Ensure you have the write stuff before putting pen to paper

Too much thinking can kill the creative writing impulse, says Margaret O’Brien, co-founder of the Story House Ireland which will host its first five-day residential writing course on short fiction in March in Dungarvan.

O’Brien, who teaches creative writing at Waterford Institute of Technology, and poet, Nollaig Brennan, aim to provide support for developing writers of all ages and backgrounds.

They are using the principles of the Avron Foundation in the UK which says that anyone can benefit from the transformative power of writing.

Irish novelist Julian Gough and Scottish writer Susie Maguire will be giving workshops at the course. The guest writer, who will engage with the course participants, is Donal Ryan, winner of the Guardian First Book Award.

Aspiring participants are not required to submit work to be accepted onto the course. “It’s sufficient that you want to write,” says O’Brien.

Asked if creative writing can be taught, she replies: “People don’t ask whether art can be taught or whether sculpture can be taught. With creative writing, I believe the conditions can be created so that people can become competent at their writing and can become confident expressing themselves. We’re providing the conditions where people will be safe to take risks with their writing.”

Everyone, she says, has a story to tell.

“But very often, people have experienced writing at school which involved the red pen correcting grammar and spellings. It has killed any joy that people might have had from writing. Craft is important but the process of writing is also extremely important for the individual.

“When we’re writing, we are pulling something up from our subconscious, something we’re not consciously aware of. I always tell people at the workshops I give that thinking is not allowed. Instead of thinking our way into writing, it’s better to actually write and see what comes up and then address the craft issues. If you write in that way, you get surprises; you get fresh writing. There’s a great saying by [American writer] Lynda Barry. She says thinking of stories is hard while letting them come to you is so much easier.”

O’Brien says that often, people try to edit and self-censor as they write. But that, she believes, is the wrong approach.

“We’re conditioned to edit while writing, particularly at school.” At the course, the writers will be trying to get people to enjoy the encounter of writing. “This is not some hippy-dippy thing. It’s very fundamental. People have a fundamental response when they experience this way of writing.”

In her own workshops, O’Brien’s policy is to regard all writing as fiction. “There’s no assumption made about something written in the first person. It’s nobody’s business. The focus is always on the writing.”

At the inaugural writing course, there will be advice on getting published.

“Self publishing is growing but sometimes, it can be a way for people to get their work out there and be picked up by publishing houses. Roddy Doyle initially self published The Commitments. But the important thing about self publishing is to be vigilant about getting your work edited.”

• The Dungarvan writing course costs €595 which covers five nights accommodation and full board, all workshops and one-to-one sessions. www.thestoryhouseireland.org