Overview
Each month, we are hosting a Creative Writing workshop where you will have the opportunity to take part in a range of different writing activities that draw on a wide range of subjects for inspiration. Engaging in creative activities, such as writing, has been shown to distract us from stress and increase our sense of wellbeing. Plus developing new skills and playing with words is a fun way of exercising our brains, which is vital for those of us living with multiple sclerosis (MS). You’ll also have opportunities to connect with other people who are interested in writing and are affected by MS.
The workshops will be led by Georgi Gill, a poet, writer and researcher who has been living with MS for over 20 years. Georgi will share short texts, pictures or music to help spark our creativity. She will then guide us through some gentle ‘idea generation’ activities ahead of a dedicated time for writing. You can choose to experiment with writing in different forms (fiction, memoir, poetry, letter) but you will be encouraged to write in any form that feels right or comfortable for you. There will be time at the end of each session for people to chat about how that session has been for them. Each workshop will last 90 minutes. There will be a recording to purchase and view after the session has passed.
Themes
May – Music: sparking our imaginations with songs or symphonies – Monday 15 May at 11am June – Coastlines: working with sounds and images from the coast. July – The living world: drawing inspiration from animals. August – Characters: inspiration from photos to create characters with a story to tell September – Our own lives: exploring memoir. October – Home: inspiration from images and our own surroundings November – Weather: using soundscapes and images for inspiration December – Light in the darkness: writing winter
Please note, topics may be subject to change
Music: sparking our imaginations with songs or symphonies
Music can be a powerful inspiration, sparking us with joy, energy, peace or sadness. Often the right song can reawaken old memories. In this session, we’ll listen to a few pieces of music as well as reading and chatting about our own Desert Island Discs. Whether you’re all about the bass or the Bach, you will have time to write about wherever the music takes you. And maybe you’ll discover a new tune or two!
How to book
This session is free to join if you have a monthly or yearly subscription. You do not need a subscription to join, as you can register and provide a donation for the class. The suggested amount for the class is £5. If you are unable to make a donation, please contact us to see how you can access the online classes (register@ms-uk.org).
A recording will be made available after the class and can be viewed if you have purchased a ticket either before or after the class has taken place.
Joining the class
If you have purchased a ticket to join the class live, a blue button saying ‘Join class’ will appear at the bottom of the page 15 minutes before the class is due to start.
Viewing the recording
Shortly after the class has finished, the recording will be made available and a blue button will be visible at the bottom of the screen for everyone who purchases a ticket either in advance of the live class are after it has been held
If you would like to know more or you are having trouble registering, please contact us at register@ms-uk.org.
