Creative and Memoir Writing

Simon scuffed his wellies off on the stones leading up to the old cottage and ducked his head before stepping through the open door into thick darkness. Ready to pull his ID card from his pocket, he called out, “Inspector Hay here, looking for Mrs. Featherbody. Anybody home?” Once inside, he saw what was left of the pull chain to a ceiling lamp, and he pulled the short chain carefully, glancing around the room full of what could have been his grandmother’s furniture, at least what he could see of it.

Creative and Memoir Writing Feb. 15, 2023

We read the published work to find out what works, at least as a writer. I have been writing for decades, and I still read to find out what works, especially in the genres I enjoy reading and writing and the new work just emerging.

Creative and Memoir Writing Class

The first mistake that we talked about was the idea that you had to write “the most beautiful prose in order to write a story that holds the reader’s attention.” The reality is that by the time you purchase or borrow from the library any book, it has been through the hands and efforts of many professional editors. So, just get your story down; remember that the first draft is just a first draft. Once you have your ideas on paper, you can polish them to your heart’s content, and your editor’s heart’s content.

Creative and Memoir Writing Class scheduled for Oct. 12, 2022

Then, what do you know about the character you are focusing on for this exercise: his or her place in history or life? Do they have a position of influence? Are they bound by their place in the culture of the community where the action occurs? Or have they been influenced by the events that impinged on life before the story opens?

Creative and Memoir Writing

It crunched. Yes, it crunched, like a thing with a shell, really, I could imagine like a baby octopus with little bony tentacles. Well, I could not swallow it like it was, so I had to chew it up somehow. So very gingerly, with my napkin very close to my mouth, I chewed it up fast. There is no other way to describe it – fast. And almost as fast, I swallowed it.

Creative and Memoir Writing July 8, 2022

How has your protagonist or hero changed since the beginning of the book? Think through who that character was at the beginning of the story, consider the journey and the challenges, and the impact on him or her. This is subtle or may be dramatic, but if there are no changes to the characters, the story is really a linking of scenes in which pretty boring people get up in the morning, do stuff, and go to bed at night, no different.

Creative and Memoir Writing June 22, 2022

“LEAVING IRELAND” BY CAROL BRENNAN KING, READING & DISCUSSION One of many things that would show up if you googled my name - a good sort of thing to show an agent or editor or publisher - talking today about name recognition online By Carol Brennan King Personal Essay Writing and Why! To get a…Read more Creative and Memoir Writing June 22, 2022

Creative and Memoir Writing:

5 Steps to Writing an Article Carol Brennan King  June 8, 2022 Notes from our writing class Last week we put our toes into the water of writing an article. We stepped back and did an overview of the process, but today we stepped right in knee deep. First, remember that we are talking about…Read more Creative and Memoir Writing:

Let’s Try Writing Something New This Week!

After nearly three months, I am back at my desk! By Carol Brennan King  June 1, 2022 As I thought about what facet of writing we should consider this summer term, it came to me that we have talked about our platform. But we really haven’t done much in class to build one. When I…Read more Let’s Try Writing Something New This Week!

Creative Writing and Memoir Class Notes

Carol Brennan King March 8, 2022 This week we discussed some of the business sides of writing and promoting. Therefore, because I want to leave you with helpful resources, I am going to pass on to you some comprehensive websites I have found useful. We talked first about the path to publication with the tools…Read more Creative Writing and Memoir Class Notes

Creative Writing and Memoir Writing September 15, 2021

Welcome Back! from Carol Brennan King It has been a while since we have been together and it was great to see you in person and via Zoom. In person people - please note that you can bring your laptop or tablet to class, and set it to zoom so that you can see the…Read more Creative Writing and Memoir Writing September 15, 2021

Creative Writing and Memoir Writing Class Notes

Carol Brennan King            July 7, 2021 Prompt for next week: Write something around the word vacation. Think school, holiday, family, short or long vacations, accidental vacations (a snow day) or intentional and planned vacations. The example that I am sharing here may seem a long way off from vacation, but I was on my vacation…Read more Creative Writing and Memoir Writing Class Notes

Creative Writing and Memoir/Nonfiction Writing Class Notes

March 10, 2021  Taught by Carol Brennan King    Creative Writing: today we focused on using white space, lines, and punctuation as tools to help us communicate our stories. We also talked about how using breath units, or the words we want to be read in one breath, help us reach our reader to interpret the…Read more Creative Writing and Memoir/Nonfiction Writing Class Notes

Creative Writing and Memoir Class Notes

Nov. 4, 2020 Carol Brennan King Note class changes next week: Creative Writing will be from 9-11am and Memoir will be from 2-4pm. Assignments Creative Writing: We talked about seven emotions: joy, anger, worry, anxiety, sadness, fear, and fright. For next week, write a short piece that shows your character(s) experiencing emotions. The point is…Read more Creative Writing and Memoir Class Notes

Creative and Memoir Writing

Remember. you want to personalize your query, to make it sound different from all the other people who have looked up what a query letter is and follow that outline in a stiff and impersonal fashion. You want the editor to know that if he or she does not follow up on your letter, they are missing someone who will be able to help sell the book with their own passion.