Tag Archive | character
How to Critique Other People’s Writing
Giving feedback in a creative writing workshop or writing group is a tricky business. The biggest problem I’ve encountered, as both workshop attendee and facilitators, is that people are afraid to do it. They think, “What right have I to critique someone else’s writing?” So they just murmur “That was lovely” and move on. At […]
Have Fun Creating Characters
Creating characters is by far my favourite part of the writing process. It gives you an idea of what it must be like to be God, as you mould your characters into what ever images you choose. As you add quirky little details to them, like the funny way they hold their cup, or their […]
High Speed Storytelling
I’m looking forward to a week packed with writing activities and opportunities to meet my fellow writers. There’s the social media panel, a radio panel on Saturday with fellow writers Orla Shanaghy and Mary Grehan. But first, I’m giving a free two hour workshop as part of Waterford Festival of Learning, to give people a […]
Is Non Fiction More Compelling Than Fiction
Last week, in my creative writing class in Clonmel, the students created characters and were encouraged to make them do slightly crazy things, like walk around the room. They did it dutifully, but dubiously. I was a little surprised, as most groups relish the chance to play God, but these things happen. Some exercises work […]
Quotation Marks: An Endangered Species
If the prospect of reading a post about quotation marks doesn’t cause you to roll your eyes to heaven, then please read on. These humble, comma-like marks have been getting a makeover in recent times. They’ve been swapping places. Sometimes, they’ve disappeared altogether. Single and Double Quotes When we were at school, we were taught […]
What’s Your Character’s Status
Like many bookworms, I’m in the middle of two books at the moment. One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell revolves around an apartment block in modern-day Manhattan. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory is set in the court of King Henry the Eighth. On the surface, these are two very different books. Yet in […]
