Course Overview

This intermediate creative writing course aims to augment and develop the foundations laid down in the ‘Creative Writing – An Introduction‘ or ‘Finding your Voice’ courses. Alumni of these or other practical introductory courses will find this pragmatic approach quite familiar, yet intensified as we challenge, add to and enrich the layers within the work, further informing regular practice and growing the writer’s tool kit. We’ll focus on a new range of approaches and techniques each week to expand the craft, as we explore more quality examples to inspire the creation a new sequence of first draft poems and/or short fictions. Attention will also be given to polishing and finishing, working to improve both early and late draft poems and stories, all the while moving them towards completion and publication readiness. This course is suitable for anyone who has participated in creative writing classes before.

In ˜Expanding your Creative Writing Practice“ Intermediate Level˜, as with the beginner's course, each 2-hour class explores a range of quality, contemporary or classical examples of poetry and/or short fiction, followed by related prompts to produce new pieces of work, along with the opportunity to share and receive feedback.  You can expect to generate 2-4 new drafts at each session.

For writers who have attended a number of creative writing workshops or who have already developed a foundation of good practice, this course will help you to build and expand greatly on your skillset, developing through practice and appreciation, even more confidence and flexibility to develop new and exciting work. Participants will gain insight into a variety of new techniques and methods, while developing one’s craft at a comfortable, yet slightly more pressurised pace. 

This intermediate creative writing course further explores an even wider variety of what is achievable in short-form prose and poetry, while deconstructing some of the finer mechanics of the craft, exploring and employing new tools to enrich one’s skillset. Among the varied topics covered, we’ll explore the burgeoning art of the poetry-film and see how a poem can be made into a film script. As with the beginners’ course, participants will typically generate 20-30 new first drafts by the end of the course, assuming 100% attendance is achieved.

Course Schedule 

Classes will be delivered online on Thursdays 7-9pm for eight weeks from 28 January to 1 April. The following topics form the basis for the 10 workshops, while the list remains flexible and changeable depending on the general interests of the class as we progress.

1. Expanding the Language of Metaphor
2. Ekphrasis Level 2
3. Deepening Perspective: Invention
4. More Forms in Poetry (Haiku, Ghazaal, Villanelle)
5. Characterization
6. Short Film Script Adaptation (to and from Short Fiction)
7. Poetry Films – Exploration and Adaptation
8. Flash Fiction OR Sonnets (Class Choice)
9. Editing, Drafting and Polishing unfinished pieces
10. Peer Feedback Session

Course Lecturer

Paul Casey’s poems are published in journals and anthologies in Ireland and worldwide, in five of his six spoken languages. He has taught creative writing since 2003 and works with students of all ages. His most recent collection is Virtual Tides (Salmon Poetry, 2016), which follows home more or less (Salmon, 2012) and a chapbook, It's Not all Bad (Heaventree Press, 2009). He also made a poetry-film, The Lammas Hireling (available on vimeo), curates the annual Unfinished Book of Poetry for secondary school students and promotes poetry in his role as director of Ó Bhéal in Cork - www.obheal.ie

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at course commencement.

Assessment

Short courses are not assessed. Students will receive a UCC Certificate of Attendance upon completion.

Closing Date for Application

Monday 18 January

Contact Details for Further Information

Regina Sexton, Phone: 021-4904700, Email: shortcourses@ucc.ie