Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 1

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Getting Started

• Dreams– Free Thought– Notes– Dream it, Write it

• Curiosity– Remember what it was

like to have childlike wonder

– Don’t be afraid to ask who, what, when, where, why

Breaking the Law

• Education– Fear of being wrong– I wasn’t taught to write

• Rules– Just let go

• Grammar, punctuation & spelling – who cares!

Thinking Too Much

• When you have an idea, hurry and get it on paper.• The more time you spend thinking about your idea, the more

likely it is that you will destroy your idea.• Brainstorm • Observe

• Activity – find something in this room and write about it. (5 minutes)

– Share

Have Fun!

• Dreaming and writing should be fun

• Activity– I dream of being…

– I am scared of…

Doing!

– No Time– No Energy– No EXCUSES!

• Your dreams are passive, so make sure your writing is active.

– Exercise: Write a paragraph about why want to write.• Share

For Next Workshop

• Make a list of 3-5 challenges that keep you from writing.• Identify how you plan to overcome these challenges.• Make a list of 3-5 ideas – they can include, but are not limited

to, a character, a sentence, paragraph, topic, etc. Don’t hold back!

• **End of Workshop Project – On the 6th workshop, we will all share a written project. It can be poetry, a short story, chapter of a novel, chapter of memoir, essay, etc. There are no other guidelines, other than to have fun!

Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 2

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Last Week

• Let’s chat about our challenges & how we are going to overcome them

• Let’s discuss our ideas

Why Write?

• Professional– Business writing– Novel

• Personal– Memoir– Journal/Diary

2 Stages of Writing

• 1st Stage– Creative– Playful– Explore

*Do not be careful*Do not read what you

have written*Surprise yourself

• 2nd Stage– Read– Analyze– Rewrite

Exercise

• What book(s) are you currently reading?

• List your 3 favorite books

• Do they have anything in common?

Exercise• Writing warm up – – Write non-stop for 5 minutes– Do not stop to think– Do not pause, leave a space if necessary

– Do this at home too!

Unlock Your Inner Writer

• Life Experiences– If you can read this

presentation, you have all the experience you need to write

• Write 3 life experiences and share– We will read these, so

please make sure you are comfortable sharing the experiences

For Next Workshop

• Take one of your life experiences and create an opening sentence. – Even though it is just one sentence, please try and

incorporate the experience into the sentence.– We will read these aloud, so please make sure you

are comfortable with the experience. • Create a fictional character name to go along

with your sentence. (The character does not have to be mentioned in the sentence)

Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 3

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Last Week

• Did you try to write for 5 min non-stop? If so, how did it go?

• Let’s share our sentences• What are your character names?

Get Ready to Write!

• Part 1 – 5 min or 3 pages– Pretend you are the

paper or computer screen

– Or choose your own object in this room

– Write how you feel in 1st person “I”

• Part 2 – 5 min or 3 pages– Now pretend you are

the pen or keyboard– Or choose another

object in this room– Write how you feel in 1st

person “I”

Get Ready to Write Again!

• Part 3 – 5 min or 3 pages– Now write a conversation between pen/paper or

screen/keyboard or the two chosen objects

Keep a Writer’s Journal

• Thoughts• Feelings• Story Ideas• Characters• Dreams• Everything that pops

into your head

Time to be a Superhero

• Be honest in your writing• Do not be afraid to take a chance• “Journals need not be grim or boring.”• “Magic happens when one engages in regular and long-term

involvement with oneself in words on paper.”• “Expressing the joys of your life, appreciating what’s good

today, playing with ideas – all are potentially magical.”• “Trusting Yourself”

• Source – Anybody Can Write by Roberta Jean Bryant, 1999.

For Next Workshop

• Create a paragraph and focus on something great that happened to you since the last workshop

• Write a paragraph, poem, or essay on the following prompt– Write about a place you’ve never been. The place

can be real and one that you’ve had an interest in visiting or it can be a fictional place.

Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 4

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Last Week

• Let’s share our paragraphs• Any questions or problems with your writing?• How is your final project coming along?

Doubts

• Internal Critic– Don’t think too much– Ignore “I can’ts, I won’ts,

or I trieds”.

• Exercise: Allow your self-doubt to speak for itself. Do it with a sense of humor. – Use 1st person “I”.

Enjoy Yourself

• If you don’t enjoy writing, why will anyone enjoy reading your writing?

• Writing gives you the chance to explore your unknown. – Adventures– Mythical characters and creatures– Inner desires

Exercise

• Write about something you enjoy doing– 5 minutes, try to write continuously– Share

• Write something positive about something you dislike– 5 minutes, try to write continuously– Share

For Next Workshop

• Topics and words are all around us each and everyday.– Start a list of words, phrases, or topics you learn

while reading novels, magazines, or newspapers

Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 5

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Last Week

• Share list of words, phrases, or topics that caught your eye

• Any questions or problems?

Most Common Writer’s Block

• Think Before You Write• Do Research Instead• Get Plenty of Advice• Take All Comments Personally• Wait for Inspiration• Procrastinate! Procrastinate!• Always Be Serious• Source: Anybody Can Write by Roberta Jean Bryant, pages 104-106, 1999

Criticism

• Ignore internal & external criticism– My Master’s Thesis

• Write Anyway– Do Not Give In!

• Write A lot– The more you write, the

more material you have to work with

• Commit to Yourself– Find a good time to

write– Find a good space to

write– Seek support from your

family• This should be your time to

write. No interruptions!

Advice

• Don’t take advice you don’t agree with– Everyone is a critic• People that don’t understand what you are attempting

to do• Potential competition

– Watch out for extreme encouragement• Family• There may be people afraid to hurt your feelings

Exercises!

• Part 1:– Write about what you

would wish for if you were granted just one wish.

• Part 2:– Write about yourself as

if you are an accomplished writer.• Be creative• Go big or go home!

For Next Workshop

• Finish your project• Write a paragraph giving me feedback for the

workshop and give to me at week 6 workshop. – Do not put your name on it and please be honest.– I promise I can handle the criticism

Creative Writing WorkshopWeek 6

Marysville Art League

Marty Amrine

Final Night!!

• Share Projects• Any final questions?• Risks & Rewards of a Writing Life

• Pages 186-187 Anybody Can Write

– Thank you so much for attending this workshop!– Any questions or final comments?

Tools

• Anybody Can Write by Roberta Jean Bryant

• Writer’s Digest - http://www.writersdigest.com/

• The Writer’s Idea Workshop by Jack Heffron.

• Outwitting Writer’s Block by Jenna Glatzer

• If you ever need to chat or have any questions, you can reach me– Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marty-Amrine-Freelance-Writer/120777864599222

– Blog: http://martyamrine.wordpress.com/

– Twitter: @marty_amrine