The Essential Beginnings: An Introductory Creative Writing Workshop

If you sign up before Jan. 23, you get a $30 discount!

The Essential Beginnings: An Introductory Creative Writing Workshop at the Writers Program, UCLA Extension - Class starts Feb. 23-Mar 29, 6 mtgs. taught by Cecilia Brainard, call 310-825-9971.
The Thursday class meets in 1010 Westwood Blvd, one block from UCLA proper.

The class will make a life-altering Christmas gift!

Course Description: Many aspire to write creatively, but few know how to get started. A supportive workshop for those who wish to write for personal or professional satisfaction, this course provides many fundamental techniques--from journal writing to imaginative in-class exercises--all geared to motivate and cultivate the beginning creative writer. Topics include writing from observation and experience, creating dynamic characters, developing points of view, and writing dialogue. By the course's completion, you have in hand a series of short sketches or a draft of a story.

Creative Writing Class - Coming up!

I'm teaching Essential Beginnings of Creative Writing at the Writers Program, UCLA Extension Nov. 4-Dec.15, please call 310-825-9415 for more information. This is a good beginning class that covers the real basics: character, character development, tension, plot, conflict, etc.

Pictures Writing Workshop in Makati; Steve Aznar's Party

I'm posting some pictures taken at the Writing Workshop (Fundamentals of Creative Writing Workshop, July 9, 2011) which I conducted for Anvil in Powerbooks, Makati; and here's a photo taken at Stephen Aznar's party celebrating his new pad in Cebu (July 11, 2011 - Steve owns Cafe Elysa in Historic Cebu).

Both events were very fun. Some 55 workshoppers braved Manila's rain and showed up at Powerbooks in Makati. We worked together for over 2 hours. The pictures show some of the workshoppers sharing their in-class right brain exerice. I did a right brain meditative exercise and the results were fantastic; the workshoppers themselves were surprised at their work and experience. Thank you Anvil and Powerbooks for sponsoring the event.

Steve's party was in in his new place in Cebu, and he had some 20 people enjoying his seafood pasta and goat curry stew (the best!), along with egg rolls and Greek salad, another chicken dish. Wine, champagne and a unique lychee-martini drink flowed. We were up until 2 a.m. still chatting while Steve and our hostess Joy Uy finally crashed. Thank you Steve and Joy for a very fun evening!

I'll be Teaching a Creative Writing Workshop, begins April 7, 2011

Hi, Thursday, April 7, 2011, I start teaching a six-week class, The Essential Beginnings: An Introductory Creative Writing Workshiop, at the Writers Program, UCLA Extension. Call 310-206-0951 for more information. Here's the Syllabus. I hope you can join us.

SYLLABUS
THE ESSENTIAL BEGINNINGS:
AN INTRODUCTORY CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

Instructor: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard; www.ceciliabrainard.com

Brainard's email: Cbrainard@aol.com; note in subject "UCLA-X Student"

For administrative matters, call Mae Respicio at 310-206-0951

Course Description: Many aspire to write creatively, but few know how to get started. A supportive workshop for those who wish to write for personal or professional satisfaction, this course provides many fundamental techniques--from journal writing to imaginative in-class exercises--all geared to motivate and cultivate the beginning creative writer. Topics include writing from observation and experience, creating dynamic characters, developing points of view, and writing dialogue. By the course's completion, you have in hand a series of short sketches or a draft of a story.

Class Calendar: This is a six-week class. Class starts Thursday, 04/07/2011, ends 05/12/2011

Grading: Grading will be based on attendance, class participation, and homework.

Required Reading:
Fundamentals of Creative Writing, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Anvil 2009 (distributed by PALH; available in Kindle Amazon.com)
Suggested Reading:
Points of View: Anthology of Short Stories, ed. Moffett & McElheny, New American Library
Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular, by Rust Hills, Bantam
The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, Macmillan Publishing
The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner, Vintage
On Writing and the Novel: Essays by Paul Scott, ed. Shelley C. Reese, William Morrow
Aspects of the Novel, by E.M. Forster, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
The Right-Brain Experience, by Marilee Zdeneck, McGraw-Hill
The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, ed. Fulton and Ferber, Dustbooks
Writers Market, by Writers Digest Books, F&W Publications When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, University of Michigan Press,1999; available from Amazon.com
Magdalena, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Plain View Press; available from Amazon.com

Weekly Schedule:
1. Introductions; Understanding the right brain/left brain theory; Setting & Scene
2. Character; Conflict
3. Dialogue; Point of View
4. Plot
5. Voice, tension; Business of Writing
6. Final Project