I’m excited! After a several year hiatus while I worked on my debut novel, Peach Blossom Spring, I’m going to be teaching writing again this coming January!
The course is Start Writing Fiction, with the National Centre for Writing, based in Norwich, UK. It’s online, asynchronous (aside from a Zoom meeting at the beginning and end), and open to writers anywhere in the world. The course consists of six modules over twelve weeks and there’s personalised feedback on your work every two weeks along with a vibrant class forum. Visit the registration page for a full description of the course details, fees, format, etc.
But here on my blog, I thought I’d share my thoughts about writing, teaching and feedback in a series of posts ahead of the course. Perhaps that will help you know if this course is for you. Given that signing up for a writing course is a big commitment of time, money and energy, it seems only fair to let you know where I’m coming from.
The course is called Start Writing Fiction, but this initial post is about what comes before we even pick up a pen.
Before I started working seriously on my debut novel, I spent many years working seriously on my writing. What do I mean by ‘working seriously on my writing’? I tried to increase the quantity and improve the quality of my practice. I kept notebooks, experimented with form, studied elements of craft, sought feedback from courses and other writers, and so on.
All important steps. But I think the bedrock was deciding to take myself seriously. To say I have stories I want to tell, and I want to tell them in my own way. And I’m willing to play, to experiment, to fail, to start over, to reach again and again towards this elusive golden ball even if there is no guarantee I’ll grasp it. I’m in it for the joy.
It was a shift. A mindset, a decision: I took my desire to write seriously. It wasn’t so much about logging a certain number of hours at the computer or words on the page, although eventually I did need to spend hours at the computer putting down words on the page. But first came the decision to show up for myself and the story.
Are you ready to make that decision for your writing? Perhaps you already have. If so, I applaud you. I truly believe writers are born when we make a commitment to ourselves and our practice. If you’re somewhere on this writing path – whether just beginning or further along – and you’re seeking community, feedback, and structure through the wilderness, perhaps you’d like to join me this January? More details and registration here.
Next post: Start Writing Fiction – What does it mean?