monday night class begins december 9th

dear friends + writers

I am holding an additional writing workshop on Monday evenings at the Forest Center + (38 Castle Terrace) from 6-8pm. The 2 hour workshop is £5-10 (sliding scale) and you will leave having written complete poems, short stories and the bright beginnings of new work. Come and write amongst a supportive group of other budding writers and allow yourself the time and space to write. Challenging and thought-provoking exercises and close readings provided (as well as coffee, tea & fun!) All levels welcome; no experience necessary. 

Please email editedinburgh@gmail.com with any questions or to reserve your place. 

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a note on similes:

we did a couple of exercises with similes last week, and encountered some suprising difficulty. Cliched similes are easy to write; they roll off your tongue, well, like a water off a duck's back (that was a really bad simile). However, in order to write original, arresting and note-worthy similes that force the reader to sit up and take notice, you have to really delve into your choice of words and investigate where you might need to go to sharpen your simile. Here's some tips when using simile:

• They should be simple and clear.  
• Similes and metaphors should be useful, concise, and then perhaps memorable as well, in that order. And if the task of creating one becomes toil, you’re trying too hard, and your exertions will show.
• They should stir, but they shouldn’t be mixed: When you adopt a specific theme, stick with it. A mixed metaphor is a missed opportunity, and a distraction rather than a delight.
• They should be original: If a simile or metaphor doesn’t rise head and shoulders above a more functional description, it won’t fly. Make sure the imagery is worth the effort of creating it.
• They should entertain: A simile or metaphor, to return to a previously employed metaphor, is like an actor with a bit part who utters a single line, but that line should be trenchant or ticklesome.
• They should be visually arresting: Similes and metaphors are intended to paint a picture for the reader in order to endow a person, place, or thing with resonance.