Learning to Write Right

“Want to attend a creative writing course?” Meg asked. I perked up immediately. We had no idea who was conducting this course but, yes, I want to go I told her.

Years ago, when I mentioned about learning writing through a correspondence course, a newspaper editor told me not to waste money on writing courses.

“Read books,” he advised. “Read lots of book.” But, oh, wouldn't it be fun just to be in a room with other wannabe writers and listening to the wise words of (maybe) a published writer!

After about two months of waiting, Meg and I finally met the ‘course organiser’. Jude Day had emailed us the details about the workshop and was apparently the person in-charge of registration and collecting our RM100 fees.

“Hi! I’m Jude,” she said, her eyes twinkling. She seemed really glad to see us! My own eyes must have registered surprise. I hadn't expected a female Jude!

There were about 25 participants. One guy flew in all the way from Miri! The youngest attendee was a very young girl and the oldest must have been around my age. One lady looked so familiar but I couldn’t place her until a few days after the workshop. (She was the ‘laughing lady’ who came to teach our group how to clap-clap-hahaha!)

Finally, we got to see who’d be conducting the workshop. Robert Raymer  looked just like I saw him on—was it Cuppa Kopi?  

“I talk fast and I write sloppy,” he said. Well, who am I to disagree? He did talk fast but I won’t complain about the sloppy writing because mine is no better.

I’ve read a lot about writing: what to write; how to write; where to start; common pitfalls and such but I still learnt something new at this workshop! I appreciate the story-starter tips because I’m always stuck at the beginning. What could you write if you’re stuck even before you’ve typed the first sentence?

“Write lists!” Robert said. “Make a list of characters, of settings, of experiences.”

I’ve never tried listing actual people—people I know or strangers I’ve seen—as possible characters in my stories. I’ve never actually listed down the ‘highlights’ and ‘difficult’ periods of my life to use as possible experiences for my fictional characters. Nor have I made just a list of settings. Now I know that I can make a long list each of Characters, Settings, Experiences like Robert had pointed out.

Then I can add my own little twist: number each item on all the lists, pick a random number from each list and write a short story based on the words I’ve picked. It’s just to strengthen my writing muscle and to achieve my target of writing 250 words a day. What could be simpler? Now I’ll probably need to increase my daily target to 500 words!

I bought a copy of Robert’s Lovers and Strangers Revisited, a book I’ve had on my reading list since last year. I had to join the queue to have my copy signed. Oh, a reminder to myself: when you ask an author to sign your copy, say your name clearly and shut up while he’s writing so your name will not be changed to DINA.

Pictures courtesy of Jude Day