The course runs 10am–2pm each day (session 1, 10–11.45am; session 2, 12–2pm) after which time you will have the opportunity to stay in the room for individual writing time until 4pm. Lunch is not provided, but plenty of refreshments will be available from 9.45am.
Day One, Monday 20 September 2021
Session 1
What and why do you want to write; how to get started; overcoming procrastination and making time; openings – the many ways to invite your reader in.
Session 2
The value of memory-based writing; how to access memory; other sources - research and interview; how to incorporate research material.
Day Two
Session 1
Observation based writing; how to write the detail, creating the lived texture of experience; how to access the senses
Session 2
The difference between showing and telling; how to create the three-dimensional feel of life
Day Three
Session 1
Voice – who is writing this book?; changing perspective; closeness and distance in Voice
Session 2
Guest writer
This afternoon there will be a guest author, an experienced memoir/non-fiction writer to share knowledge and experience with you.
Day Four
Session 1
The difficulties of truth –telling; surviving truth-telling; borderlands of fiction – can you ‘invent’ anything in memoir?
Session 2
Self Indulgence – all about me; saving memoir from self-indulgence; how to widen the context
Day Five
Session 1
How to Structure; organic structure emerging from material; chronology, topics, themes, images, story; way of working with structure
Session 2
Narrative - how to find the story; how to structure a narrative arc; plotting your life story
NB: this course content outline is a guide, and is subject to change without notice.