Allaboutwriting

Sometimes it takes a shrink to work out what really makes a person tick – even if that person is a fictional character in the mind of a writer.

Psychologist Pierre Brouard thinks he is probably the first of his profession to be involved in running a writing course. He is co-convenor of a regular one-day course in character development with novelist Jo-Anne Richards and script writer, Richard Beynon, of allaboutwriting.

The next Character Course, will be held in Parkview, Johannesburg on February 27 from 9am to 5pm. Cost: R1500. The first Cape Town Character Course will be held on 27 August 2010.

Brouard thinks that psychologists and writers are similar in one important respect: “We are fascinated by human nature, and the attempt to understand what makes us who we are.”

As a psychologist in his middle years, he has worked with people across the spectrum. “I have also lived a varied life, all of which has exposed me to human frailty. That, and my AIDS work, has left me with an empathy and a deep interest in what is essential about us; in our essence.

“These are the same questions that plague writers.”

Beynon thinks that characters are “the key to all fiction”. We remember books by their characters, he says, even when we praise their plots.

“There is no formula for creating a good character. The most important thing a writer can do is to begin to develop a sense of the forces that make us the people we are.”

Richards agrees. “As a writer, I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people respond to the influences in their lives. In what ways are we all similar, and how is each of us unique?”

The Character Course blends psychology and writing to create a one-day plunge into the process of creating memorable and larger-than-life characters. It looks at the skills needed to make these characters leap off the page.

“Our aim is to help writers and would-be writers to create characters who will become as real – and in some cases perhaps more real – than our next-door neighbours,” says Richards.

For more information please contact Trish on 0826524643 or trishurquhart@gmail.com

COMMENTS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

“Jo-Anne, Richard and Pierre have an intimate, non threatening way of sharing their knowledge and I felt privileged to be in the group. The catering alone would be enough to encourage creativity in the dullest whit. My writing has been on a back burner for so long and Saturday’s course has inspired me to make the time to start living my passion again.” Ronnie Whitaker

I loved the first exercise – the life graph. I think it was so simple yet so effective and really made the point of how we are shaped by our history very profoundly. I also loved the interviewing the partners to sketch a character part. I loved the exercise of developing the back story of a famous character.The video clips were amazing and really illustrated the point very clearly and accessibly. I LOVED the food – always an important aspect of a workshop! The day was well structured to take us through an incremental process of developing understanding and skill, and I thoroughly enjoyed it; thank you very much. Judy Klipin

I enjoyed it tremendously. The theory and the examples (specially the television and movie clips) were excellent. And the fact that Pierre was there to add the psychological background I found particularly enlightening. Merle Ruff

THE FACILITATORS

Jo-Anne Richards is a writer and lecturer in the Wits journalism department. Her novels include The Innocence of Roast Chicken, Touching the Lighthouse and Sad at the Edges. A new novel – My Brother’s Book – was released in April 2008. She has, over the past few years, run a number of writing courses and retreats: in journalism, narrative journalism and literary skills.

Richard Beynon is a television and film writer. A former journalist, he has conceived, shaped and written scores of documentaries. He managed the writing team at Isidingo for three years, as well as contributing over three hundred scripts to the series. He is currently a writer and generator of stories on the etv daily drama, Rhythm City. He has lectured on writing for film and television at Wits and together with Jo-Anne runs writing courses and retreats.

Pierre Brouard is clinical psychologist who has done everything from private practice, HIV counselling and training, managing counsellors in workplace settings and developing counselling resources, to being an agony uncle and blogging about life, love and relationships. He writes a blog in which he answers questions about the psychological make-up of characters and their motivations. Currently he is the deputy director of an AIDS NGO.