Peterborough: Writing a Novel – Creative Writing Summer School

Date/Time
Date(s) - 22/07/2019 - 23/07/2019
All Day

Location
University Centre Peterborough

With Andrew McDonnell

This two day course in July is designed to get you designing and structuring a possible novel or novella, with exercises around plot, voice, setting, character development and descriptive writing.

We will also look in detail at the basic plots available to a writer, discuss genre and how to pace and run effective sub-plots.

What on earth do the terms homo/heterodiegetic mean and are they any use to writing narratives? How can you tell a story within a story within a story without ending up with an almighty mess? If the butler did do it, (whatever it is), how can we hide that fact until the end?

Based at University Centre Peterborough, the course is ideal for those who want to start an idea from scratch or have an idea for a novel they want to realise.

Each day will comprise of discussions, exercises and teaching and you’ll leave with an outline for your own novel or novella.

Each day will run from 10:30 – 16:00 with an hour’s break for lunch.

About the Tutor

Andrew McDonnell is a writer and publisher who has delivered creative writing classes since 2003 at UEA, NUA and many more places. He is a director of Gatehouse Press and steering editor the award winning Lighthouse Literary Journal. He is currently the course leader for a BA hons English Literature for UCP in Peterborough. As an editor he has been responsible for connecting emerging writers with publishers, such as Preti Taneja winner of the 2018 Desmond Elliott First Novel prize, Amanthi Harris and Sally Harris.

Categories

Bookings

Bookings are closed for this event.

Week	Medium and subject	Materials included in fee (unless otherwise stated)
1 10/4	Pencil and Graphite More drawing – perspective and creating distance in our work – buildings and landscape – graphite	Assorted pencils (Use own A3 Pads)
2 17/4	Mixed media wk1 – landscape, watercolour, inks, pastel, and collage We will look at some new watercolour techniques before we explore the possibilities of using a variety of resources to create a painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
3 24/4	Mixed media wk2 – Continuing mixed media painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
4 1/5	Portraiture and figure drawing – with live model in costume – Charcoal/Pastel We will look at the rules of drawing people.	Charcoal Pastels Mixed papers Fixative
5 8/5	More Acrylics wk1 – botanical painting on a stretched canvas (NB either provide own, or small additional charge for canvas)	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
6 15/5	More Acrylics wk2 – Continuing acrylic painting.	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
	3-week gap 23rd & 30th May & 5th June
7 12/6	Miniature painting – acrylics landscape or botanical (Mini canvass and easel available at £1.00 per set)	Mini canvasses (extra fee) Acrylic paint Fine brushes
8 19/6	More printing – monoprint, ‘poor man’s lino cut’ and tetra pak We will explore some simple print techniques using basic materials	Polystyrene sheets Block print inks Tetra Paks Mixed papers
9 26/6	Abstract approaches wk1 – We will explore various methods of creating an abstract painting through process and decision making. mixed media.	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers
10 37	Abstract approaches wk2 – using materials and ideas from week one we create a finished piece using mixed media	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers

Week	Medium and subject	Materials included in fee (unless otherwise stated)
1 11/4	Pencil and Graphite More drawing – perspective and creating distance in our work – buildings and landscape – graphite	Assorted pencils (Use own A3 Pads)
2 18/4	Mixed media wk1 – landscape, watercolour, inks, pastel, and collage We will look at some new watercolour techniques before we explore the possibilities of using a variety of resources to create a painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
3 25/4	Mixed media wk2 – Continuing mixed media painting.	Watercolour, Inks, pastels, gouache, and collage materials. PVA glue Mixed papers
4 2/5	Portraiture and figure drawing – with live model in costume – Charcoal/Pastel We will look at the rules of drawing people.	Charcoal Pastels Mixed papers Fixative
5 9/5	More Acrylics wk1 – botanical painting on a stretched canvas (NB either provide own, or small additional charge for canvas)	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
6 16/5	More Acrylics wk2 – Continuing acrylic painting.	Acrylic paint Brushes Canvasses (extra fee)
	3-week gap 23rd & 30th May & 5th June
7 13/6	Miniature painting – acrylics landscape or botanical (Mini canvass and easel available at £1.00 per set)	Mini canvasses (extra fee) Acrylic paint Fine brushes
8 20/6	More printing – monoprint, ‘poor man’s lino cut’ and tetra pak We will explore some simple print techniques using basic materials	Polystyrene sheets Block print inks Tetra Paks Mixed papers
9 27/6	Abstract approaches wk1 – We will explore various methods of creating an abstract painting through process and decision making. mixed media.	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers
10 4/7	Abstract approaches wk2 – using materials and ideas from week one we create a finished piece using mixed media	Oil pastels Charcoal Acrylic paint Papers