SM1012
Creative Writing Workshop
This
course is about creativity
as much as about writing ¡V
in fact, two as one.
Creativity
is NOT a mystery.
We
believe in creativity as a way of life, experienced by the principles
of :
- self-awareness, self understanding
- integration : associative
power, ability to make connections, see the familiar in the unfamiliar
and vice versa.
- Flexibility : the ability
and readiness to adopt new perspectives and to engage in different POVs
- Observational power :
attention to details, ability to use your 5 senses fully
- communicativeness : readiness
to express thoughts, emotions, beliefs etc. in different forms of language
The
main objectives of the course
are:
- to remove the habitual hurdles, psychological barriers, inhibitions
and mind blocks¡K in writing
- to encourage writing as a practice that would bring us deeper understanding
of ourselves and closer contact with the people and the world around us
- to enable us to see -- through capturing physical details, studying
movement, human interaction, physical space, the power and effect of time
etc.
- to create experiences of creativity as a life-style
In
the process of the course, you will:
- learn to enjoy writing as a life-style, a discipline, fun-making as
well as a doorway to unfamiliar territories
- write dynamically and flexibly
- discover your voice and capacity in a variety of styles
- become more sensitized to your writing habits and potentials
What
kind of writing do we cherish and nourish ?
- writing that is visual
- writing that is rich in details
- writing that harbors different levels
of realities ¡V physical, metaphoric/symbolic, conceptual,
and visionary
- writing that dialogues
with other media
The Workshop style:
We have no superstition
in the linear logical sequencing of topics. We¡¦ll hop from games on creativity
to experiences of principles in writing and twist and turn when time is
ripe for more topical contemplation. But a number of strands will hold
the class together as a whole ¡V concepts represented by key words introduced
above and below. In each 3-hour workshop section, you¡¦ll have :
- writing exercises that correspond to the theme of the day
- lots of discussion and interaction
Our
shared vocabulary of Creativity
Throughout the course,
you¡¦ll encounter some key terms repeatedly, which forms our shared vocabulary
of Creativity :
| Key
themes and areas in class |
The actual class time will cover the following issues via a diverse range
of activities:
On Creativity
Associative, Divergent and Lateral Thinking
Working with restrictions and limitations
De-naturalization & De-familiarization
On Writing
Automatic writing
Idea Generation & use of abstract stimuli
Research
Descriptive power: the "Show-not-tell" principle:
¡E The power of seeing
¡E The power of details
¡E The power of the process
¡E Maximizing sight and sound
¡E The power of quantification
¡E Material surfaces, appearance
¡E Space and Time
¡E Metaphors and analogy
Narrative space: point of view, voice, subjectivity
On Integration
Automatism as strategy, therapy and style
Surrealism and levels of reality: material, allegorical, imaginary, visionary
& dream-work
Visuality and the written text
Social and cultural investigation
Writing the city
Keep
a logbook (journal) in which you will record your personal account of each
class meeting, collect regular automatic writings, class notes, in-class
writing exercises, and short take-home assignments. You are also encouraged
to use the logbook to freely collect people, places and objects that interest
you across the semester. Each of such entry should contain a mixture of
words, text, visual material (e.g. sketch, photographs), collectibles, statistical
information and so on ¡V whatever you consider revealing details of the
subject. Be flexible with the (written) text and feel free to adapt any
writing forms and styles we¡¦ve discussed in class, or of your own creation.
Include a 1-page reflection on your automatic writings on the last
page of your logbook.
Assessment
Continuous assessment via writing projects across the semester -- a combination
of:
(1) Three writing projects across the semester (explained in a later section); and
(2) Log book & class participation
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