SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Various speakers

Activities open to all students and staff include:  Mindmapping, Writing a CV, Writing for Wellbeing and Personal Development, On line Writing/Blogging, Creativity with Writing and Picture Making, Story-telling and a workshop and performance from Sound Power artists One Voice.

Andrew Humphrey

This session will offer tips on using Plain English, avoiding clichés, shortening your sentences and avoiding words that add nothing to your writing. Making your writing clearer is not about dumbing down your ideas, it is about making your ideas more easily understood.

Nicholas Christodoulou

A workshop on mind- mapping with ‘Inspiration’, a software which helps to plan and structure your ideas visually and then, at the click of a button, transfer this into an essay plan in Word. This can be really helpful if you are a visual learner and also if you have a specific learning difference such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD.  

Sachiko Kishi

This session will look at how writing can be used as a tool to help deal with life events, emotional reactions and increase self awareness. We will explore a range of different techniques to give you some ideas to take away to use day to day.

Rahul Verma

This session will look at what journalism is in 2012, different kinds of journalism and the skill set required for each, how to get into journalism, and the role of journalism in the age of blogging, podcasts and online video. The session is hosted by Rahul Verma (Metro, The Independent, The Guardian, Rolling Stone - India), who has over ten years experience as an arts and features journalist.

Linda O’Sullivan

Come and get some innovative ideas about using online writing and blogging more interactively and effectively.

Victoria Wade

The aim of the CV is to show potential employers what your qualifications, experience and skills are and convince them that you are a strong candidate and should be invited for an interview. CVs are most effective when they are tailored to a specific vacancy - 'one size' does NOT fit all! 

Martina Gerada

This session will explore the meaning and experience of writer's block. It will be both a practical and theoretical session where psychological concepts from cognitive behavioural therapy will be used to help us understand, and work to overcome, the very personal but common experience of writer’s block.

Akala

The acclaimed rapper offers a workshop followed by a performance using the material generated by the workshop.

Paul Bradshaw

For two decades, Paul Bradshaw was the publisher and editor of Straight No Chaser, an independent music/culture magazine with a worldwide following. Paul will host a session that will be based on negotiating the seismic shifts in the music industry and his experiences as a writer/journalist.

Nita Dhinsa

The workshop takes a student - centred approach to creative writing, focusing on how to generate ideas for stories, ways of creating character and developing plot. It will include exercises designed for you to reflect on your style as a writer and inspire you to sustain your chosen form of writing.

Mehmet Izbudak

Structure and focus are at the heart of script writing. This workshop will look at what makes dialogue tick and the basics of writing a plot.

Sabrina Mahfouz

Poet, playwright, writer, producer and SOAS alumnus Sabrina Mahfouz offers advice, options, strategies and links for making the long journey from graduating to (really) making a living from writing a little bit shorter and more productive.

Sarah Mooney

Graphology is the study of the psychological structure of a human being through his or her handwriting. This session briefly explains the history of graphology and how it works.  It will illustrate how writing is analysed and the personality revealed from the use of space, form and movement in the writing, and why the signature is important.  From this you will understand why handwriting is part of the creative process.

Emma Gunningham

Emma Gunningham is a visual artist who has used writing, words and letters in various different ways in her paintings. Students will use their signatures as a starting point to make their own artwork. Open to all abilities the workshop will be fun and creative.

Stanley Wilfred Merttens

Through easy and innovative exercises, award-winning performer Wilf Merttens will explore the skills involved in storytelling, from using evocative language, to remembering what comes next. No experience is necessary and the session will be useful to anyone who wants to improve their public speaking - www.wilfmerttens.co.uk

Masumi

Shodo Classes – a traditional practice which dates back more than a thousand years. The session will give an opportunity to the participants to learn and practice the art of calligraphy closely.

Jessica McKenzie and Jeremy Kearns-Watts (from the SOAS Literary Society)

"Switching on the Lightbulb" is a creative writing workshop to help anyone who wants to try out different ways of generating new ideas to use in creative writing. We’ll be running writing exercises and group discussion to help each other switch on the metaphorical lightbulb and get some inspiration!

Carol John/Carol Rifkin

Module 1 of the GTA training programme offers a hands-on interactive approach to issues in teaching and learning at SOAS and in the broader academic context. Please note this course is now fully booked.