It took only three weeks for Arthur Conan Doyle to write the first Sherlock Holmes novel. Stephen King churns out 2,000 words each day—and works only three-hours daily. Some people think that writing swiftly and purposefully is difficult, but instructor Elizabeth Rains says it can be fun. The key is to shed the writing habits that slow us down and to create new ones that give us energy.
This course looks at ways to speed up your output and to develop techniques that propel the writing process for any genre or writing project. Participants will learn about the neuroscience involved in writing and in understanding language. They will discuss the motivations behind writing. Topics include the steps in the writing process, invention, organization, heuristics, research, openings, endings, flow, freewriting, and editing.
Using plain language while developing the writer’s voice will be emphasized. There will be mini writing exercises, collaborative brainstorming, and editing klatches. Participants are asked to bring a laptop computer to every session.
Presenter: Elizabeth Rains
Dates: Three Tuesdays, September 12, 19 and 26
Times: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: Harmony Hall, Gibsons Senior Centre
