Creative Writing workshop on 20th Feb

Please Note: This is an old post. Recent posts of creative writing workshops in Bangalore are here: www.storygram.in.

Soulpen: The adventure of writing.

What is the essence of the creative process? What is the source of the art of writing?

A film, or a book, is born as a thought, a strong, palpable feeling that tugs. Once identified, this tug can be the link to the big bundle , the one that can stream out as the novel. All you need to do is to catch that thread from your bundle of thoughts and keep puling gently. Maybe you sat with a pen in your hand and tried to write. And maybe your bundle got tight and the thread snapped. Untangling that bundle can be a delicate, at times painful, but ultimately fulfilling creative process.

Dealing with the tangled bundle requires something they don't sell in the shops. You can try to use fevicol and stick your bottom to the writers chair. If that doesn't work, come sign up for Soulpen.

Focus: The aim of the workshop is to dig out the blocks that hamper the sprouting of the creative juices and fuel the love of writing towards an intense and natural discipline. It will help the beginner as well as the writer who is stuck in the middle of a story, a script, a film....

Flow chart:







Dealing with the writer's block



Why do we write? Because we need to tell the story. As children, all of us are born creative. When we learn to talk, there is no difference between imagination and reality. Education encourages us to develop our logic and the creative process takes a back seat. The glimpses of the muse are short and sweet: She comes visiting, she leaves a scene and takes back the movie.

Missing the muse, the creative angel, is the writer's block. We shall begin with a three step exercise, an ice-breaking ritual for overcoming the writers block. This exercise is self-introspective and at the same time lighthearted. Words get tossed out, opening a series of self traps. Those who are truly interested in unearthing their hidden depths love this exercise.




Nurturing the creative impulse.
Why did your grandmother tell you stories when you were a kid? Most likely, to put you to sleep. Why did Shiva dance? To work out his turbulence? What is the purpose of the Nava Rasas? Traditionally speaking, to pass into the Shanta Rasa.



Re -experiencing the turbulence, recalling it, can give you a perspective of how it can be healed. We shall go into both, the happy memories and the traumas that shaped your lives. Re- living is relieving.






We shall write a few exercises by walking down the memory lanes of our lives. The end of this process will be a short story by each participant.






An introduction to scriptwriting


We shall do one dialogue exercise in the audio visual format of a screenplay.






Secret tools of a writer
Creative writing, is that writing in which the other, the reader is not as important as the writer. We write best when we don't write for the teacher. A few tips on flying solo.






When : 20th February, 10 am to 6 pm.






Where: Jaaga Creative common ground,Opposite Shanti Nagar Hockey Stadium, Rhenius St, Langford Gardens , Bangalore






Cost : The fees per participant is Rs. 1,000/






Contact : me at manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com or call 9945192862






Author's profile : I am a recently published novelist of A Grasshopper's Pilgrimage. This book should be available in most of the Crosswords and Landmarks. You can read reviews of this book on this blog. Just type the title in the search box.
I am also a film maker. I was trained at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune in Film Editing. I have made several documentary films, and taught the various aspects of film making at NID (National Institute of Design), Ahemedabad and also at the FTII.
I have conducted several creative writing workshops at the Srishti School of Art and Design and Times of India : Nalanda group, Bangalore, Ahemedabad and Mumbai . I write for the creative outlet, deep fulfillment and clarity of mind that sometimes comes as a gift with a good session of writing.