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Wellsbaum.blog

Writing about life and arts

  • Margaret Atwood teaches creative writing

    July 12th, 2018
    Margaret Atwood teaches creative writing

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you sign up to the course I may get a small fee as part of the transaction. Please see the disclosure for more info.

    Not only is the “Prophet of Dystopia” Margaret Atwood writing a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, she is also teaching an online course for the first time ever. 

    In partnership with online education platform MasterClass, one of the most important writers in modern literary circles Margaret Atwood will give her students an inside look at how she creates her timeless stories.  If you’re an aspiring author, Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing will help strengthen your novel with compelling plots and fascinating characters. 

    “Genres aren’t closed boxes. Stuff flows back and forth across the borders all the time.”

    Margaret Atwood

    A timeless approach to storytelling

    In 20+ lessons, students will learn how the author of The Handmaid’s Tale constructs powerful storytelling by analyzing literary classics and her own novels.

    The class comes with a downloadable workbook that includes lesson summaries and homework assignments to help you perfect your craft. You’ll also be able to upload videos to get class feedback. Margaret will review select student work as well!

    Keep in mind your aspiring writer family or friends. If you think they’d be interested in the class, gift it to them!


    About MasterClass

    If you’ve never taken a MasterClass before, it’s a great opportunity to take a peek into the mind and explore the process of some of the world’s leading experts in photography, writing, music production, filmmaking, and even cooking. You may be aware of Malcolm Gladwell’s writing course, Tom Morello’s electric guitar course, or Serena Williams teaches tennis course.   

    If you’re looking for a great Christmas gift, considering gifting one of the courses to a loved one or friend. Even better, gift someone the All-Access Pass so they can take all the courses they want. 

  • If you’re struggling to get started, do it badly

    January 21st, 2021
    If you’re struggling to get started, do it badly

    “Work finally begins when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly,” advises the author Alain de Botton. 

    Perfection is the antithesis of inspiration — it prevents you from getting started.

    The trick to getting going is to do it badly. To do that, one must be intentionally messy. The art of spontaneity asks you to start before you’re ready. Don’t over-think the process; intensify the habit of doing.

    The emancipatory power in getting started helps jumpstart creativity. 

    Producing crap isn’t the end-goal. There is no quality without quantity — first, we get going, then we deduce. 

    “If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”

    Margaret Atwood

    The point of taking small actions is to create enough momentum to feel like we’re winning. You’re looking to go from one pushup a day to two the next week, four thousand steps a day to five-hundred. 

    You’ll need to write one-hundred words day after day before developing the muscle to consistently get down two-hundred words. By the way, there is no such thing as writer’s block!

    Do small things to get started — no matter how poorly — to avoid second-guessing yourself and prime the motivational pump.

  • ‘Genres aren’t closed boxes. Stuff flows back and forth across the borders all the time’

    August 22nd, 2018
    ‘Genres aren’t closed boxes. Stuff flows back and forth across the borders all the time’
    Margaret Atwood quote.jpg
    PIN IT 

    ‘Genres aren’t closed boxes. Stuff flows back and forth across the borders all the time.’ 

    — Margaret Atwood

  • ‘Pedestals actually have a limited circumference. Not much room to move around’

    February 16th, 2018

    “If you’re put on a pedestal you’re supposed to behave like a pedestal type of person. Pedestals actually have a limited circumference. Not much room to move around.”

    — Margaret Atwood

  • Malcolm Gladwell teaches writing in this new Masterclass

    July 18th, 2018

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see the disclosure for more info.

    Malcolm Gladwell’s first-ever online writing course is now available courtesy of MasterClass.

    In the class, Gladwell analyzes his own best-selling books like Blink and The Tipping Point to unveil his thinking and creative process. In 24 lessons, the influential author will teach how you to discover, examine, and pen stories to illustrate your big ideas.

    Write stories that captivate by learning how Malcolm researches topics, crafts characters, and distills big ideas into simple, powerful narratives.

    Students will also receive a class workbook with lesson summaries, some homework, and additional helpful materials. Inspiring and informative, this is one class guaranteed to improve your writing.

    SIGN UP TO THE CLASS >

    Interested?

    Start your free Masterclass trial today and get access to over 30+ instructors, including access to courses taught by instructors such as Margaret Atwood and James Patterson, and more.

    You can also sign up to Malcolm Gladwell’s single course right here.