14.10.11: Roseland Creative Writing Workshops kicked off last Sunday with a one day workshop themed around ‘the sea’. The workshop enabled novice writers to hone their skills at developing character and using descriptive language.

The workshop was led by novelist and creative writing tutor, Harriet Hopkinson. Harriet has recently moved from Hampshire, where she was Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at Chichester College, to settle in Veryan with her husband and young family.

The workshop took students through a range of writing exercises, including using a trip to the beautiful Carne Beach, to fire the imagination and teach technical skills. The activities were carefully designed to build both confidence and competency as the day progressed and culminated in students being offered the space to write a short story linked to the theme of the sea.

As well running workshops locally, Harriet runs Creative Writing Online which offers a unique approach to learning creative writing: the course is entirely flexible, enabling students to work through course materials at their own pace and dip in and out of the course to suit other commitments. Consisting of twelve units, the course covers key creative writing techniques: characterisation; language and imagery; point of view; sense of place; as well as, planning, drafting and editing short stories. Harriet also runs a coaching and reading service for aspiring writers.

The next Roseland Creative Writing Workshop is planned for early December. For more information about Harriet and the services she offers aspiring writers, please visit her website at www.harriethopkinson.co.uk or email her: info@harriethopkinson.co.uk.