Writing Classes

Rachael has been running creative writing classes for adults and young people at the Crescent Arts Centre since 2015. Whether you are interested in a regular weekly evening class or a one-off workshop, there's something for every writer. Click on the links below for details.

​Writing Fiction 

Have you always wanted to write but never known where to start? Are you struggling to find the time to put pen to paper?

Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey or looking for a few tips to put you back on track, this class will provide a creative, supportive environment to guide you in your literary work.Lessons will explore narrative, plotting, character, setting, description and more, with a focus on producing new work each week.
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This course is suitable for beginners, though all are welcome.​

​Creating Characters 

This workshop is suitable for beginners and more experienced writers wanting to focus on a specific aspect of their practice.
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Characters can make or break a piece of creative writing - learn how to make yours spring to life off the page. Through a series of structured writing exercises, this workshop will focus on building depth and dimension to characters in prose writing.

​Editing And Everything After

Suitable for beginners and more experienced writers wanting to focus on a specific aspect of their practice.

So, you've finished writing your masterpiece. What happens now?

Take the pain out of editing and the mystery out of query letters as we explore aspects of getting your work ready to send out and what to do when it's ready to go.

New writers are very welcome, but participants should have completed at least one piece of creative writing (short story or longer).

Please bring an excerpt of around 1500 words to the workshop.

Writing Fiction - Continuation

This course is suitable for writers who have completed a term of the Writing Fiction course, or post-beginner writers who are looking for a supportive, creative environment in which to explore new challenges and share their work.

Classes will explore style, genre, perspective and more, prompting you to think critically about your work. There will be structured writing sessions each week and you will be encouraged to bring your work to class for discussion and feedback in a supportive and creative environment.


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​Narrative​

This workshop is suitable for beginners and more experienced writers wanting to focus on a specific aspect of their practice.
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Whether you're writing a novel or focusing on short stories, a well-structured narrative is essential. Learn the basics of narrative construction and make sure yours is hitting all the right beats.
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​​Start Writing That Novel

​They say everyone has a novel inside them, but most don’t get as far as the first word. This workshop is designed to get your masterpiece out of your head and onto the page.

Over the course of the day, we will focus on drawing up your list of characters, sketching out your plot, getting a grip on your story and taking that all-important first step.

Suitable for beginners and more experienced writers alike, the workshop will provide a fun and creative environment full of support and encouragement.

​Come with a head full of ideas and start writing that novel that you’ve always wanted to write

Understanding Film & Cinema

This course is an introduction to the Hollywood film history and the key theoretical frameworks that are used to analyse your favourite films.

Each week, you’ll learn about an aspect of Hollywood cinema, from cinematography to the star system, with a suggested film viewing to support learning in the topics covered.
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Suitable for anyone with an interest in film who’d like to know more about the language of cinema and how Hollywood’s past has come to influence its present - no previous experience required.

Settings

This workshop is suitable for beginners and more experienced writers wanting to focus on a specific aspect of their practice.

Whether you're writing about alien landscapes or the park down the road, you want your readers to see your landscapes as vividly as you do. Learn how to walk through landscapes both exotic and familiar as we look at how you can bring settings to life in your fiction writing.
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Participants will need to bring with them a device capable of browsing the internet (smartphone, tablet or laptop computer).