The writing process
Viewing guide
Some people are very disciplined and structured in their approach to writing. Others have a less structured approach and tend to ‘go with the flow’. This video focusses on Tara’ June Winch’s ideas on the writing process.
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How do you practise your writing skills?
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Do you like to write in a particular genre or style? Why?
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What steps do you take to improve your writing?
Listen out for Tara’s expression ‘looking and listening like a thief’.
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What do you think she may mean by this?
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Why does she use this approach?
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How would you describe your writing habits?
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Where do you get your ideas?
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Comment on the expression ‘looking and listening like a thief’ to describe an author.
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Why is it important to think about good ideas for writing?
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Can you think of a situation in your life that would make a good short story, novel, poem or play?
Bill Spence: Can you describe your writing habits?
Tara June Winch: They're varied and sort of loose and undisciplined, but I constantly write. I'm writing every day and I try to keep a journal if I'm not working on a bigger project. So I just try and keep constantly working, even if it's small projects.
Bill: How much research goes into your work?
Tara: I think lots of research goes into my writing: just in everyday life, watching a film or reading a book or going somewhere different, going for a big drive or a bush walk. I think I'm always kind of looking and listening like a thief. In my life I consider everything that I do research.
Bill: How do you start your work? Do you begin with the story-line or do you start with characters?
Tara: Sometimes I begin with a character, an idea, a story-line or a setting, but at the moment I'm jotting down three or four things that are in my head and putting them onto a page. So I'll go to the first point and if I can't maybe work with a character, then I'll move on to a setting or something like that, just so I've got something at least to fall back on, to work on.
Videos
Tara’s inspiration
The writing process
Characterisation
Techniques and advice
