Life Writing and Writing Life Short Course
Course description
Have you always wanted to write a memoir? Do you find yourself thinking about how to bring your life alive on the page? If so, then this course if for you.
We will be looking at published examples of Life Writing by authors like Joan Didion, Maggie Nelson, Annie Dillard, Rebecca Solnit, Carmen Maria Machado, Denis Johnson, Geoff Dyer and others who have used their lives in their writing and their writing in their lives.
Students will try their hand at writing different genres of Life Writing that can also span other creative non-fiction genres, such as personal essay, memoir, environmental and place-based writing to think about ways of shaping their life experiences into prose. The class will involve take-home written assignments as well as workshopping and reading work aloud in the classroom.
Who should attend Life Writing and Writing Life short course?
This course is suitable for all levels and is aimed at people who have memoirs bursting to get onto the page and for people who want to turn their life into stories and for those who are curious about how life and writing can merge with other genres in unexpected ways.
A willingness to explore the craft of writing and a very good command of the English language.
Clear, easy to understand lesson
- Our tutors will explain things in easy to understand, accessible English. If they need to use any special terminology they will make sure they explain what they mean.
- New methodologies will be explained or demonstrated
- We also offer learning resources for you to access outside of the classroom
Experience life on campus
- Network and share ideas with students from across the globe
- Access the technology and materials relevant to your discipline
- Shop in our college shops for any materials you might need
- Ask questions of your tutor in real time
- Receive feedback and critique on your assignments
- Experience the many sights of London on your down time
A certificate of completion:
- You've put the work in so we want to make sure you have something to show for it!
- As long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, we will provide you with a certificate of attendance
- We always recommend you attend all of the classes so that you get the most out of the experience!
- Certificates are great to complement your CV
Available dates
Details
Topics Covered
- Creative writing skills: fundamental techniques and concepts relevant to life writing and memoir
- Discussion of published examples (provided) of life writing and creative non-fiction in general
- Workshopping and critical discussion of pieces of writing from a variety of styles and genres from memoir, place writing, travel writing, journalism, essays and more experimental forms.
- We will also discuss hybrid forms of life writing
- How to position yourself with respect to the landscape of life writing and creative non-fiction
Materials
Please bring with you to the first session:
Pencil or pen and paper and laptop.
This will be a workshop-based class and there will be homework. Students do not have to purchase books or materials for this class as the tutor will be providing handouts. Students need to show up with a pen, paper and a willingness to mine their lives and minds for stories and an eagerness to share their work.
Some recommended reading:
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams
This Writing Life by Annie Dillard
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit
The Argonauts and Bluets by Maggie NelsonIn The Dream House by Carmen Maria MachadoHeartberries by Therese MailhotWhy be happy when you can be normal by Jeanette WintersonThe Observable Universe by Heather McCaldenMeet the Tutor
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