Ian Clayton workshop

This was a great workshop that generated quite a lot of discussion and was, at times, quite controversial. I have reproduced below, with kind permission from Ian, part of the workshop- the least challenging I'm afraid. (Well we have to be allowed to keep some bits back!)

Ian showed, quite successfully I think, that stories are very rarely linear as the beginning- middle- end structure of stories suggests. Rather they are cyclical with things cutting across laterally.

He went on to say that the important part of any story is how our characters relate and what they do to one another. Actions are always connected to emotion. Actions power a story and emotions power the actions.

So get your pen ready:

Now pick an emotion ie, satisfaction, rage, joy...

1. Write a visual description of it (avoiding cliches of course.) Be as detailed as possible;
2. What does it sound like? (again, be as detailed and different in your description as possible;
3. What does it taste like?
4. What does it smell like?
5. What does it...(you guessed!) yes what does it feel like?

Reproduced with kind permission drom Ian Clayton. ©

Ian Clayton calls himself a jobbing writer, storyteller and broadcaster. His book 'Bringing It All Back Home' is available now, published by Route. ISBN 9781901927337

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bringing-All-Back-Home-Clayton/dp/1901927350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208352176&sr=1-1

Here's what I wrote in the workshop to describe rage:

Red with black folding in along the edges. The occasional flash or spot of light.The scream of a mandrake that deadens the ears and breaks glass. Thick and rusty on the tongue, it smells like smouldering coals and feels as ragged as a cut from a tin lid.

You try it now!