Literature and writing
Semester one
Build your own medieval society for writing or playing
Gillian Polack
6-8pm on 6 Thursdays from 3 May - $210
Well-constructed fiction and games require solid underpinning. This course takes you through key issues to consider in developing the setting of a novel or game and, step by step, using medieval history and daily life, develops the skills of world creation.
Cassata Siciliana:
Sicily explored through literature and film
Sergio Sergi
6-8pm on 8 Thursdays from 12 April - $275
Gain an insight into Italian literary history as viewed from a very particular angle, that of an offshore island with a distinct history and linguistic heritage. Secondly, we are made aware of the variety of forms of expression used by Sicilians, from poetry to music to film. Third, while all of the material is presented in English, having a bilingual presenter will enrich the experiences as passages will be presented in the original language.
Creative writing is now full
Shirley Cornish
6-8pm on 8 Mondays from 6 February - $275
Discuss how great writers choose adjectives and metaphors that make the body react, ways to set your imagination on fire and the joys and frustrations of submitting for publication. This course will help you create daily writing that is memorable, impressive and correct. Or perhaps - a book to boost your career, express your fantasies and dreams, or lay down your past for the future.
Full outline
Session full
Extraordinary poetry: for new and emerging writers
Hal Judge
6-8pm on 6 Wednesdays from 1 February - $155 ND
Poetry is a portal to the imagination - you are encouraged to play in that room of marvels. Poetry is the workshop of the language - you are licensed to experiment. We will inspire you to do the imagining and equip you to do the craft work (editing) of composing extraordinary poems.
Page-a-day book club: together we write your novel
Daniella Brodsky
6-7.30pm on 8 Wednesdays from 2 May - $210
This class is built on a simple, efficient premise: novels are written a page at a time. We expect to produce a page a day for a total of 40 pages. In addition to the page per day you write, each day you will read and critique one peer page contribution. The ability to learn not only from your work, but from others' as well, is the best way to find your footing and make rapid improvements in your writing.
Page turnability: how to write a novel readers can't put down
Daniella Brodsky
6-8pm on 5 Thursdays from 2 February - $185 ND
What makes a novel a page turner? It's no accident when a book achieves a breakneck pace. In this course/workshop, we'll assemble a page turnability toolkit, which will empower writers to pick up pace on any book-length story they've written, or wish to write. Open to all levels of experience.
Reading poetry is now cancelled
Trish May
6-7.30pm on 6 Wednesdays from 14 March - $120 ND is now cancelled
What is the relevance of poetry in the digital age? What role do poets play as public intellectuals? This course will look at the work of six post-war poets including Elizabeth Bishop and Sylvia Plath. It will be an introduction to academic approaches to literature, but more importantly, a space to develop and discuss your own ideas.
The warrior and the epic is cancelled
Sergio Sergi
6-8pm on 8 Tuesdays from 7 February - $275
An examination of why epic poems have survived the fall of at least two civilisations and continue to appeal to modern audiences; the texts to be reviewed are "The Iliad", "The Aeneid", "Le Morte d'Arthur" and "Paradise Lost".
Full outline
Session cancelled
Write a better essay (years 11 & 12)
Margaret Dunkley
6-9pm Thursday 23 February - $85 ND
We will look at how and where to make improvements in your essay writing by: understanding the structure and aim of the essay writing process; sorting out where the problem lies; examining the qualities of a good essay and looking at background processes that can lead to errors.
Writing - a novel approach
Gillian Polack
6-8pm on 8 Tuesdays from 6 March - $275
Hidden in every published novel are a range of skills. Understand the skills and how to develop them, understand the pitfalls and learn a few tricks of the trade from an experienced novelist.
Writing skills
Celia Hodgson
6-8pm on 10 Thursdays from 3 May - $299
Designed for those who aim to produce writing that is clear, coherent and concise. Understanding the essential elements of grammar, punctuation, spelling and good usage will help you to achieve these aims. Knowing how to construct sentences and paragraphs, to link ideas and structure an argument will also make your writing more focused and readable.
