Who is it for?
Any writer, beginner or experienced, who would like to try spontaneous writing, which is also known as freewriting. Freewriting is a way to generate material that can be used as the basis of creative writing including poetry, short stories, memoir or novels.
Where is it held?
Kyffin Cafe is at the far end of the High Street, towards the railway station, in Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.
Please note: THE ROOM IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO WHEELCHAIR USERS.
When is it?
The six dates are:
(1) Saturday February 29th, (2) Saturday March 14th, (3) Saturday March 28th
a break for Easter, then:-
(4) Saturday April 18th,
and concluding with:-
(5) Saturday May 9th and (6) Saturday May 23rd
Will I have to read my writing out loud?
No. Freewriting is by definition rough, private, usually illogical writing and you will never be expected to read this to the group. Later on in the course, when we start excerpting, editing and polishing the material generated by freewriting you’ll sometimes be invited to share that, but never compelled.
What do I need in terms of equipment?
I advise that freewriting is done by hand, so you’ll need a fast-flowing pen and plenty of paper. If you find handwriting difficult for any reason you can bring a laptop but it’ll be up to you to set it up (plug it in, keep it quiet etc).
Will the classes be very serious?
Absolutely not. The whole point is to approach creative writing in the spirit of play and enjoyment. I’ll aim to keep order but I’m hoping it’ll be more like a party than a classroom! There will be games.
Can I meet the tutor first?
Yes! I will be in Kyffin Cafe, Bangor, North Wales, on Saturday February 15th for one hour between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., so come and say hello and I’ll tell you more about the course before you make a decision and part with your hard-earned money. Speaking of which…
How do I book a place?
You can book your place by paying a non-returnable down payment of £50 using the “Add to Cart” button on this page or by sending a cheque payable to “Kathy Hopewell” to “Y Garnedd, Abercaseg Road, Bethesda, Gwynedd LL57 3SP”.
If you’d rather pay cash then please bring it to me at Kyffin Cafe on Saturday February 15th between 11 a.m and 12 p.m.
If the course fails to recruit (I need a minimum of 9 people) I’ll refund your down payment in full. (See my full Terms and Conditions below.)
Payment Methods
Please pay £150 by February 16th.
There are three ways to pay:-
- In cash on February 15th at Kyffin cafe.
- By cheque payable to “Kathy Hopewell”. Please give this to me on February 15th at Kyffin cafe or send it by post to “Y Garnedd, Abercaseg Road, Bethesda, Gwynedd LL57 3SP”.
- Via Paypal. Please click the appropriate “Add to Cart” button or buttons below which take you to a payment page.
Here are some comments from people who took my the course last time:-
“I enjoyed it all, even the parts that I thought I would struggle with. There was a really positive and encouraging vibe set by Kathy.”
“This course has given me far more than I imagined.”
“I liked the tutor’s meticulous pre-planning for each session.”
“I particularly enjoyed the surrealist games and was surprised at how my writing developed over the weeks.”
“It was comfortable, friendly and confidence-building. I was a little nervous about sharing my work but actually felt safe when it happened.”
“The worksheets and prompts were excellent. The tutor’s approach was empathetic, respectful and non-judgemental.”
“I really feel that freewriting has been a pivotal tool in springboarding me into writing unselfconsciously.”
“It was what I hoped: a kick up the arse. I realise now that writing something, however crap you might think it is at the time, is better than not writing at all.”
Terms and Conditions
The deposit (“down payment”) is non-returnable unless I cancel the course.
The balance is non-returnable if you change your mind about attending the course after paying the full amount.
I will, however, refund the balance if you are prevented from attending the course by what are deemed by me to be exceptional circumstances (such as bereavement or serious illness).
I also reserve the right to compel anyone who is unacceptably disruptive to leave the course and there would be no refund given in these (unlikely) circumstances.