Workshop for Screenwriters
The Write Journey workshop for budding screenwriters Following in the tradition of 19-years-of-workshops throughout South Africa, The Write Journey workshop is ideal for aspirant screenwriters who would like to sharpen their storytelling skills and is on at The Waterfront Theatre School on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm on March 6 and 14, and April 10 and 17. With 33 local films released this year, it has never been a more promising time to be a screenwriter in South Africa. If you are a first-time screenwriter, this workshop explores the fundamentals of what it takes to be a screenwriter in South Africa and examines the fine art of writing visual narrative, mastering the skill of plotting and structure, and developing and fine-tuning ideas and characters. The Write Journey is ideal for first-time writers who would like to define their writing skills, and also recommended for seasoned writers who are trapped in the web of re-writes and unfinished projects, or lost in the maze of the daunting writing process, and novelists or playwrights who would like to adapt their story to a visual medium. In four sessions writers will know what it takes to be a screenwriter and how to conquer the daunting writing process, how to read and evaluate film, what to write, who to write about, and how to write. Writers will look at the unique nature of their stories that reflects their culture, history and experience, push their ideas to its maximum dramatic, comedic or tragic potential, and learn how to dramatize ideas, bring these characters to life, and learn the art of plotting a story effectively. Writers will complete the first 10 pages of their screenplays at the end of the workshop that will be reviewed and developed through further one-on-one sessions. The coach is Daniel Dercksen, the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio, who has been a published film and theatre journalist for 30 years and has been teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa the past 19 years. Hosted by The Waterfront Theatre School, The Write Journey workshop for screenwriters takes place on four Sunday afternoons, from 2 pm until 5 pm on March 6 and 13, and April 10 and 17. Daniel Dercksen is an independent educator and writing coach; film & theatre journalist; screenwriter and playwright. For more information and registration, email info@writingstudio.co.za or visit the...
Read MoreHow to become a Good Writer
If all it takes to be a good writer is to read a lot of different genre to get inspired by others’ writing, then it should be logical to conclude that you will eventually recognize your specialty and join the ranks of professional writers. It’s not an overnight execution; obeying the rigors of a strict learning curve can be demanding of your time and energy. It usually requires that you enroll for courses in writing, attend workshops, join writers’ groups, shadow a seasoned writer, or revise your work numerous times to achieve the required standard. Career Paths Few other professions offer more career paths than writing. Choosing the right path requires a candid review of one’s interests, talents, level of creativity and language skills. It should not be assumed that every writer has the ability to pen a novel or develop a story that will captivate the imagination of young readers. However, to be a good writer you must be inspired to produce quality content that will encourage the reader to read your work. The reader is wholly dependent on the writers’ choice of words to create a mental image of what is being conveyed. Hence, the writer must cultivate the ability to first visualize the intended written text through content strategy. Diverse Options In reality, most professionals make a living writing non-fiction for commerce or topic-specific publications. Lucrative writing careers include article writers, copywriters, ghostwriters, speechwriters, research writers [non-fiction] and journalists. Newspapers, magazines and website managers employ article writers to prepare non-fiction pieces on relevant topics. While some writers are comfortable tackling any given topic as needed [apparently a sign of a competent writer], many prefer to specialize in subjects they know well such as food, travel, technology, fashion, politics, local issues and others. Copywriters write text for commercial advertisements and other marketing-related materials such as press releases, product reports, advertorials, and branded packaging. This type of writing must be concise and effective in capturing the attention of consumers. Ghost Writer A ghostwriter is a writer who authors books, manuscripts, screenplays, scripts, articles, blog posts, stories, reports, whitepapers, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. The writing process involves developing a purposeful relationship with the author to make sure the storyline is authentic and exemplifies their individuality. Speech Writer A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are employed by many senior-level elected officials and executives in the government and private sectors. The writer must be thoroughly acquainted with the rules of public speaking, including cultural etiquette, when not to use humor, body language, using visuals, and duration of the speech. Non-Fiction Writer A research writer, or non-fiction writer, typically works independently to develop their manuscript or partners with a book publisher or other business on a freelance or contract basis. They write general-knowledge, academic, technical, or biographical books on an extensive range of subjects. Web content also falls in this category. Skills Writing a manuscript intended for publication usually requires the author to possess extensive specialized knowledge of the subject. Non-fiction book writers are generally hired to write one book at a time, working from a well-planned brief. Journalists, in the employ of newspapers, magazines and online services, investigate and report on people or events. Journalists must be able to instantly gauge whether a story has newsworthy appeal, write quickly, effectively and meet deadlines. Other writing paths include translators, screenwriters, reviewers, columnists, content for gaming applications, and novelists. Occupation Writing can be a challenging career choice, and requires extensive knowledge and skills, as well as...
Read MoreAbout Theresa
I’m a published author of four business books and have written a number of self-study tutorials [creative writing; editing and proofreading; business writing; and self-publishing] and an eBook [Workplace Harmony]. I am an experienced writer, editor and publisher. 
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