Introduction to Writing from Life

About this course

This course introduces the main techniques used to develop a piece of creative non-fiction based on personal experience. Participants explore how voice, viewpoint, timelines, dialogue and storyline structure shape a narrative, while working on their own ideas and projects. Teaching combines in-class writing exercises, group feedback and discussion of examples by published writers. Sessions focus on different aspects of non-fiction writing, building an overview of the writer’s toolkit and the process of telling a personal story.

What you'll learn

• Develop a distinctive voice for creative non-fiction
• Manage viewpoint and experiment with different perspectives
• Structure a convincing storyline
• Organise timelines within a non-fiction narrative
• Write and use dialogue in creative non-fiction

Is this course right for you?

The course is labelled Beginner and is intended for people starting to write, while also being described as relevant to professionals refining their craft. Participation combines individual writing exercises with group feedback sessions, so learners engage both with their own ideas and with others’ work.

Before you go

• A Birkbeck certificate of participation is provided upon completion.
• The course is non-credit bearing and carries no credit points.