Creative writing, literature, literacy, plus art and film and anything else I can manage to link in. For everyone.
My first project teaching creative writing combined art with writing - as part of my Gold Arts Award. We explored the physical aspect of language.
Combining writing - which people can be put off by, whether because they feel they are not able to write well, or because it is not one of their interests - with other arts can be incredibly productive. It can be a vehicle for exploring other subjects, or it can be, of course, a subject in itself, and one that, once the fear is gone, can really inspire people.
If you look under this 'Creative Teaching' tab you can find lesson plans of some of the things I have done. Feel free to use them if they are useful, and if you want me to come and deliver one of them, or something new, just ask!
Combining writing - which people can be put off by, whether because they feel they are not able to write well, or because it is not one of their interests - with other arts can be incredibly productive. It can be a vehicle for exploring other subjects, or it can be, of course, a subject in itself, and one that, once the fear is gone, can really inspire people.
If you look under this 'Creative Teaching' tab you can find lesson plans of some of the things I have done. Feel free to use them if they are useful, and if you want me to come and deliver one of them, or something new, just ask!
Creative Writing and Science (And Artists for Climate Change):
Edgar Allan Poe took scientific ideas to their extreme and created horror stories.
I am an Artist for Climate Change. This is a project where we use our various artforms to try to encourage students to make positive changes in their and their families' lives that benefit the environment, and with particular reference to Climate Change.
Creative writing is a brilliant medium for better understanding climate change. It can be used, for example, to really explore the potential effects of climate change. Try writing a story involving making a cup of tea in a world where flooding has salinated most of the water and there are major power shortages.
Creative Writing and Literature:
In terms of the study of literature, you're always being asked to write, in essays, what the 'writer's intention' might have been when he used this or that technique: if you know about writing you can understand that a lot more. And studying literature helps you write - take a look at some of the more experimental writing such as Faulkner or James Joyce!
Creative Writing and Us:
I know that anyone can do creative writing. Fitzgerald, as I have told far too many people, used very simple language. But, beyond that, writing is storytelling, and everyone does that.
I have worked and work with a variety of groups - at schools, with adults with learning difficulties, with young unemployed adults, with young adults who have disabilities, and am involved in a craft and creative writing group for old aged pensioners.
Summary:
As with the number of stories we can tell, the options for projects involving writing are, I think, endless. This is a pretty good thing.
Edgar Allan Poe took scientific ideas to their extreme and created horror stories.
I am an Artist for Climate Change. This is a project where we use our various artforms to try to encourage students to make positive changes in their and their families' lives that benefit the environment, and with particular reference to Climate Change.
Creative writing is a brilliant medium for better understanding climate change. It can be used, for example, to really explore the potential effects of climate change. Try writing a story involving making a cup of tea in a world where flooding has salinated most of the water and there are major power shortages.
Creative Writing and Literature:
In terms of the study of literature, you're always being asked to write, in essays, what the 'writer's intention' might have been when he used this or that technique: if you know about writing you can understand that a lot more. And studying literature helps you write - take a look at some of the more experimental writing such as Faulkner or James Joyce!
Creative Writing and Us:
I know that anyone can do creative writing. Fitzgerald, as I have told far too many people, used very simple language. But, beyond that, writing is storytelling, and everyone does that.
I have worked and work with a variety of groups - at schools, with adults with learning difficulties, with young unemployed adults, with young adults who have disabilities, and am involved in a craft and creative writing group for old aged pensioners.
Summary:
As with the number of stories we can tell, the options for projects involving writing are, I think, endless. This is a pretty good thing.
