Workshop BEFORE YOU APPLY: Learning to Write for Artists by Mitch Speed
General Course Description
In this introductory course, Mitch will address the first step in any grant application process – learning to write. Rather than focusing on answering specific grant application questions, Mitch will help you learn to organize and structure your ideas/art practice/projects into clear and concise narratives for grants, how to describe creative practices and projects, how to write persuasively and how to use specific writing styles in a grant application context. This course is relevant for visual artists, writers, and other creative professionals.
You will learn and have an opportunity to apply new writing strategies, gain peer and instructor feedback, and work independently and as a group. Workshop topics and delivery methods include introduction to writing structures and beginner techniques, guidance on writing styles and in-class exercises.
Duration: The dates will be published soon.
Hours: Each day from 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Seats: Max. 20 | Language: English
Fees: The participation fee is €90 per person including material (without accommodation).
The fee is VAT-exempt by the Governing Mayor of Berlin – Senate Chancellery Higher Education and Research pursuant to Paragraph 4 No. (21) (a)(bb) UStG (German Value Added Tax Act).
Learning outcomes
Guided by Mitch, you will have the opportunity to learn to better organize your ideas, write concise and engaging grant narratives, and respond to grant application questions using guiding techniques. Through in-class exercises you will learn to adopt basic writing skills applicable to grant writing and other types of creative support materials. Mitch will introduce new structures and techniques such as:
Writing structures:
- ABCs – Answer the question, Back it up, Comment/Connect
- Swift– writing prompts followed by a fast outline to organize immediate responses
Graphic Organizers:
- Used to help writers organize and manage information and ideas by integrating visuals and text, and to show relationships and connections between terms, facts, and concepts, paragraphs and the overall essay
Shared Writing Exercises:
- Intro to expository and persuasive writing styles via collaborative and independent exercises
- Persuasive writing helps you communicate and get the grant agency to do something (give you the grant)
- Expository writing informs or explains a particular subject and teaches the grant agency about your practice, proposed project and understanding of the grant process
Program Structure with Daily Lesson Plan
Day 1
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Introduction: Mitch will introduce himself, practice, and (grant) writing experience.
10:15 – 11:30 am
Mitch will begin with a presentation on beginning to write and overcoming common challenges. He will then lead participants in a group exercise using the ABC and Swift writing methods, designed to help participants begin writing on any topic.
11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Following a short break, Mitch will lead the group in a writing exercise(s) using selected graphic organizers, integrating ABC and Swift writing techniques. Participants will use the rest of the class to practice writing and ask questions.
Following the first day, participants will be asked to reflect on their creative practices and projects, and prepare to write about them in second half of the workshop.
Day 2
10:00 am – 10:30 am (approx.)
Answer any questions from the prior day’s workshop.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Mitch will introduce two writing styles applicable to grant writing – expository and persuasive writing. He will present several examples of each using essays, fiction and other forms of writing. Mitch will then guide the group in a shared (collaborative) writing exercise using the persuasive writing style.
11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Participants will have the remaining class time to practice each style, independently, with guidance from Mitch.
Your Workshop Instructor
Mitch Speed is a Berlin-based writer. In 2019 his study of Mark Leckey’s video artwork Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (1999) was published by Afterall Books, as part of their One Work series. His book ‘Still Out of Time: Nostalgia, Art, and Us’ is forthcoming from Floating Opera Press. He’s writen criticism for Camera Austria, Frieze, Mousse, Momus, Border Crossings, Spike, e-flux, artforum, and others. A collection of his essays is also forthcoming from Brick Press.
More information on the Mitch Speed Website.
