In this Writing West Midlands five-session course, we’ll be writing the past into life, whether your family’s stories are local legends or diaspora tales connecting far away. Open to beginners as well as more established writers.
We’ll explore a range of writing techniques including memoir, short fiction, poetry and dialogue to capture the flavours, sounds, dreams and family dynamics of living memory and a more distant past. We’ll be drawing on family history, photos and letters, and books set in your place of origin. We’ll take inspiration from tales passed from one generation to another, to write imaginatively and unsentimentally about the forces that shaped individual family histories.
This course is intended for those starting to write a personal or family history, as well as those who have some material written and would like to explore it further. No previous writing experience is necessary.
Mandy Ross has written over 60 children’s books, including a Children’s History of Birmingham. Twice shortlisted for Birmingham Poet Laureate, Mandy also writes poetry and plays for grown up audiences. She is artistic co-director of Secret City Arts and uses writing to cross-fertilise with music, performance, visual arts and other artforms.
Dates: Thursdays, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, on 4 January, 11 January, 18 January, 25 January and 1 February 2018.
Venue: Birmingham and Midland Institute
Cost: £99 (£89 concs)
Further information available
here