“In order to create, we draw from our inner well. This inner well, an artistic reservoir, is ideally like a well-stocked trout pond. We’ve got big fish, little fish, fat fish, skinny fish – an abundance of artistic fish to fry. As artists, we must realise that we have to maintain this artistic ecosystem.” – Julia Cameron
How do we nourish our inner wells of creativity amid busy and demanding lives? Do I have a story to tell, a novel, travel narrative or memoir that I’m writing, but find myself constantly stalled? How do I keep the creative juices flowing?
Over six Sunday mornings, I will be sharing practical, inspiring and fun ways to re-energise our creative selves – to invite the Muse back into our daily lives. The emphasis is on beginning a creative writing practice in order to keep your artistic reservoir well-stocked, whether you’re beginning a new writing project or looking to nourish an existing one on its journey towards completion.
As well as tending to creativity (making room for the Muse), this course for beginners and the more advanced also focuses on writing craft skills: using language effectively to “make things new”, creating believable characters, bringing places to life for the reader, and mapping our stories on the page. There will be in-class writing exercises, readings and discussion of students’ work.
As Helen Garner writes: “Curiosity is a muscle. Patience is a muscle. What begins as a necessary exercise gradually becomes natural. And then immense landscapes open up in front of you.” This course is for those who want to explore their creativity while honing their writing craft; to access and explore the “immense landscapes” of a more creative writing life.
Beth Yahp is an award-winning author, editor and creative-writing teacher. She has published short fiction, travel and memoir in Australia, South-East Asia and Europe. Her novel The Crocodile Fury is translated into several languages. Beth has just released, Eat First, Talk Later, (available to buy here) a family memoir set in Malaysia. She has taught creative writing and creativity workshops at the University of Technology, Macquarie University, the American University of Paris, and currently at the University of Sydney. Beth Yahp will teach her creativity workshop Inviting the Muse: Creativity for Writers over 6 Sunday mornings, starting 16 August.