I already teach face to face at a university local to me, but I’m really looking forward to teaching students around the world online. One of my favorite things about meeting a new batch of students is asking if any of them really want to be writers or screenwriters, or if they are taking the classes to help with some other aspect of their lives. In every class there’s always a big chunk of people who are simply too scared to admit to themselves, or they lack confidence that they’d be good enough to write stories that other people would like to read.
It is scary to be so vulnerable as an adult to admit you want to try something that can be so personal. Fictional stories come from the heart and sharing a piece of our heart or soul is something we as adults become wary of doing, because we don’t always get the results we desire. I get it, I’ve been there and I still find it hard to share my work sometimes. I think that’s why I’m a great teacher, I practice what I preach, and I’m relatable.
Trust me when I say that theres not just one story inside everyone. There are an unlimited number, unique to you and your experiences. For every writer there is an audience of like minded people who love to read the stuff you love to write. I want to help you feel confident that you have the basic tools that you need to write your stories. I don’t use complex theories, expensive hard to use tools. I keep it pretty simple, and I like to think that my classes are fun.
My workshops are lighthearted in tone, but you the student, will have to put in the work. You may have heard the saying “that you’ll get as much out of it, as you put into it?” Well that applies here. During workshops I can share writing techniques until I’m blue in the face, but if you don’t practice, or do any of the homework I suggest, you’ll feel like you aren’t progressing as much as you’d like.
What, there’s homework?!?!! Yes, but other than the reading and writing you’d expect, I’ll be asking you to do things like: watch a movie or TV show, and find the script and read a few pages. Or I’ll ask you to go out into the world, grab a coffee, and listen to how people really talk, walk, dress, and smell. (Maybe don’t go smelling strangers, smell the coffee).
It’s my goal that when I’m finished with you, you’ll feel confident saying that you’d like to be a writer, and that you are considering sharing a story or two with the world outside your circle of friends.
I look forward to seeing you soon.