Creative Constraints: Generating New Ideas in Fiction Can imposing artificial writing conditions free your creative process? Writing constraints are consciously selected structures, forms, and limitations selected by the writer prior to writing. Compositions made with constraints often allow you to say things you hadn’t expected to say in ways you would never have chosen.
Working with the precept that all creative writing is constrained, we will examine and experiment with pre-set forms of poetry (sestina, sonnet, villanelle, haiku) and narrative prose (sketches of exactly 100 words, flash fiction, source-text manipulations). Through controlled use of form and expression, writing prompts will help you generate new ideas. No matter what level you’re writing at, this course can liberate you from cliché, challenge your unconscious writing routines, and help you condense the decision making process when writing time is limited.
The workshop runs for six weeks, meeting on Thursdays (7-9PM), from February 5th through March 12th.
I am scheduled to lead a writing workshop in the Continuing Studies Program at Brown University in early 2009.
THE INFO:
Creative Constraints: Generating New Ideas in Fiction
Can imposing artificial writing conditions free your creative process? Writing constraints are consciously selected structures, forms, and limitations selected by the writer prior to writing. Compositions made with constraints often allow you to say things you hadn’t expected to say in ways you would never have chosen.
Working with the precept that all creative writing is constrained, we will examine and experiment with pre-set forms of poetry (sestina, sonnet, villanelle, haiku) and narrative prose (sketches of exactly 100 words, flash fiction, source-text manipulations). Through controlled use of form and expression, writing prompts will help you generate new ideas. No matter what level you’re writing at, this course can liberate you from cliché, challenge your unconscious writing routines, and help you condense the decision making process when writing time is limited.
The workshop runs for six weeks, meeting on Thursdays (7-9PM), from February 5th through March 12th.
REGISTER HERE
Email me with any questions: William_Walsh@brown.edu