The tracks on this album offer an invaluable insight into a wide range of techniques and practices surrounding Creative Writing. Writers as diverse as Alan Ayckbourn, Ian McMillan and Tanika Gupta talk openly about their approaches and attitudes to all aspects of writing from original concept to final drafts and productions. Writing for stage, print, television and radio is discussed in engaging and articulate detail. This material forms part of The Open University course A363 Advanced creative writing.
Prolific author Tanika Gupta talks about stagecraft, highlighting the importance of voice and comic idiom in her writing.
Transcript -- Tanika Gupta on Voice
Transcript -- Prolific author Tanika Gupta talks about stagecraft, highlighting the importance of voice and comic idiom in her writing.
Helen Blakeman and Setting
4 min
Playwright Helen Blakeman sees setting as integral to a play’s success and highlights the supporting importance of factors such as structure and voice.
Transcript -- Helen Blakeman and Setting
Transcript -- Playwright Helen Blakeman sees setting as integral to a play’s success and highlights the supporting importance of factors such as structure and voice.
Developing the Idea
10 min
Playwriting master Alan Ayckbourn reveals how he develops and connects ideas for his plays, and the meticulous process of structuring and ‘building’ a script.
Transcript -- Developing the Idea
Transcript -- Playwriting master Alan Ayckbourn reveals how he develops and connects ideas for his plays, and the meticulous process of structuring and ‘building’ a script.
Alan Ayckbourn on Redrafting
6 min
Ayckbourn's approach to redrafting and rewriting scripts, and how dramatic ideas and twists emerge.
Transcript -- Alan Ayckbourn on Redrafting
Transcript -- Ayckbourn's approach to redrafting and rewriting scripts, and how dramatic ideas and twists emerge.
Alan Ayckbourn as Director
8 min
Alan Ayckbourn's work as a director, and how this informs his writing. The economy of playwriting, and the writer’s awareness of the limitations of the stage.
Transcript -- Alan Ayckbourn as Director
Transcript -- Alan Ayckbourn's work as a director, and how this informs his writing. The economy of playwriting, and the writer’s awareness of the limitations of the stage.
Alan Ayckbourn and Staging
3 min
Drawing on his intimate knowledge of the theatre, Alan Ayckbourn offers an insight into the varius methods of staging, drawing a link between his own work and theatre in the round.
Transcript -- Alan Ayckbourn and Staging
Transcript -- Drawing on his intimate knowledge of the theatre, Alan Ayckbourn offers an insight into the varius methods of staging, drawing a link between his own work and theatre in the round.
Adaptation and Breakdowns
9 min
Renowned writer David Edgar discusses his ideas on Aristotle’s unities, linking this to ways of adapting existing works.
Transcript -- Adaptation and Breakdowns
Transcript -- Renowned writer David Edgar discusses his ideas on Aristotle’s unities, linking this to ways of adapting existing works.
Jane Rogers on Adapting for Television
14 min
Novelist and playwright Jane Rogers talks about the transition of one of her novels, Mr. Wroe’s Virgins, into a four part television series.
Transcript -- Jane Rogers on Adapting for Television
Transcript -- Novelist and playwright Jane Rogers talks about the transition of one of her novels, Mr. Wroe’s Virgins, into a four part television series.
Jane Rogers as Novelist
15 min
Jane Rogers talks about her work as a novelist, and the methods of storytelling and voice she employs. She brings together various forms and approaches, such as the use of cinematic editing techniques, in her novels
Transcript -- Jane Rogers as Novelist
Transcript -- Jane Rogers talks about her work as a novelist, and the methods of storytelling and voice she employs. She brings together various forms and approaches, such as the use of cinematic editing techniques, in her novels
Approaches to Contemporary Fiction
6 min
Jane Rogers talks about her work in terms of viewing herself as a contemporary novelist. She draws links to literary greats, and techniques like 'the unreliable narrator'.
Transcript -- Approaches to Contemporary Fiction
Transcript -- Jane Rogers talks about her work in terms of viewing herself as a contemporary novelist. She draws links to literary greats, and techniques like 'the unreliable narrator'.
