Big Smoke Writing Factory

Big Smoke Writing Factory is delighted to offer this day long workshop in drama and creative writing, designed and facilitated by one of its founding members, Nicole Rourke. Nicole trained in theatre with Tmu-Na Theatre Company, Tel-Aviv, Israel. She has worked in professional theatre both here and abroad for many years, mainly as an actor but has also experience in writing and directing. On top of this Nicole is highly experienced as both a drama facilitator and a creative writing facilitator - a combination which makes for a very unique workshop experience.

When it comes to telling stories, drama is really where it all begins. After all, we learn to speak and play before we learn to write. Combining the two can help the writer to expand their powers of observation, imagination and language as well as add that dramatic element that may be lacking. This unique workshop brings drama to your writing in an immediate and effective way.

Part 1:

• Drama exercises and storytelling games to build character and gather ideas. Participants may use this section to further develop characters they are currently working on. (Please note that all the drama exercises are very gentle and nobody will be put on the spot to perform!)
• Script analysis - Looking at Plotting, Structures, Characterisation, the Rhythms of Language and Dialogue.

Part 2:

• Creative writing exercises and storyboarding to further develop ideas, storylines and characters.

Throughout the day each workshop participant will be immersed in a range of ideas and exercises designed to further develop their writing skills. This course is suitable for anyone with previous writing experience. With regard to the drama element, no experience is necessary.

Queries regarding course content may be directed to Nicole either via email or over the phone at 086-857-6705.

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: 1 full day
Fee: €75
Discounted fee: €55 (available for students currently taking a course at Big Smoke - please mention course you're taking on the registration form)
Facilitator: Nicole Rourke

Winter/spring 2010

SATURDAY, February 27, 2010. FULL DAY.
Book by February 20, 2010. Please note that paying by Paypal/credit card is not an option for this course: cash, cheque, or money order only, please.

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Have a writing-related pun.

(This Big Smoker's favourite is: The second best writing implement in the world is the pen ultimate. Groan.)

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This course is designed for a student with some writing experience who is interested in writing short stories and is either struggling to begin, stuck in the middle of a project, or perhaps just looking for some encouragement.

The course is structured over twelve weeks and will include discussions about contemporary short stories, their styles and use of literary device, and in-class workshops in which the students will share and discuss their own writing.

Length: 12 weeks
Fee: €280
Facilitator: Maggie Smith Hurt

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Spring/summer 2010
Date/time TBC. Contact Big Smoke if interested.

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People who like wisdom with their food will like fortune cookie factories (to visit when next in San Francisco, or to admire from afar!).

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Declan Meade's editorial in the most recent issue of The Stinging Fly is a reminder to support the arts, and the arts organisations you enjoy and believe in.

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TimelessMyths.com is worth taking a look at.

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IMAGE Author Evening this Thursday (October 22nd), 6.30-9pm at the Westbury Hotel. Featuring Anna McPartlin, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Paul Howard.

Download a flyer here (pdf).

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Storytellers may want to check out Milk and Cookies, who are holding their first event next week (October 27th). The event is being held in association with Exchange Words, whose own events are also worth taking a look at.

And if you haven't made it to an Innovation Dublin event yet, there's still a couple of days left of the festival.

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Diana Wynne Jones on writing a story and planning.

And if you're searching for a title, take a look at this article.

Finally, a Fiction Factor piece on procrastination when writing.

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It's October, which means it's time for folks to start thinking about Nanowrimo. Write a novel in November: 1,667 words a day for 30 days, swept up in that seat-of-your-pants first-draft exhilaration.

"As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children."

(Playwrights, keep an eye out for Script Frenzy in April.)

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The best 60 books of the past 60 years from The Times.

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Have a look at Missed Connections.

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"If we are to understand Creative Writing better, we need to recognise that it is both a range of activities and a range of end results, and that the activities and the end results are accessed by us in various ways."

What do you think, dear readers? What is creative writing, for you? And why do you do it?

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"As they prepare to fire up the furnaces, their confidence in the venture is infectious. Arts funding may be thin on the ground, but somehow that doesn’t seem as important as boundless passion – and pots of tea."

Tea is in fact our secret. The very lovely Grace Garvey spoke to us for the Irish Times Magazine - go take a look!

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Got a question about Beginning To Write? Check here first to see if it's answered, and if not, get in touch.

I’m a complete beginner – I’ve never written anything creative! Is this course suitable for me?
Yes, absolutely! When we say ‘beginners’ we really mean it – you’re not expected to turn up with a portfolio of work under your arm, though sometimes some students will have written bits and pieces before starting the class. Part of what a Beginners course will do is take you through steps such as identifying the material you want to write about as well as looking at various literary/poetic techniques and tools. It’s a space for trying out a lot of new things and seeing what works for you.

I have a little bit of experience writing – is this course suitable for me?
‘Beginning To Write’ also suits individuals who haven’t written anything in a while – perhaps not since school – or people who took a class years ago and are looking to get back into creative writing in a supportive and low-pressure ‘beginners’ environment.
It may also suit people who write, but not creatively, as part of their jobs, e.g. journalists, lawyers, those working in PR, etc.

I’ve taken a couple of classes and/or been writing for a couple of years. Is a ‘Beginning to Write’ course suitable for me?
You may get something out of a Beginners course even at this level, but we’d recommend you look at our other course offerings, including our Beyond Beginners course.

How much time will I have to commit to the course?
The course is 2 hours a week. Apart from this you will also be expected to devote a bit of time outside of the course hours to a) reading any material the course facilitator has provided and/or b) working on writing exercises.

How much writing will I be expected to do during the course?
There will be some writing within class time, with the option of reading work out to the group and receiving feedback. There will also be writing exercises or suggestions to work on outside of class time. By the end of the 10 weeks you are likely to have a handful of short first-draft pieces with perhaps one or two pieces of work you have devoted more time to.

Will I have to read my work out loud?
Reading your work is not compulsory, but strongly recommended, as it’s a way of getting feedback from others in the group and it’s often a good experience simply to hear how a piece sounds when read aloud.

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Looking for a Christmas gift? We are pleased to announce that we now have online gift certificates available. These gift certificates are redeemable against any Big Smoke course.

Gift certificates do not have an expiry date. They cannot be exchanged for cash. Online gift certificates may be refunded within 7 days of purchase and will not be refunded past this date.

Please note that gift certificates bought online must be used to pay for courses online (via Paypal). Any balance owing must be paid via Paypal in the same transaction. Any amount left on the gift certificate will remain in your account to use towards future purchases at Big Smoke. Separate paper gift certificates are available at open days and through the post, made out to the amount of your choosing.

Each link below will take you a secure Paypal site where you can purchase an online gift certficate redeemable at Big Smoke Writing Factory.

To go towards a Big Smoke course...
€50 gift certificate
€100 gift certificate

To pay for a Big Smoke course in its entirety...
€240 gift certificate (10-week Beginning To Write courses)
€250 gift certificate (10-week specialist courses)
€280 gift certificate (12-week courses)
€315 gift certificate (14-week workshops)
€395 gift certificate (advanced 17-week workshops)

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Here's the schedule for autumn/winter '09. Click titles for course description and further information!

Already know what class you want to sign up for? Download the registration form as a PDF or Word document, or click through to the course page for Paypal links.

(Term began Sept 21st 2009. Only classes which have yet to start are listed here.)

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1-day workshop on SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER
The Drama of Writing, full day Booking open

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Course schedule for the winter/spring 2010 term is available now!

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See also:
BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies
How do I pay for a course?

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How to Successfully Write and Publish Chick Lit
with Marisa Mackle

This day-long course will help anyone aspiring to write a bestselling chick lit novel find their own voice, write sellable, popular fiction and conquer the publishing world.

Marisa Mackle’s well-established seminar helps guide the beginning writer through various stages: learning how to structure a chick lit novel, avoid clichés, and effectively edit, how to get into the world of magazine and newspaper writing and how to navigate the publishing world to get your work published.

The course breaks for lunch and coffee throughout the day and has a question/answer hour at the end.

Places are limited to maximise individual attention.
Coffee/tea/biscuits etc will be provided by Big Smoke. There will be a hour-long break for lunch in which participants may avail of one of the cafes or restaurants around the area.

BIG SMOKE class/workshop policies

Length: 1 full day
Fee: €140
Guest Teacher: Marisa Mackle

About the teacher
Marisa Mackle is the number one bestselling author of eleven books including Confessions of an Air Hostess and Mr. Right for the Night. Her work has been translated into a dozen languages. She is a journalist with the Evening Herald, Sunday World and Travel Extra magazine. Marisa lives with her child in Dublin where she is also an editor and publisher.

Winter 2010

SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH 2010.
Full day. 9.30am-5pm. Book by January 23, 2010.

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We here at Big Smoke are fans of tea, as you may have noticed, and what makes tea a more wondrous thing? Biscuits, of course! So this week we are appreciating biscuit factories.

Image: Jacob's Biscuit Factory, c. 1900. National Archives.

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... will be held this Saturday, October 3, 2-5pm.

Sign up for a course in person, or pop in to discuss our course offerings.

Find us on Google Maps.

We will accept payment by cash, money order or cheque at open registration days. We regret to inform you that at present we cannot accept payment via credit card except online via Paypal.

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