Creative Nonfiction 101 is a 6-week class, which includes a mixture of lectures and exercises. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants a refresher. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
Nonfiction—pieces that spring from the real world—is everywhere. Magazines, newspapers, books, blogs, websites. And nonfiction has grown more diverse and creative than ever, embracing all styles from straight to zany to lyrical, encompassing every topic imaginable from schoolyard memories to a trek in Nepal to the creation of the universe.
Here you will gain an introduction to six major forms of creative nonfiction— memoir, personal essay, feature articles, profiles, reviews, and travel writing. You’ll learn what they are and how to create them. It’s a sampler platter, with no pressure to work on a specific project or settle on which type of nonfiction you prefer.
If you’re eager to explore the endless possibilities of nonfiction, your guided tour begins here.
Notes:
The 101 courses do not include workshopping of student projects, but students write and receive feedback on writing exercises and assignments.
Syllabus
- Memoir: An aspect of life. Mining your memory. Telling a real-life story.
- Personal Essay: Any topic goes. Make it personal and universal. Shape and voice.
- Feature Articles: Telling a journalistic story. Feature structure. Feature ingredients.
- Profiles: Selecting someone to write about. Interviewing. Capturing a person on the page.
- Reviews: Purpose of a review. Facts and opinion. Playing to your audience.
- Travel Writing: Travel Articles. Travel Memoir. What’s next on your nonfiction journey?
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Important:
- Schedule posted is the Start and End date of the class. You may access the class at any time, day or night, within the schedule provided. Please see Online Class Delivery for more details.
- Registrants will receive email instructions and information on how to access the online classroom.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.