Experiments in Prose with Joanna Walsh

Course Summary:

The 20th and 21st centuries have generated a glorious wunderkammer of experimental writing techniques that can be used to enrich all genres of writing, from the short story, to the novel, to poetry and creative non-fiction. These six workshops offer the chance to explore a variety of techniques, from Dada cutups of the early 1900s to the latest writing with Artificial Intelligence.

A course for writers of any tradition and level of experience, from beginners to professionals, and for artists of a range of practices, who would like to incorporate text into their work.

Come along for some serious play!

Course Outline:

Each workshop will consist of reading/discussion of texts, and (mostly) of practical exercises. Short texts will be sent out before each workshop, but there is no strict requirement to read them in advance. Likewise, though we’ll produce a writing during each session, there will be no expected homework, though participants will be free to continue their experimentation with the techniques and approaches discussed and bring them to the following session.

Course Outcomes:

Participants will take away an enhanced practical knowledge of the history of experimental techniques of the 20th and 21st centuries, a folder of writing based on experiments carried out during each session, and a zest for collaboration, interdisciplinary practice, innovation, and play.

Joanna Walsh is is a multidisciplinary writer for print, digital and performance. The author of seven books, she also works as a critic, editor and teacher. She is a Markievicz Awardee, a UK Arts Foundation fellow, and the founder of #readwomen (2014-18), described by the New York Times as ‘a rallying cry for equal treatment for women writers’.