Venice creative writing webinar replay
We had a fun creative writing webinar which we ran from our Venice Writing Retreat.
Jo-Anne, Richard and Fred answered questions on aspects of writing, publishing, and the creative process. We’re pretty sure that no matter what you’re writing or where you are on your writing journey you’ll find something useful in the wide-ranging discussion.
These are some the subjects we covered:
Book promotion and marketing
- The importance of personal appearances and book signings
- Using online platforms to connect with readers
- Engaging with book bloggers
- Encouraging reviews on platforms like Amazon
Writing craft
- The debate on whether talent can be taught
- The importance of “showing” versus “telling” in writing
- Varying sentence structure and length for better rhythm
- The significance of clarity in writing
- Character development and creating stakes for characters
Publishing
- The market for short stories and flash fiction
- Word count guidelines for different formats (short stories, novellas, novels)
- Using fictional names in memoirs to preserve privacy
Writing process
- Creating flow and consistency in writing
- The importance of editing in achieving flow
- Balancing craft and art in writing
Writer characteristics
- The tendency for creative people to be sensitive or oversensitive
- The relationship between reading extensively and writing ability
Structure and composition
- The importance of proper structure in keeping readers engaged
- Creating a balance between introduction, development, and conclusion
Dialogue and scene construction
- Incorporating “business” (actions and setting details) into dialogue scenes
- Avoiding repetitive character actions or “tics” in writing
Target audience
- Identifying and writing for a specific audience
- Balancing authenticity with market considerations
Join us on our next Venice Writing Retreat
As mentioned during the webinar we now have our dates for the 2025 Venice Retreat They are 1 to 8 and/or 8 to 15 October. If you book now and pay a deposit before the end of this year’s retreat, on 16 October, you will be able to attend next year at the 2024 prices – that’s a five percent saving on the 2025 price. (Not to mention the fact that flights are cheaper when you book ahead.) Have a look at the brochure here.
