Practising Writers Workshop

The workshop will introduce key concepts and ideas in theories of narrative and will equip writers with critical tools they need to start working with as writers and critics.

Objective:  In  Convention and Traps, writers will be introduced to the latest writing practices that have become the standard norm but may limit the creative process. This session will raise questions, alter perceptions and assist the practising writer to take their writing to the next level.

The Biggest Investment will delve deep into the subject of Character through the eyes of different authors like Amit Choudhuri and Fay Weldon.

Besides talking about the art of writing, the Practising Writers Workshop will also include the notions of experimenting, revising, and editing.

Outcome: Writers will complete two writing exercises, one that will include their favourite novel. They will also be asked to critique a story, review structure in Anatomy of Writing and deconstruct text in an intellectual manner. The workshop sessions will be conducted amidst a highly interactive and stimulating group environment with consistent feedback on all the written pieces.

The goal is to become a community of writers who experiment, craft, revise and tinker with their work.

Presented by Of Heroes and Villains

Our workshops are held in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore through out the  year.

Fantasy Writing Workshop

What do Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins and Wolverine share in common? What obstacles does Katniss Everdeen face in The Hunger Games? How do we create an alternative universe like Lord of the Rings?

Enter the magical realm of Fantasy Writing and discover how your favorite stories and characters were created.

Objective: Participants will be introduced to ‘World Creation’, ‘Creature Manifestation’ and ‘Unity Thread.’ Through these topics we shall then transition to the more complex model of “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell that traces common  recurring mythical patterns in every fantasy novel and movie.

Finally  everyone will take part in various exercises starting with the “Fantasy Locket” and ending with a one page write up that will be work-shopped with  positive feedback in class.

Outcome: Writers will have much better knowledge on setting up their own fantasy universe that is well structured and planned.

Creative Writing Workshop for Adults

Writing is a form of personal freedom. When we write we imagine, create, escape, enter new worlds and momentarily live in them. Creative writing provides us with the tools to make the above possible. In this workshop, you will discover how to use these tools for writing your own stories. Because what you know, makes you unique.

Outline:  This is a workshop in writing and work-shopping written assignments in fiction. We’ll begin with a dialogue on Finding your voice as a writer followed by a stimulating writing exercise called Memory Lab. After delving into the Anatomy of Writing and an insightful session On Character experiment with your thoughts and complete an Advanced Writing Exercise.

Objective: Writers who complete this workshop will gain valuable insight into narrative structure, story movement, characterisation, description, reflection and dialogue. 

Outcome: This module will ultimately encourage writers to consider the ways in which reading leads to writing, and to what extent original, contemporary storytelling must always refer to other texts, stories and structures from the past and present. Finally, participants will produce one piece of narrative fiction.

The workshop will be available at a basic and an advanced level.

For further enquiries please contact Of Heroes and Villains at ofheroesandvillains@gmail.com

Writing for Film: Screen Writing Workshop

Do movies make you cry? Do heroes and underdogs inspire you? Let’s get to the heart of what makes a great film- a good script. It’s crucial to remember that film is a visual medium. In this workshop you will learn not to tell your audience but to show them.

Outline: This is a workshop in writing, critiquing, and work- shopping written assignments in creative screenwriting, which includes classic, contemporary and regional cinema.

Objective: Students who successfully complete this workshop will know something about contemporary screen writing in the urban scenario especially writing for Cinema in India. They will gain practice in a guided and workshop environment in the techniques of creative screen writing; such as developing story, structure, acts, character arcs, scene construction, dialogue and (if they take the final step) will have completed one polished manuscript. After completing their script they will also be briefed about presenting and pitching their finished work in a professional manner.

The workshop will be available at a basic and an advanced level.

For further enquiries please contact Of Heroes and Villains at ofheroesandvillains@gmail.com

 Coming of Age Screen Writing Workshop

Outline: In genre studies, Coming of Age is a genre of literature/film that focuses on the growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. Coming of Age stories emphasize dialogue/internal monologue and are often set in the past. Themes of maturation, puberty, acculturation, loss of wisdom, innocence and worldliness are often present. In this workshop participants are introduced to the concept in books and cinema. This will lead to conceptualising and writing their own Coming of Age story in a screenplay format.

Objective: Some of the movies that will be screened are Donnie Darko, Mysterious Skin and Perks of being a Wallflower after which participants will be asked to analyse  story, structure, character arcs and engage in healthy dialogue, gaining a deeper appreciation of the genre. Participants are encouraged to delve deep, probe into the ‘growing up’ years and finally construct a layered script with an authentic story, voice and characters.

Outcome: Participants will be given writing exercises that will trace their own “coming of age ‘ story or novella and script a text that is personal, engaging and meaningful all at once.

For further enquiries please contact Of Heroes and Villains at ofheroesandvillains@gmail.com

Customized Workshops

Our other workshops involve more ‘customized’ themes and topics.  We have already conducted workshops on  Travel Writing, Blog Creation, Humor, Self Deprecatory Writing, Dialogue Concentration and Memoir Writing. We collaborate with various schools and colleges and if a particular writing group wants us to conduct workshops on a particular topic we customize  and tweak them according to their specific needs and requirements.

For further enquiries please contact Of Heroes and Villains at ofheroesandvillains@gmail.com

Writing for a Fantasy Film

Course outline: This is a course in writing, critiquing, and work-shopping written assignments in Fantasy screenwriting, which includes classic, contemporary and regional cinema.

Course objective: Students will be introduced to basic screen writing techniques with an impetus on Fantasy. Starting with logline, structure, story development and eventually screenplay, students will get a first hand idea on how to create an entire universe with fantastical setting and out of box characters. Moreover, I shall guide with reference to the several Fantasy shows that I have written, including Hatim and Arslaan series thus providing firsthand information of the industry as it is today. Students will also be shown Fantasy movie clips and asked to review scripts utilizing the screen writing techniques they have learned.

Course outcome: Students who successfully complete this course will know something about Fantasy creative screen writing and how Fantasy as a genre has evolved worldwide. They will gain practice in a guided and workshop environments in the techniques of Fantasy screen writing; and (if they take the final step) will have completed a rough draft of a script. After completing their draft they will also be briefed about presenting and pitching their finished work in a professional manner.

Assignments: Throughout the workshop we will undertake a variety of exercises designed to enhance our understanding of the screenplay as a writing form, as well begin to develop our own techniques and style. Focus will be placed on effort and grasp of the form and subject matter, and above all else enthusiasm for the craft.

Blogs and Travellogues:  Writing Workshop for adults

 

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