Category: Educational activity

SHORT PROSE COURSE

Posted on by Galdrama

SHORT PROSE COURSE

Do you want to write but don’t feel confident yet? Do you have inner critics constantly nagging you? Do you dream of writing a longer piece, but before that you would like to test your ability in a shorter genre? Have an idea, but don’t know how to “dress” it yet?

The short and effective short prose course WRITE IN ONE WAY is just for you. Attend doc. Dr. Come and realize your idea in the course led by Gabriele Labanauskaitė and writer Jurga Tumasonytė!

The short prose course is intended for stubborn people not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to achieve a result – to write a short story of up to 3 pages. volume work, which can be discussed with the course lecturers.

Course duration: 12 academic hours

IN THIS COURSE YOU WILL GET TO KNOW:

• about the most interesting genres of short prose;
• how to create atmosphere and how it relates to different genres of short prose;
• what is being thrifty with the language and why each sentence is important;
• how to search for topics when you only have a thought or a mood;
• how to develop the characters and their language;
• what structure can be most effective for a short work and why a good ending is important;
• why conflict can be the driving force of a work;
• where you can print or publish your work.
• will answer the questions asked and give various practical writing tasks and tips.
• we will read aloud the submitted work
• we will examine how a piece of short prose can be edited and improved
• personal feedback will be provided and questions will be answered

WHY IT’S UNIQUE:

• get acquainted with the theory of short prose;
• lecturers will share practical advice;
• personal feedback is provided up to 3 pages. for scope text;
• participants who attend at least 50% of classes will receive a diploma;
• if you miss the session, you will be able to view the video material;
• you can freely adjust your participation form (watch recordings, participate live, etc.)

LECTURERS:

Gabrielė Labanauskaitė is a poet, dramatist, and writer with many years of experience in teaching creative writing both in Lithuanian higher education institutions and abroad. in 2013 Gabriele Labanauskaitė’s scholarly monograph “Dramatika”, which explores contemporary narratives, appeared, and in 2022, a collection of plays “Dramas”, published by the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore in Lithuanian and English. in 2023 nominated for the “Boris Dauguvietis earring” award for searching for new forms of stage expression.

Jurga Tumasonytė is a prose writer who has published 4 books and actively collaborates in various cultural publications and portals. In 2020, Tumasonytė’s short story collection “Mermaids” was included in the twelve most creative books of the year and was awarded the Jurga Ivanauskaitė prize. Jurga’s texts have been translated into Estonian, Latvian, German, Russian, Croatian and English.

❓ You can find out about upcoming courses and dates by e-mailing → [email protected]  or on our social media  ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Poetry course

Posted on by Galdrama

POETRY COURSE

When talking about poetry, writer Virginia Woolf said that the purpose of a poet is to describe honestly and accurately a world that, as a possible thing, never existed for any person. Each poem, sonnet or haiku is a separate universe where all laws obey the imagination of the poet. However, how to open the gates to those unknown worlds with the help of words, rhyme, rhythm, language tools alone?

In this course, Assoc. Dr. Gabrielė Labanauskaitė will help tame poetry to those who are afraid of it, and will introduce those who are already skilled to the techniques and intricacies of this literary genre. Aušra Kaziliūnaitė, the author of 6 poetry books, whose work has received numerous national and international awards, will lead one of the course sessions.

Lenght: 21 academic hours

IN THIS COURSE:

  • you will open the door of poetry, which will give space for creativity to spread and help you in difficult moments of life;
  • you will get to know the diversity of poetry genres and the uniqueness of each of them;
  • you will play in rhyme and rhythm;
  • you will get to know the fastidious Miss Metaphor and other decorations of speech better;
  • you will test the methods of creating poetry and develop your writing skills;
  • you will create, read and generally increase your understanding of what poetry is;
  • at the end of the course you will receive personal feedback about your creation;
  • if you miss the session, you will be able to view the video material;
  • you will expand the circle of creative like-minded people.

UNIQUENESS:

What makes this creative writing course different from other similar courses?

  • this is the only poetry writing course in Lithuania so far;
  • the course program is special in its completeness and in-depth study of the material, enriched with many practical exercises and advice;
  • you will create together in a small group;
  • the course is playfully led by the poet and playwright Gabrielė Labanauskaitė, and feedback will be provided by the poet Aušra Kaziliūnaitė, who has published six books of poetry.

FEEDBACK: 

I would describe this first poetry course as very comprehensive. It was very interesting and meaningful to get acquainted with the structures, formulas, and possibilities of creating poetry, while at the same time allowing to feel the absence of those boundaries. Inventive tasks, as always, awakened creativity, encouraged independent work, and perfectly filled our time with poetry. And also the feedback that Aušra Kaziliūnaitė gave us in the last lecture was extremely interesting and rich in all senses. – Sandra Sparnaitiene

During this course, I received structured, clearly, and interestingly conveyed knowledge about poetry, different styles and genres. Gabriele also always provides tools that help you create and enable you to work independently. I am so grateful for all the fellowship, inspiration, support, and encouragement to move along my path. During these trainings, it was a great joy to hear the feedback of writer, teacher, poet Aušra Kaziliūnaitė about my work and that of other training participants. Such support helps a lot and encourages me to feel more confident in creating poetry. – Justina Butkutė

VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/Whws91inaDM

FAQ

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❓ You can know the dates of the recent courses by e-mail → [email protected] or social media ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Literary mentoring

Posted on by Martyna

LITERARY MENTORING

 

“So okay – there you are in your room with the shade down and the door shut and the plug pulled out of the base of telephone. You’ve blown up your TV and committed yourself to a thousand words a day, come hell or high water. Now comes the big question: What are you going to write about? And the equally big answer: Anything you damn well want.”
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

 

Literary mentoring is designed for individual learning following a tailor-made curriculum at the convenient time. These individual consultations focus on writers of different types. Some of the former students sought for the basic knowledge of creative writing to start writing in general. Others simply wanted to improve their skills in private.
 
Photography: Shelby Miller
 
Often literary mentoring is necessary for the writers who want to discuss a
particular piece of their work (novel, short story or etc.). They intend to analyse, study and master writing with the help of the professional and the provided theoretical and practical literary knowledge.

⏰Duration of the regular consultation is 1 hour.
 

FEEDBACK

“I remember taking along a final draft of my latest text to the first literary mentoring consultation. I had a feeling that a story might lack some clarity, so I hoped that Gabrielė could help me edit the text and extract the main idea. I had developed the tendency to wrap the text in a way that it was becoming too complicated to the reader. I noticed it while attending creative writing courses with Gabrielė. She has always been honest and humbly advised me where to focus on, what to unwrap to make a story coherent and clear.

After our first individual meeting I left frustrated. Gabrielė advised me to try to divide my so-called final draft into two stories. I had a different feeling: dividing the narrative in two threatened with the loss of meaning. I had that feeling until I sat down to write. I kept meeting with Gabrielė for mentoring and after a few months I had two stories – ready-to-publish novels.”
Dovilė Raustytė, chief of communication at International Film Festival „Kino pavasaris“, writer

“Gabrielė provides literary mentoring consultations, where she actually embodies the subtle equilibrium. She manages to balance sensitive, empathetic and unconditional support with professional, careful and precise insistence. I think these are the qualities of the real teacher! What fascinates me is that Gabrielė also combines learning process with a game. I had even suprised myself coming to the realisation that this childish approach and the inner hazard enabled me to write hypnotic and profound stories.”
Rosita Pipirienė, psychotherapist

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❗ For more information contact Gabrielė Labanauskaitė ➡ [email protected]

Monologues, Dialogues and Polylogues

Posted on by Martyna

ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING COURSE: CHARACTERS TALK.
MONOLOGUES, DIALOGUES & POLYLOGUES

 

These creative writing courses for the advanced level individuals are focused on the language of the characters talk. Direct and internal conversations help a reader to understand a character and its world better. In addition, talking characters bring the vitality and intensity to any kindof story. This kind of course covering the principles of building monologues, dialogues and polylogues between and within the characters requires for different kind of mastery. It is possible to develop such skills without being a playwriter or screenwriter.

Timothy L BrockPhotography: Timothy L Brock

Gabrielė Labanauskaitė seeks to introduce the group to the techniques of building up the monologue, dialogue and polylogue. It is important to make the characters talk and learn to expose their traits and disclose individual stories through conversations with itself and others.

Duration: 20 academic hours

OBJECTIVES:

      • to renew and complement the knowledge of the narrative structure and development of characters;
      • to study the main principles of creating a monologue, to understand its functions and possibilities;
      • to analyze the principles of dialogue construction, its functions and possibilities;
      • to explore a dialogue as one of the narration methods;
      • to create dialogues and dialogue-based writing;
      • to discuss the polyphonics of polylogue and its structural possibilities;
      • to write and cultivate the fantasy in the most playful way;
      • to establish a relationship with other creative members of a group;
      • to discuss recently gained knowledge and share the work written during the course.

 

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

      • how to come up with a lively dialogue?
      • how to disclose the inner world of every character through conversation?
      • how to use the language to reinstate a certain action?
      • how to create a dynamic, breath-taking conversation?
      • how to regulate the pace of the narrative through the conversation?

 

PROGRAMME OF THE COURSE:

      • introduction, repetition of the theory of narrative structure and character development, equalization of the information;
      • the principles of creating a monologue, its functions and possibilities, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • the methods of making a dialogue work, its functions and possibilities, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • the polyphonics of polylogue, its structural possibilities, creative writing task and exercises;
      • evaluation of the course, discussion, share of the creative work with the group mates.

 

Organizers of creative writing courses maintain a right to change the curriculum.

FAQ
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❓ Dates of the upcoming courses and additional information can be received by email → [email protected]or found on social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Creation & Development of Characters

Posted on by Martyna

ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING:
CREATION & DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHARACTERS

 

There is at least one character in every poem, novel, short-story, fairy-tale, myth, advertisement, news reportage, comic or joke. Upcoming situations usually depend on the characters, once they get a chance to unfold and evolve in certain circumstances. Characters drive a narrative forward. It is usual to indentify with the likeable characters, to go through experiences together, we worry for them, we love them and wish them the best. How to create and develop a character, which would appear closer to a reader than a best friend, relative or a lover?
 
David IskanderPhotography: David Iskander
 
Gabrielė Labanauskaitė seeks to help the group members to enhance existing creative writing and narrative construction skills, focusing on the development of characters: principles of creation, evolution of the individual story and inclusion into the final narrative.

Duration: 21 academic hour
 

OBJECTIVES:

      • to introduce the group to the techical means of character development;
      • to analyze the journey of the main characters in the plot;
      • to continue previous creative practices, stimulate the imagination and fantasy through the certain exercises, focused on the development of characters and the story;
      • to become aware of the existing character archetypes;/span>
      • to discuss about favourite and unpopular characters;
      • to take a playful approach to the theory;
      • to establish a relationship with other group members and expand an individual friend circle;
      • to look into the provided information and share creative work accomplished during the courses.

 

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

      • why do readers still crave for the heroes?
      • what is the most important thing when developing a recognizable and interesting character?
      • what does character dossier consist of?
      • why the endless fight between the antagonist and protagonist is still relevant?
      • what are the differences between foreground, anthax and peripheral characters?
      • why do some characters arise compassion and empathy within, while the others do not look interesting at all?

 

Organizers of creative writing courses maintain a right to change the curriculum.
 
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❓ Dates of the upcoming courses and additional information can be received by email → [email protected]or found on social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Story-telling, Genres & Structures

Posted on by Martyna

ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING:
STORY-TELLING, GENRES & STRUCTURES

 

Not only the intuition is required in writing a story, but also a solid structure. Structure is highly important for screenwriting, shorter or longer fiction stories, advertisments and even social media posts. It helps to attract attention and reach the certain audience.

Learning about the importance of structures in any type of narrative might sound boring, but it is definitely not: this knowledge helps to understand why some stories are better than the others, how to create the emotional, artistic planes and also how to establish a strong logical foundation.

creative writingPhotography: Glenn Carstens Peters

Gabrielė Labanauskaitė seeks to introduce the group to the principles of narrative construction, concentrating on the structures within any text. This course also involves development of creative writing skills through the exercises and reading of texts.

Duration: 21 academic hour

OBJECTIVES:

      • to introduce to the basics of the narrative structure;
      • to capture imagination and cultivate creativity through writing exercises;
      • to discover all the possible means of structure to create an engaging story;
      • to embed and complement previously built knowledge and establish a relationship with other creative peopleo of a group;
      • to become aware of alternative structures of narrative;
      • to discuss recently gained knowledge and share the work written during the course.

 

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

      • what do jokes, social media messages, and fiction literature have in common?
      • what structural elements comprise a story?
      • what perspectives can be used to narrate a story?
      • what are narrators for?
      • how to create a tension and maintain an intrigue?
      • how to approach a reader?
      • why compositional variety is important?

 

PROGRAMME OF THE COURSE:

      • group and course curriculum introduction, discussion, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • features, forms & structure of short stories (prose and poetry miniatures, jokes, social media content, etc), creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • text scene, four of its main elements and the maintenance of tension & reader’s engagement, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • an alternative interpretation of the rules: various structures and their possibilities, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • development of a longer narratives, including symbols, motifs, parallel storylines and etc., similarities and differences between a novel and a short story, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • exploration of the favorite genre and discovery of the common tendencies, course evaluation, discussion, sharing of creative work within a group.

 

Organizers of creative writing courses maintain a right to change the curriculum.

FAQ

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❓ Dates of the upcoming courses and additional information can be received by email → [email protected]or found on social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Workshops ‘Iš Tylos’

Posted on by Martyna

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS ‘IŠ TYLOS’

 

Sometimes a simple getaway into the wild is not enough to restore one’s creativity and attract motivation. But an escape into the nature with the like-minded could do that. Participation in the creative writing workshop is an authentic experience combining self-reflection, writing, discussions, inspiration, experiments, tranquility and late night readings by the bonfire.

Writer Gabrielė Labanauskaitė started the project back in 2016. This initiative is focused on awakening of internal creative powers through writing, reading, conversation and silence. Participants of these workshops are really interesting and broad-minded people, who seek to realize and develop their passion for the written word. Some of them are aspiring writers already, others try to implement a habit of casual writing. It is a place for everybody.
Usually workshops take place once in a season and their locations vary. Each workshop has a theme giving a course of writing excercises and topics for discussion. There is none of academic theory, the chosen theme itself becomes an axis of focus. In the past chosen themes highly varied: water, dreams, rituals, archive of memories, archetypes, fata morgana, body. The main purpose of these workshops is not to draw any conclusions, but to recharge and leave the grounds in high spirits.

Writer and teacher Gabrielė Labanauskaitė conducts the workshops herself. Depending on the chosen topic, she also invites guest-speakers to share their experiences and knowledge with the participants.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

  • a dozen of creative writing excercises;
  • a flow of inspiration and creativity;
  • cozy and relaxing atmosphere;
  • peace in silence;
  • some time for self-reflection;
  • sharing of creation work;
  • a break from everyday life;
  • a numerous of individual experiences and relevations.

 

Photography: Viktorija Samarinaitė
Creative writing workshops ‘IŠ TYLOS’ is designed to help to develop writing skills, find the inner voice, rest and rejuvenate, introspect, have quality time in a group and individually and create.

“I am not a writing therapist and do not pretend to be one. But everyone, who has ever participated in these workshops, says that it surely has some therapeutical power. In these few days spent in Nida, Antalieptė or among the walls of monastery in the Old Trakai, we talk, we write, we share and express everything what bothers us. Whereas creative writing courses are more of academic orientation and focuses on theory, practice. It involves a spark of inspiration as well, but relies more on the particular storytelling elements such as characters, structures and dialogues.

After courses or workshops are over, I keep hearing that the former participants have changed their attitude towards creativity itself, writing and even – a lifestyle. I think this is how the real academy of life works!”
Gabrielė Labanauskaitė, organizer and teacher of creative writing courses and workshops

FAQ

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❗For more information about the upcoming workshops contact us ➡ [email protected] or follow social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS

The Basics of Creative Writing

Posted on by Martyna

THE BASICS OF CREATIVE WRITING

 

Everyone has a right to write despite the sex, age or occupation. So, creative writing courses are designed for anybody, who seek to develop, renew or improve writing skills. It is pretty hard to describe a term of creative writing, because the picture does not fir the frame. Creative writing has many techniques, styles that can be combained and harnessed to help the writer express himself. The primal purpose of these courses is a creativity-oriented development of daily writing habit. No matter where the muses hide, where the inspiration lays.

yannick-pulverPhotography: Yannick Pulver
Gabrielė Labanauskaitė seeks to introduce the group to the basics of creative writing, focusing on the creativity and search for the personal style.

Duration: 21 academic hour

OBJECTIVES:

      • to explore the basics of creative writing;
      • to develop a habit of everyday writing exercises to cultivate the fantasy and imagination;
      • to discover a variety of genres, styles and try writing skills in each of them to find out the best fit;
      • to get to know more about the means of expression making a story-telling interesting and captivating;
      • to establish a relationship with other creative people and widen the circle of like-minded ones;
      • to discuss the information received and share pieces of creative work within the group.

 

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:

      • is it possible to learn to write?
      • how to know if I have what it takes to become a person, who writes?
      • how to make peace with the inner critics and harness their energy for work?
      • how to cultivate imagination?
      • what are the elements of a good story?
      • how to employ the theory into everyday life practice?

 

PROGRAMME OF THE COURSE:

      • introduction, determination of upcoming challenges and possibilities, discussion, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • methods of cultivating imagination, recognition of the inner critic, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • development of style, discussion about prefered genres, styles, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • introduction of the main story-telling elements, development of the story;
      • tips and discussion about the skills and habits helping to establish a tradition of casual writing, creative writing tasks and exercises;
      • course summary, discussion.

 

Organizers of creative writing courses maintain a right to change the curriculum.

FAQ

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❓ Dates of the upcoming courses and additional information can be received by email → [email protected]or found on social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS

Creative Writing Courses

Posted on by Martyna

CREATIVE WRITING COURSES

 

“Basically, creative writing is any kind of authentic writing with or without an aim for a result. These writing courses are intended for everyone: those, who already have a passionate relationship with writing, those, who seek to sharpen their pencils or ink their pens and those, who wish to tame the writing into the everyday practice. Writing does not necessarily refer to the story-telling. It stands for self-expression, relaxation, meditation, experimentation, cleansing of emotions, development of overall literacy and desire to extend the knowledge on the principles of text constuction”
Gabrielė Labanauskaitė


People write everyday. Some choose electronic technologies and cannot recall the last time, when they were scribing something by hand, others keep the notes on favourite quotes, to-do-lists or dream journals. It is possible to write out of the pure inspiration, having not the knowledge, but the muses. But those are not truly realiable. If there is a need to include writing in everyday life, it is important to study consistently and systematically. Writer and teacher Gabrielė Labanauskaitė not only moderates each meeting and brings the topics and information, but also shares her personal experience, provides writing excercises and recommends some specific literature to read in order to strengthen the inner desire to write.

TYPES OF CREATIVE WRITING COURSES

→ The Basics of Creative Writing

→ Thematic courses for the advanced students:

  1. Story-telling, Genres & Structures
  2. Creation and Development of Characters
  3. Characters Talk: Monologues, Dialogues and Polylogues
  4. Poetry Course
  5. How to write a novel?
  6. Short prose course

Teaching format: there are three types of creative writing courses being organized: extended once-per-week courses (contact), intensive weekend courses (contact) or online courses.

Alexis Brown students writingPhotography: Alexis Brown

WRITERS’ CLUB

Weekly meetings to inspire each other and keep up the work! Learn more about that here.

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS ‘IŠ TYLOS’

What is it? Creative writing workshops are being organized several times a year in different locations. Each workshop follows a theme; it is being used as a foundation for discussions and creative writing exercises.

Workshops aim to spark inspiration, awaken inner voice, practice and implement writing as an everyday habit, expand the boundaries of creativity and learn to share creative work with others.

Who can participate? Workshops are intended for everyone, who has a special connection with language, and story-telling, seeks to learn to express their thoughts, wants to finish a novel or needs an inspiration to write a new one. These workshops are ultimately oriented into self-growth, self-development and building up the confidence that everybody has a right to write.

More information about creative writing workshops ➡ ‘IŠ TYLOS’

“As a subject to study creative writing is not comprised of theoretical topics only. I try to combine the contents of each class depending on the needs of a group and the common dynamics. The biggest reward to me is to create and successfully maintain cozy and safe environment that would make group members open up.”
Gabrielė Labanauskaitė

kūrybinis rašymas

FEEDBACK

“I love these courses for the informativeness. Gabriele always enter a classroom ready to teach. During these courses I widened my knowledge and now I can apply it. I am a good student: honestly doing homework and attending classes. There is a good atmosphere and a lot of people, who think alike. When a course is finished, I really miss evenings, when I can share my writing with others and to hear theirs, to talk to them about the things we care about the most.”
Marius Repšys, actor and writer

“Creative writing courses fascinate me firstly because of their teacher. Gabriele is a person, who could inspire any person to write even though they would think that they do not want or are not able to write at all.
Agnė Zinkevičiūtė, couching specialist, breathing meditation teacher

“When I compare these courses to the others, these ones are special, because of Gabrielė. She manages to create a cozy atmosphere around her: she is free, I like her methods of teaching and the attitude. Also, there is no place for criticism. Somehow even the participants share the same atmosphere between each other. They become (or always has been?) very tolerant and follow the rule that everything is acceptable.”
Genovaitė Petronienė, psychotherapist and writer

“Gabriele has a very intimate and delicate way to approach each participant individually. Everyone is highly respected, I think that such unconditional respect is a rare thing to come across. Gabriele truly is a professional, who knows exactly, what she is doing. The programme of courses is well organized: all the information is crystalized, concentrated and playful. A play is the most important thing for me.”
Rosita Pipirienė, psychotherapist

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❗For more information about the upcoming workshops contact us ➡ [email protected] or follow social media page ➡ IŠ TYLOS