JOURNALISM: New creative writing course to support workers during lockdown 

As part of a Scottish Government initiative to support the mental health of workers during the pandemic, the NUJ is pleased to be able to offer an innovative new course to support workers during this time.  This course offers four creative writing for wellbeing sessions,  plus an hour of personal therapy with a Doctor of Counselling Psychology to discuss any specific issues participants have, whether Covid-related or not.  The writing sessions will cover the usual elements of a creative writing course, but will also offer the opportunity to take part in writing for well-being tasks, an area the two tutors have undertaken research in. There will also be a follow-up module available giving help and advice on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,  and basic mindfulness techniques.

This course is highly specialised and expensive to run, and we would therefore ask that you apply only if you are committed to attending all sessions.  The course will run twice with 12 participants: once on a Friday daytime, and once on a weekday evening,  with dates and times to be confirmed with participants.  If you would like to be considered for a place, please send an initial email, with a brief paragraph giving your job, background in writing, and reasons for doing the course, copying in both Catherine Deveney and Joan Macdonald. (Cdev2112@aol.com, joanm@nuj.org.uk)  Please also state whether you would prefer the daytime or evening course.

SESSION 1: From Fact to Fiction. Using real emotions and writing from experience.  The alchemy of imagination and experience.

SESSION 2:  The Inner Rattle.   Characterisation and the matryoshka layers of personality.

SESSION 3:  Places and Plots.  Applying the ‘What If’  question to familiar things.  Voice and narration.

SESSION 4:  Structure and style.  The narrative arc of stories and telling it with style.

SESSION 5:  Personal therapy session.

Joan Macdonald
Training Manager
NUJ Training Scotland
Tel:  0141 251 0363   Mob:  07730 513991
email: joanm@nuj.org.uk