mind, as we learn, discuss and improve.