Creative Writing with Sophie King

Creative Writing Classes

Have you always wanted to write a novel? Would you like to write short stories for magazines?

I am now running creative writing classes for groups or individuals. I run monthly one-day workshops on how to get ideas; how to create convincing characters; writing dynamic dialogue; understanding viewpoint; being aware of colour, taste and smell in writing; and how to get published. Contact me for details of my next workshop.

STUDENT THANKS SOPHIE!

Aspiring writer Sophie Banks has recently won first prize in a short story competition in February's issue of Writers' Forum.
She sent me the following email:

" This is just to let you know that I have won first prize in Feb's Writers' Forum fiction competition with a short story. Despite all my post-course resolutions to write regularly, it's the only other story I have sent to anyone since I had one published in Best magazine (at the time when you were coming to my house in St Albans to do the creative writing course) so I am really chuffed and newly inspired!

In the little bit about me that they put alongside my story in the magazine it says I was inspired by a talk by an author in a bookshop (which was you) and I just thought you might be interested to know that your teaching had an impact!"

Online Creative Writing Course

Do you want to write a short story or a novel? Are you a complete beginner or have you started to write already?

I have started three different kinds of online creative writing courses, designed to help you at whichever stage you’re at.

COURSE A is aimed at short story writing. It covers the following:

MODULE ONE: IDEAS
How to find them and how to make sure they will sustain a short story.

MODULE TWO: CHARACTERS
How to create convincing characters in one or two pages.

MODULE THREE: PLOT
How to work out a plot that will make the reader get to the end of the page.

MODULE FOUR: DIALOGUE
How to write dynamic dialogue.

MODULE FIVE: VIEWPOINT
Whose point of view are you seeing the story from? How to vary this and also keep it consistent.

MODULE SIX: BEGINNINGS AND ENDING
How to grab the reader at the beginning and make sure they aren’t disappointed at the end.

MODULE SEVEN: APPEALING TO THE SENSES
How to create colour, smell, texture and noise into your writing.

MODULE EIGHT: HOW TO GET PUBLISHED

COST: £200 for the course. This includes marking homework.

COURSE B follows the above modules with variations for the novel writer. For example, the advice on characterisation is different because characters have more time to be developed in a novel.

COST: as above.

COURSE C gives specific advice on a short story or novel in progress/a piece of finished writing.
I charge £50 to critique a synopsis and the first three chapters. After that, I charge £30 an hour.

Contact me for more details about any of these online courses.