• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • More
    • Food & drink
    • Business
  • About
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
  • Radio
  • WIN
  • Tonne of tins
  • Vouchers
  • Listen live »
Jorvik Viking Festival

Unleash your creative beast – and write a bestseller

One man who let his creative beast run free was author Hunter S Thompson, played here by Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary
Wed 28 Aug, 2013 @ 9.42 am Education Lizzi Linklater
One man who let his creative beast run free was author Hunter S Thompson, played here by Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary
One man who let his creative beast run free was author Hunter S Thompson, played here by Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary

lizzi-linklater-headshotThink you’re not creative? Think again. Lizzi Linklater knows how to prod your imagination into action


At this very moment there is, inside you, a creature of yearning creativity struggling to be noticed. It thrashes around roaring, trapped in a cage of rusty neglect while you sternly tell yourself that creativity may not be for you and your busy life.

And yet it is. It really is. And here at the Centre for Lifelong Learning at York University the upcoming year offers you the chance to unleash that struggling, piteous beast into a place of well-stretched splendour, basking in new-found sunshine.

What’s that you say? You don’t think you have it in you to be creative? Well maybe I can persuade you to think again.

How to be creative

The empowering of your imagination, the creativity of your being, is yours for the prodding (I can swear to this because I am a proven Master Prodder).

Just ask yourself: how often do you visualise yourself (looking fabulous, obviously) in that big, fat lottery winning scenario? Or etch out in vivid detail what will happen the next time you see that special person who’s caught your eye?

Or mentally hurl yourself into the turquoise balm of a Mediterranean sea whilst sitting on your dreary, chocolate stained sofa? Often, I bet.

You are, therefore, creative.

And it’s not just me telling you this. Here, sitting studiously alongside me, the staunch Merriam Webster Dictionary also whispers:

Imagination is the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality.

Indeed, our very existence is littered with an infinite “What ifs…” and “Maybes…’ as we rumble along, often terrifying ourselves with our imaginations. The cat over the road that reads your mind; that awkward neighbour who feigns flamboyancy; and the postman who walks your street with an empty mailbag, never delivering…

Stop dreaming…

Have I convinced you? Let me turn to specifics and have you fix your gaze on how you might channel your frustrated creative self into the wonderful world of writing.

Have you ever dreamed of writing the next bestseller? Fantasised about how your stage play would pan out? Found yourself flirting dangerously with a poem?

Have you witnessed yourself hurling that tedious, tiresome novel into the nearest bin? Seethed with disappointment at the closing scenes of a play? Grunted miserably into your popcorn at a poorly scripted, overrated blockbuster?

Could you do better?

…and start writing

It is, then, time to take action for, as I have just gone to a great deal of trouble to show, we are all creative, imaginative beings.

I am often asked how it’s possible to teach people to write and the answer is actually quite obvious. Like any art form (dance, music, painting) there is much to learn, and what the dancer, the musician and the artist must possess from the outset is a passion for their subject, a desire to plumb its depths, a willingness to open up to new challenges and a hunger to become familiar with technical aspects.

That’s the pact: you bring the dedication and desire and I’ll be right at your side with a lorry-load of brilliantly structured creative writing techniques.

I will also lead you to read as widely as possible, to write relentlessly, to espouse your considered opinions and, often hardest of all, get you to begin to believe in yourself.

So, do check out creative writing at Lifelong Learning. We have a raft of online and face-to-face courses and, quite apart from me, an arsenal of brilliant friendly tutors.

Let that beast free.

 


lifelong-learning-cover

  • Elizabeth Linklater teaches a range of accredited creative writing modules at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, both face-to-face and via online delivery, alongside a range of other tutors exploring novel writing, poetry, short stories and scriptwriting
  • The full range of accredited creative writing modules can be found here
  • Follow Lifelong Learning on Twitter @UniOfYork_CLL
  • For more information or to request a copy of the current brochure, email Lifelong Learning, or call 01904 328473
  • To download a PDF version of the brochure, click here

 

Wed 28 Aug, 2013

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2023 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT