Susan Hill's free online creative writing course

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Old Hack

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Susan Hill, writer of all sorts of books and publisher of Long Barn Books, is running an online course in creative writing. It's here:

http://blog.susan-hill.com/blog/CREATIVEWRITINGCOURSE

She's also set up a discussion forum for followers of the course, which you'll find here:

http://www.susan-hill.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=8a38ab56c0bd4c2ba366fdcc1850d262

So far it's been fascinating. She's suggested that no one should write for more than 20 minutes at a time; and has insisted that people start their writing career by close reading, to discover how character works, for example. It's an interesting approach, and I'm really enjoying it.
 

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OMG is that the same Susan Hill who wrote I'm the King of the Castle?

ETA: It IS!

That book traumatized me as a kid. Like, it gave me real actual can't-get-back-to-sleep nightmares. I identified with the protagonist and was shattered by the end.

I didn't read Susan Cooper for about a year after reading that book because I couldn't read anything by a Susan.

Which is to say, *ahem*, powerful writing, that lady has. Almost twenty years later, I can remember that book so vividly that I'm not sure I can sleep now.
 
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Pamster

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Interesting, thanks for sharing this Old Hack, do either of you know what TTD means? I can't figure it out but then it's awful early and I just don't have my brain on yet, its still sleeping in the jar by the bed. LOL! :)
 

Writer???

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TTD - Things to do

She doesn't like the word "exercise", as she explains in earlier posts.
 

Pamster

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Awesome, I am reading her blog now, thanks for the help on the acronym Writer. :D
 

Writer???

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I too am very interested. As always a day late to everything, she already has over a thousand signed up for the course. I probably won't be sending in the TTD's, I doubt there's any hope of getting personal feedback, but the instruction should be extremely valuable.
 
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Pamster

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That's my thoughts exactly Writer. It looks really interesting. I am reading on the forum now. I am just glad it's a free Creative Writing course because I can't afford anything more then free. LOL! :)
 

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What a terrific opportunity--thanks, Old Hack!
 

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Oh yes, thank you Old Hack. I did not mean to slight you by forgetting to thank for the heads-up and the links. Much appreciated!
 

Old Hack

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You're welcome. I don't know why I didn't post it up sooner, sorry.

As for not getting personal feedback--in the past, Susan Hill has been very postive and helpful. That might change, though, as she has so many people signed up for the course, I suspect she'll be a bit snowed under--especially as she's just asked people to send her a sample of their work. Just make sure you use the right email address, as she's having trouble with the usual one. There's a note on her CW blog.
 

AnneMarble

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Cool. The people in the ghost fiction groups (such as Horrabin Hall) love Susan Hill. In a recent discussion, some named her "The Woman in Black" as the greatest ghost story every written.
 

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Anne, Susan has just had another ghost story published, and by all accounts it's truly scary. I think you can read about it on her blog:

http://blog.susan-hill.com/blog/

If I remember rightly, she's got a limited edition of signed, numbered copies available right now at a very reasonable price considering how few there are of them. They might be sold out all ready, though.
 

Shweta

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Hey guys, if several of us want to follow along here, we could perhaps do the TTDs together and give one another feedback.

We could even send Ms Hill a link in case she's interested.
 

Shweta

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I guess it could even just happen in this thread? Or should we take it into SYW, and if so where?
 

L M Ashton

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Schweta, I haven't read enough of her entries to know, but does it involve us sharing our own work with others? I thought she was against getting the opinions of other people on our writing? (Which I don't happen to agree with). If we are sharing our own writing with others, then yes, I definitely agree with SYW. If we aren't, then would the Writing Exercises, Prompts, and Games make more sense? Also, because this is the kind of person I am, I'm kind of inclined to have a separate thread for each exercise. I'm anal. Yep, I really am. :) It makes more sense to me. What do y'all think?
 

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Writing exercises might make sense.
I am not sure. I'd have to read her thread at something other than 3am :)
 

Old Hack

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There's all ready a forum for discussing Susan's course set up at that second link I posted, to which Susan contributes. You could always use that. If you wanted.
 

L M Ashton

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Yeah, Old Hack, I know. It's just that I'm not sure I want to sign up at yet another site, ya know?


ETA: Has anyone else noticed how inconsistent she is with numbering her TTDs?
 
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Old Hack

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I appreciate that--I was hesitant to, for many reasons. But I think if you want Susan's direct responses about your work, you'd be better off sticking to her forum. Probably.

Standard disclaimer: I am not the lovely Mrs Hill, nor do I speak for her.
 
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