Short courses

Summary

As Anaïs Nin reminds us, ‘we write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.’ And writing about real life events, people and experiences brings so many rewards, enabling us to better understand ourselves and the world. But sometimes fitting reality into words can be challenging. Which forms and structures are best to hold complex and unclear experiences? How you deepen your understanding of what, at first glance, can feel simple or cliched events? When is it better to use researched facts or go with what you remember? Which techniques create the effects and feelings you want to convey? Even those who have been writing about real life for a while need encouragement and advice to keep improving.  

Join this intermediate practice-based course to build on your previous writing experience with a like-minded community of writers and improve how you write about real life. Whether you are writing about personal memories, current adventures or imaginative musings on your life, this course offers the feedback, encouragement and expertise needed to revitalise your writing practise, learn more and make progress with your life-writing projects.  

Over a series of talks, close-readings and approachable writing exercises, our expert tutor will explain: 

• the key features of life writing, memoir and autofiction including distinct techniques, structures, forms and styles 

• how to try these ideas and techniques out in your own writing, share what you’ve written and improve with mutual feedback  

• the ethical implications and options available when drawing on real life for inspiration 

You will also have the chance to discuss and reflect on what you learn with other students and the tutor in seminars 

Over a series of talks, close-readings, workshops and challenging writing exercises, our expert tutor will explain:  

• More in-depth techniques, structures and features of life writing, memoir and autofiction including distinct techniques, structures, forms and styles  

• how to try these ideas and techniques out in your own writing,  

• how to more confidently share what you’ve written and improve with more detailed mutual feedback  

• Further practical skills such as the editing and redrafting process 

• how to reflect on your own creative decision making and style  

You will also have the chance to discuss and reflect on what you learn with other students and the tutor in seminars.  

Choose this course if you want to learn:  

• more about what makes life writing, memoir and autofiction forms work  

• more intermediate techniques, skills and behaviours to rejuvenate your practise, create new work and refresh your commitment to writing  

• how to more confidently share your work and improve with mutual feedback  

• (for those who submit for assessment) how to improve with written feedback, how to reflect on your writing process and how to build your own editorial skillset