WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT IMPROV YOUR WRITING

"I got up at 6:00 am — I live in Albury/Wodonga, a rural town on the border of Victoria and NSW, Australia — to take part in the excellent session on improvisation for writers, Improv Your Audio Drama, presented as part of MAD-Con, the Modern Audio Drama Convention.

"You [Peter and Neil] did a great job of being welcoming, inclusive, and effective teachers, and I got a lot out of it.

"Some take-aways:

• The techniques I learned were great for generating creativity, improving brainstorming, and helping with characterization and subtext.
• I particularly enjoyed the section on how emotion impacts what and how a character speaks, especially when two emotions come into conflict.
• The workshop has been promoting a lot of thought and discussion about exposition and, in particular, the use of visual description in audio.
• It’s also possible to layer conflicting emotions into the same character within a scene (not something I have spent much time thinking about before); e.g. Bill has won the lottery on the day his mother has died (joy and sadness). This can provide added depth and interest to characters.

"One of the joys of getting to listen to writers and creatives in these kinds of settings is that I get to learn so much and be encouraged by the generosity of those who are willing to share their insights.

"I also appreciated your efforts to include my son. That went way above and beyond the call of duty. He was very keen to listen in and, though I didn’t have a ticket for him, I hoped it would be all right for him to do so. That you made him feel so welcome among the adults was an act of kindness that I truly appreciate."

“Peter and Neil were a real class act, putting together a series of improv exercises to incorporate imagination and emotion into our writing.”

“Peter and Neil did a great job of demonstrating how improv can help my writing.”

“The Improv Your Writing workshop was not only great fun but offered unique insight into how to overcome mental blocks that get in the way of the flow of creativity. Through the variety of games and exercises offered, I learned to stop second-guessing myself and to run with my ideas, opening up pathways to new and exciting creative directions.

"The hosts are friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable on the subject. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone looking to expand their creative horizons and get outside of their comfort zone!”