Here’s a piece I wrote for the M&G about Cape Town rock band BEAST.
Month: August 2015
FICTION COURSE SUBMISSIONS OPEN (Cape Town only)
Good news, everyone!
The PENNY IN THE WELL Fiction Course will run for 8 weeks, in Cape Town, on Thursday evenings from 8 October to 26 November, 2015.
Final details concerning venue are still to be confirmed, but bookings are open and space is limited!
For more information and to book your space, contact David Cornwell on dsl.cornwell@gmail.com
FICTION COURSE
PENNY IN THE WELL is a course designed for people who are serious about creating original fiction, but who feel they need some help with getting their creative writing projects off the ground.
With a strong practical focus, this fiction course aims to provide a solid theoretical grounding in the processes of narrative, while also introducing students to various fictional techniques that will add weight and colour to their writing. Wherever possible, these techniques are illustrated by close reference to exemplary passages from modern fictional texts.
Important ideas from the realms of philosophy and psychology will also be discussed, as students are given a thorough survey of what, to quote James Wood, “makes fiction work.”
Whether you need help in telling your story — or whether you’d like to build confidence in your style — PENNY IN THE WELL is an 8-week fiction course that will give you the tools you require to create meaningful, professional creative writing.
For more information, please email David Cornwell at dsl.cornwell@gmail.com
Course outline:
Lesson 1: What is fiction?
Some introductory thoughts on the ontological status of fictional texts.
Lessons 2 & 3: Narrative Strategies
Notes on perspective, point of view, irony and various narrative forms.
Lesson 4: Beginnings
Thoughts on successful fictional openings, using George Eliot’s idea of “the threshold”.
Lessons 5 & 6: Narrative Structure & Characterisation
Notes on plotting; chapters and sections; the historical development of character and motivation in fictional texts; titles and endings.
Lesson 7: Time & Epiphany
Various time-related fictional concepts will be introduced, including summary, prolepsis, delayed decoding, time-shift and epiphany.
Lesson 8: Narrative Detail
Various techniques related to detail in fiction will be introduced, with reference to concepts such as ostranenie, synecdoche and symbolism.
TOMORROW IT’S SUNDAY
“Tomorrow It’s Sunday” is a short film written by David Cornwell and directed by Jaco Minnaar of Fever Dream Pictures.
When Ruth, drunk, is driving home after drinks on Thursday night, the unthinkable happens: she veers too close to the side of the road and kills a little girl. She makes a split-second decision to bury the body at sea – but while she is busy, her car is stolen, the onlooker leaving his bicycle and a cellphone in return. So begins a harrowing three-day ordeal that will bring Ruth into confrontation not only with her decision, but her sense of privilege and her capacity for heartlessness.
Story by David Cornwell and Danieyella Rodin.
Edited by Jaco Minnaar and David Cornwell.
Starring Danieyella Rodin, Andrew Laubscher and Brendon Daniels.
A link to the video is coming soon, but – for now – here are some stills:
“HOMECOMING”, from Aerodrome
Read it online here.
“CHRISTMAS LIGHTS”, from Prufrock #1
This one got some nice press.
DAVID CORNWELL 