One of the first instructions received when writing is, «Show, don’t tell.» Then, the cinematic qualities of a good text are mentioned, along with vivid imagery and creating a colorful world in the reader’s mind. And while this is generally good advice, it can also lead to detailed but static descriptions of settings, where characters speak and act, but the imagery feels separate from these actions.

On the other hand, what happens when we listen? The view requires distance (no matter how small) from what we see. And often this distance is repeated in the writing. Listening though, puts us right in the middle of everything. Sound is always connected to movement, to action, to liveliness. Or as philosopher and sound artist Salomé Voegelin puts it: sound is the thing thinging. Besides putting us right in the middle of the action, listening can also offer a different perspective on how we write about the world around us. In her work Voegelin emphasizes how listening implies an entanglement with the environment, a kind of being-in-the-middle. This contrasts with the top-down perspective that, in European history and philosophy, is inseparably connected to divide-and-conquer politics and the «colonial grab». Listening can provide a more embodied and entangled relation to the world around us, connecting our writing to it. 

The course is conducted exclusively in English. All teaching and writing activities will be delivered in this language. 

The course is delivered live via video conference. To participate, you need an internet-connected device, preferably a personal computer, equipped with a microphone and camera. Our student support team will address all your technical questions to ensure you can attend the classes. All times are indicated in Central European Time (CET).

In these sessions, we will explore different methodologies (soundwalks, listening sessions, field recording, and textual phonography) that can be applied to your writing practice. Listening will be used as a generative resource for more connected and embodied writing.

1. Introduction to sound and listening
2. Writing to sound 1 & editing
3. Writing to sound 2 
4. Final presentation: sound work & text

• Single Payment: 150 euros.

You can pay for the course online using a credit or debit card via our secure payment platform. If your bank account is Spanish, we accept payments via transfer, bank deposit, or direct debit. We also accept payments through PayPal (with a surcharge).

• Every Tuesday, 19.30 to 21.30 (CET)
• First class: 07/04/2026
• Register here
• Form in Spanish

Dennis Gaens is a poet, teacher and sound artist from The Netherlands. He has published two volumes of poetry and wrote and performed in two theatre shows before shifting his focus to audio. He has worked on several podcasts, including a literary audio magazine called ‘Ondercast’ and a plotless fiction podcast called ‘Dat dus.’ He works as a sound designer for radio plays and theatre and teaches sound and writing at both the ArtEZ University for the Arts and the Rietveld Academy. He creates experimental audio pieces for his podcast ‘Dit is…’ [This is…], a podcast about whatever.