Writer’s block usually refers to the first page, blank and begging to be filled. But the block can arrive at any point in a manuscript, which is why Raymond Chandler suggested that stumped writers should let a character with a gun walk in the door of their blank page. This class will explore other strategies for jump starting the creative mind; transforming a flicker of ideas to a forest fire of imagination; and crafting messy, brilliant, surprising first drafts—not just by waiting for lightning to strike, but by seeking out thunderstorms.

Based on their new book on the craft of writing, This Word Now, Jodi and Owen will lead a high energy morning of conversation, exercises, and insight into the art of brainstorming. The class will cover: 

–methods for gathering ideas
–expanding those ideas into wilder stories
–and techniques for conjuring the most dangerous and exciting images for those stories.

As a bonus, each student will receive a copy of This Word Now—recently featured in the Austin American-Statesman.

About the instructors:

From writing books to making films to clowning on stage, Jodi and Owen Egerton play a key part in many of the scenes that make Austin a national hotspot for creativity. Jodi is a celebrated workshop leader, book editor, and wordslinger for Typewriter Rodeo. Owen is the author of several novels and numerous screenplays as well as a feature film director. He has been voted Austin’s Best Author by the readers of the Austin Chronicle seven times.