Creative Writing with Novelist Phillip Whiteley

Starting in May 2019, Castleton Mill’s resident novelist PJ (Philip) Whiteley will begin a monthly writing course. Bring pen and paper or a laptop and he will encourage you to invent a character, and a fictional world for him or her to inhabit, or give advice on a story you’ve already begun.

Philip will give tips on story-telling and the principle of ‘show, don’t tell’, all geared to getting your readers hooked. He will offer guidance on dialogue; how it can help set a scene, reveal aspects of character or move the story along. It doesn’t matter if you want to write a short story for your own amusement, or if you’ve nearly completed your first full-length novel, there is always much to learn. You can bring a part-finished work, or begin the story during the lesson; it’s entirely up to you. You will also gain such a lot from discussing your work with other aspiring writers. You will be encouraged to read your work out loud.