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Ryana
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29 Apr 2015, 6:40 am

Hi all,
I'm thinking about starting a creative writing workshop for SEN students. I've seen and experienced personally the benefit of creative writing as a creative therapy. I find that it can help people with autism keep their specialist subject within the context of a progressive narrative. Channeling their specialist subject(s) into one outlet can be very beneficial and satisfying. I also find that writing a story can help alleviate stress and also provide a wider range of expression.
I'm an Aspie currently studying creative writing with adolescent development with the Open University and hope to start a creative writing workshop for fellow Aspies and autistic people. I've already seen in various places in the forum some excellent pieces of writing, that clearly display a high level of craft.
I would like some information regarding what the community feels about this. Do any of you wish that there had been a creative writing workshop that you could have attended as a bit youngster? Maybe whilst you were at school?
I already have some activity plans and think that the workshop would be unique in that it would be a platform for individuals to go at their own pace and work off of their own ideas. So everyone would have their own project that they could build on, with short tutorials interjecting this individual project with advice on creating characters, dialogue, world creation, plot development etc. :)

I look forward to your reply. As a writer myself , i'm obviously expecting and hoping for as much constructive criticism and advice as possible. x



Comets
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29 Apr 2015, 12:24 pm

I think it sounds like an interesting idea. I loved to draw when I was in middle school, but I felt that art classes were more for learning and practicing specific techniques than for developing creatively or engaging in art therapy.



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09 May 2015, 2:35 pm

I took a lot of fiction and poetry workshops back in college, and found them invaluable. But there were always the snotty jackasses in class who had to tear down someone else' work just for the sake of humiliating them. I have to wonder, how many writers had had their talents and ambitions snuffed out because of those types.


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rarebit
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24 May 2015, 10:09 am

@Ryana
I would be interested. I've been teaching myself about screenplays recently, but at some point I need to get down to actual writing.

Have you heard about Moodle, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle ... its a free website management system for managing online teaching and such.

@Comets
I understand what you're saying, but to me I'm glad I learnt the basic skills because now I have the ability to visualise what I want to do and know I can do it...

@Kraichgauer
I always remember a quote in an old graffiti book, it said something like, "You don't have to understand something for it to be beautiful!"

I may not always like certain songs or music, but I respect that it means something to someone and I wonder what and why, then before long I've found something in common and find that I have a new appreciation of their work.



HighLlama
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24 May 2015, 3:40 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
I took a lot of fiction and poetry workshops back in college, and found them invaluable. But there were always the snotty jackasses in class who had to tear down someone else' work just for the sake of humiliating them. I have to wonder, how many writers had had their talents and ambitions snuffed out because of those types.


Keep plugging away, Bill. With time, the audience will find you.



Kraichgauer
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24 May 2015, 3:56 pm

HighLlama wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
I took a lot of fiction and poetry workshops back in college, and found them invaluable. But there were always the snotty jackasses in class who had to tear down someone else' work just for the sake of humiliating them. I have to wonder, how many writers had had their talents and ambitions snuffed out because of those types.


Keep plugging away, Bill. With time, the audience will find you.


Of that, I have no doubt. It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


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rarebit
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24 May 2015, 4:00 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


Sometimes any news is good news...



Kraichgauer
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24 May 2015, 4:20 pm

rarebit wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


Sometimes any news is good news...


Meh, not when it's vindictively soul crushing.


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rarebit
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24 May 2015, 4:26 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
rarebit wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


Sometimes any news is good news...


Meh, not when it's vindictively soul crushing.


But others will personally review your work to see if they agree or not,and then hopefully defend you.

I've got games on various smartphone markets, I personally can't comprehend some of the comments (other than as pure propaganda to get users to move on, on to their similar product), however after a while some people write their responses and consensus wins out!?
Unless it truly is bad, in that case, read the comments and use them constructively to do better.



rarebit
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24 May 2015, 4:29 pm

Oh, expect criticism, not everyone is the same, its a matter of taste and perspectives. So if you expect some then you won't be too bothered. Anyway, I'm my own worst critic!

Just think if you were in sales, they generally get the door slammed in their face 19 out of 20 times, but a sale is a sale!



HighLlama
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25 May 2015, 6:46 am

Kraichgauer wrote:
rarebit wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


Sometimes any news is good news...


Meh, not when it's vindictively soul crushing.


How about constructively soul crushing? :) Joking. Your passion is certainly inspiring. I hope the Spokane Valley is enjoyable today. I spent a year at Evergreen State College about 10 years ago. Beautiful area.



Kraichgauer
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25 May 2015, 10:01 am

HighLlama wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
rarebit wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
It's those who are critical just for the sake of ripping others down who I have a problem with.


Sometimes any news is good news...


Meh, not when it's vindictively soul crushing.


How about constructively soul crushing? :) Joking. Your passion is certainly inspiring. I hope the Spokane Valley is enjoyable today. I spent a year at Evergreen State College about 10 years ago. Beautiful area.


It is, now that we moved into a different area just recently. Our old neighborhood was growing with crime, and our landlords were treating us and others who weren't their favorites like trash.


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