Two-Day Intensive Creative Writing Workshops 2024
with
Tolulope Popoola – Author, Writing Coach and Publisher
Hello writer,
- Have you been nursing the desire to write a novel for a long time?
- Would you like clarity and exact step-by-step guidance to help banish confusion and get you writing with ease?
- Do you want to finally get started and make progress with your writing goals?
- Do you need a road-map to help you go from: “I have no clue what to do!” to “I am now confidently working on my novel?”
- Have you been struggling with writer’s block, too many distractions, time constraints, or self-doubt?
- Are you ready to give it a try? Ready to embrace your talent, and finally express your writing abilities?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, then you’re in the right place! Join me, Tolulope Popoola, as I teach this Two-Day Creative Writing Workshop for new and aspiring novelists.
This is a practical, hands-on, intensive creative writing workshop. We will use this time to answer all your questions about writing a novel, break through your writing blocks, and generate a lot of ideas to get your creativity flowing again.
We will delve into a step-by-step guide for writing a novel, techniques for creating interesting characters, and straighten every crook on how to create an intriguing plot!
At the end of this workshop, you will not only have a great idea for a novel, you will also be armed with the knowledge and practical advice you need to finish writing it, with ease and confidence!
This virtual intensive creative writing workshop is particularly suitable for people who would like to take my Creative Writing Course, but prefer a live class. I have packaged the content into a two-day workshop, so you can learn everything you need to know in a much shorter time frame.
The two-day virtual workshops will hold via Skype
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, 24th and 25th August 2024
Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm (both days)
The sessions will include:
- Tutorials to introduce the concepts we’ll be discussing
- Practical writing exercises
- Feedback on your writing
- A take-home assignment, so that you continue making progress
- A detailed workbook with the notes, questions and exercises we’ll be doing. This will help you keep track of your ideas as we brainstorm, and you can re-use it when working on other writing ideas.
At the end of the workshop, each participant of the classroom course will receive a Certificate of Completion.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
- How to choose a great idea for your novel
- How to refine your ideas and pick one worth spending weeks and months on
- How to create interesting characters (and choose your protagonist and antagonist)
- What point of view is, and which one suits you (and your story) best
- How to choose a setting in time and place that works for the story you’re telling
- What elements are absolutely essential to crafting a compelling plot
- How to write your outline and synopsis
- How to weave together Narration, Description and Dialogue
- What different genres are, and the rules for each one, and lots more!
Workshop Schedule:
Day 1
First Session: We’ll look at how to find ideas for our stories, the power of memory and the importance of observation. We will discuss how to separate good ideas from boring ones.
Second Session: We will talk about characters and how they are central to any story. How do we create characters that are unforgettable and realistic? Who is the protagonist in the story? Who is the antagonist? What are their motives? Students will get the chance to create their own characters.
Third Session: We will discuss a story’s point of view (POV). Every piece of writing comes from a particular point of view, as in who is telling the story. How your choice of first, second or third person POV can have a dramatic effect on how readers engage with your story.
Fourth Session: We will look at the importance of the Setting of a story, i.e. Time and Place. Where does the story take place? What time period is it?
Day 2
First Session: We will discuss Plot. How you can weave a great plot that involves conflict and suspense. How can we create a compelling script that keeps readers interested in reading the story?
Second Session: We will have a discussion on different genres, the popular categories and sub-categories, and the rules of writing in each one. We’ll also look at cross-genres and Literary fiction that doesn’t fit into any specific category.
Third Session: We’ll discuss the techniques of writing Description, Dialogue and Narration, and how to weave each element together in your story, in a balanced way.
Fourth Session: We’ll take a look at finishing the first draft, editing and proofreading the manuscript, and how to get published.
This workshop is aimed at beginners, although writers who have started working on short stories, blogs, articles and other ideas can also join. There’s always something new to learn, and it’s always good to meet fellow writers too.
Tutor for the workshop
My name is Tolulope Popoola and I’m the facilitator for this creative writing workshop. I’m an award winning Author, Writing Coach and Publisher, and the founder of Accomplish Press and The Creative Writing Academy. I run coaching, consulting and publishing programmes for aspiring authors, and I teach Creative Writing classes for both adults and children. I have published a novel, and two collections of flash fiction stories, and written extensively for many magazines and publications. I used to be an accountant until I quit my job in 2008, now I have successfully switched careers from Accounting to Writing and Publishing, and if you want to learn how, I can teach you to do the same!
I have received many awards, including a special Award of Excellence at the 2016 Nigerian Writers’ Awards, and was shortlisted for Diaspora Writer of the Year for the 2017 awards. I was second runner up at the Women In Publishing (UK) Awards 2012, for the New Venture Award for pioneering work on behalf of under-represented groups in society. I was recently named as one of the “most influential Nigerian writers under 40”. My first novel Nothing Comes Close was named “one of the best books of 2012” by Africa Book Club. And I have also earned the nickname of Africa’s flash fiction queen” for my unique flash fiction stories. My work was recently noticed by Lancome, the international luxury cosmetics company and I was featured alongside other amazing women for their “My Shade, My Power” campaign.
When does the workshop run?
This is a two-day virtual creative writing workshop for a weekend in August 2024.
Dates: 24th and 25th August 2024
Time: 10.00am – 4pm (both days)
Venue: Zoom or Skype (Details will be sent to participants)
Course Fee: Early Bird – £250 (ends 15th July 2024)
Full Fee – £350 (ends 16th August 2024)
(Payment plans are available – please email [email protected] to request a payment plan)
What my previous students and clients say:
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“I enrolled for Tolulope Popoola’s Creative Writing Course in November. My goal was to learn how to finish writing my novel so that I can publish it. I enjoyed the course, especially because even though it was a group class, Tolulope still gave each participant one-to-one attention. I learnt how to organise my writing better. Tolu is very knowledgeable about the creative writing process. If you do not know where and how to start your writing. I recommend you pass to through her program. ~ Amaka Ugbomah, Creative Writing Course Student
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“I took part in the Creative Writing Course run by Tolulope Popoola. My goal was to reawaken my creative side, and that was definitely achieved. Tolulope was professional, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. I liked the fact that she gave each participant one-to-one and hands-on attention. I will happily recommend the course to other writers too. ~ Ngozi Ojo, Creative Writing Course Student
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“I signed up for 8-Week One to One coaching sessions with Tolulope Popoola towards the end of the year. It was the right thing to motivate me to get writing in the new year. The sessions were always on time and professional with practical tips to help my writing. I recommend coaching sessions with Tolulope to any writer who needs motivation and expertise for their writing.” ~ Sabine Adeyinka, Coaching Client
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“I worked with Tolulope Popoola on her Self-Publishing course in September to learn how to independently publish my book. Tolulope was professional, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I enjoyed the course, it was a huge learning curve for me, and I’m happy that she used my book to demonstrate the publishing process, so it was learning by practice. The course was definitely worth every penny, and I will happily recommend Tolulope’s services to other aspiring authors – in fact I’ve already referred a friend.” – Amaka Azie, Publishing Client
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I receive a certificate after taking the course?
A: Yes, there will be certificates issued to all attendees who are present for the two-day workshop.
Q: Do you run the writing workshops outside London?
A: At the moment, we run the writing courses, workshops and intensive classes online via Zoom or Skype. If this changes, we will let you know.
Q: When is the deadline to register for the course?
A: The deadline to register and pay for this edition of the writing workshop is the 16th of August 2024. This is to ensure that adequate preparations are made for the participants who will be attending the class.
Q: Can I get feedback on my writing during or after the course?
A: Yes, you will get feedback on your writing during the workshop. After the workshop if you want to continue working with me in-person or over Skype and email to receive feedback on your writing, there is an opportunity for that.
Q: Can I pay the workshop fee in instalments?
A: Yes you can. Please send an email to [email protected] to request a payment plan.
Q: Are there any discounts available on the workshop fees?
A: Yes! If you bring a friend, you will both get a 20% discount. Not bad eh?
Q: Can I get a refund after taking the course?
No, the course fees are not refundable.
Q: What’s the next step after the workshop?
A: You should be able to start writing your novel after the workshop. If you need further assistance, you can check out my coaching programmes. If you’re ready to publish, you can check out The Self-Publishing Course.
Are you ready?
So, are you ready to get unstuck? Are you ready to finally start making progress with your writing? Are you ready to reconnect with your creativity? Are you ready to write that novel? Then take action now! If you have any more questions, please send an email to: [email protected] today.
I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in the class!
