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A.L. Kennedy - Beware the Writing Masterclass

In That Masterclass, I and my fellows huddled in chairs, trying to believe we wanted to make notes, as our Master unzipped and released a tepid stream of narcissistic rage, misogyny, self-aggrandising gibberish and SHOUTING. By lunchtime on the first day we all loathed him. By lunchtime on the second day I was desperately trying to withdraw to my Happy Place, but was being refused entry on the grounds that anyone lovely I could think of, any beautiful location or delightful event, would be irretrievably sullied by contact with an apparently endless succession of rants, humiliating exercises and sad little glimpses into a world of horrible disappointments and fear. Ever done something new while strangers observed? Well, try doing it with a real live sociopath bellowing wet comments against your neck."