creative writing course

[lobelia321]

A mysterious message appeared in my university's staff newsletter, notifying readers of a "reflective writing course for postgraduates and staff". I rang up and put my name down and am going to the planning meeting next week. It's run by somebody from Social Work (??) which is entirely good because I don't know anybody from Social Work but know everybody from English (which would be the logical department to run such a course).

My hopes should maybe not be too high but I am now absurdly excited to be joining the ranks of such as eyebrowofdoom, cupiscent and gabbyhope of Those Who Have Done or Are Doing a Creative Writing Course.

Except: what's 'reflective'? *worries she'll be sitting next to stargazers and people with soft purple eyes who believe in pixies and press your hand a moment too long upon being introduced...*

Comments

[freyafloyd.livejournal.com]

Please come on aim

*makes big puppy eyes*

[bunnysquee.livejournal.com]

i've completed about half a dozen writing courses, techniques of writing, short story writing, novel writing, looking for something to write, writing for magazines and newspapers [2]. it's interesting, to say the least, plus you get to meet some interesting people.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! this is heartening. Also, I've never done it. so i want to

[cupiscent.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm in a rank? Go me.

I once did a day-long fantasy writing course run by two Australian authors of the genre. It was birthday, I figured I deserved the present. The second half of it was fabulous, all tech and detailed and work (from the very talented Trudi Canavan) but the first half was a bit nebulous and gave far too much rein to the "I am visited by angels" and "I believe in the inner love of all mankind" duo sitting on the other side of the table from me.

I am Ms Hard Cynical Bitch, yo.

Your "stargazers and soft purple eyes" just reminded me of that incident. Just ignore them, and get your own stuff out of the business, say I.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the advice. I, too, am wary. Especially as I know my institution...

[childeproof.livejournal.com]

Suspect 'reflective' in a university context means something along the lines of 'If you are staff or a postgrad, don't worry about undergraduates showing up and giggling at your sex scenes because they're not allowed in this course'.
Hope it's good - the real problems in my experience are that the group either turns into a diabetes-inducing love-in ('Leeeerrrrrve your work')or a verbal bare-knuckle ('That was total crap. In fact, everything you write it total crap').

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning! Will bear it in mind.

*dons knuckle dusters*

[littlerhymes]

Hmmm. Coming from a completely different perspective here... From my experience, 'reflective writing' in the academic/university context refers to critical self-reflection and evaluative writing (usually in the form of journals and other personal-experienced based forms).

There's actually quite a significant body of academic literature on reflective writing - it's become very trendy in the educational context in the past 20 years - but as a practice it's still operating in a methodological vacuum. So. Your course could be very useful. Then again it might just be a slightly more sophisticated version of pixies and hand-holding. *g*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. If this is what it is, I do not want to do it. I am ringing the person who runs it tomorrow so will quiz as to exact content of course. The header said 'reflective' but the body of the announcement said 'creative' so maybe they are confused.