The Invisible College

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Cathy FitzGerald presents creative writing lessons, aided by the ghosts of writers past.

Dr Cathy FitzGerald presents a series of lessons in creative writing with help from a ghostly array of great novelists, poets and playwrights.

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The Invisible College: Series 2: 1.  Inspiration

1.  Inspiration

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Invisible College, Series 2, 1.  Inspiration

Beryl Bainbridge, Roald Dahl and Ray Bradbury on inspiration.

Dr Cathy FitzGerald’s lessons in creative writing with help from a ghostly array of great writers: inspiration. From 2017.

Dr Cathy FitzGerald presents series two of lessons in creative writing made from archive recordings of great novelists, poets and playwrights talking about their craft. 

In the first of three episodes: 

Lesson One - Find your Story

Inspiration isn't always a divine spark; often an idea has far more prosaic origins. In this lesson, we hear how the speaking clock inspired Beryl Bainbridge, how Roald Dahl's children tricked him into creating James and the Giant Peach, and how Ray Bradbury found a story in a pair of tennis shoes. 

Lesson Two - Listen Up!

Tips on developing an ear for dialogue, featuring an archive recording of the New York poet and writer Grace Paley reading her warm and funny story The Loudest Voice. 

Lesson Three - A Workshop with Allen Ginsberg

How often do you get to take a creative writing lesson from one of the Beats? In this extraordinary recording of a lecture given in 1982, American poet Allen Ginsberg explains what he learned about writing from novelist Jack Kerouac. 

Presenter and Producer: Cathy FitzGerald

A White Stiletto production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.

The Invisible College: Series 2

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

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The Invisible College

Series 2

1. Inspiration

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