Course Summary
This course is designed to help students write about themselves in a compelling and authentic way. Through a series of writing assignments and peer review, students will learn how to craft personal narratives that resonate with readers.Key Learning Points
- Learn how to write about yourself in a way that is both authentic and engaging
- Receive feedback from peers to improve your writing skills
- Explore different techniques for crafting personal narratives
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Craft compelling personal narratives that resonate with readers
- Improve your writing skills through peer review and feedback
- Develop a stronger sense of self and personal brand
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic proficiency in English
- Access to a computer and internet connection
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Self-paced
- Online
- Writing Assignments
- Peer Review
Similar Courses
- Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot
- Writing for Social Media
- Advanced Writing
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Cheryl Strayed
- Elizabeth Gilbert
Related Books
Description
In this course, creative nonfiction writers will explore traditional storytelling methods, especially those which overlap between fiction and memoir. By looking at examples from a wide range of genres, including film, song, painting—even the theme music for Jaws!—we’ll practice exercising the creative muscle that sees ourselves as characters and the experiences we’ve had as tales. We’ll focus on critical elements, like how to begin a story, what makes for worthy content, the essential use of detail, the strengths and limits of dialogue, the power of the white space. The ultimate goal is for us to become aware of an “audience” when we write, so that the documentation of our lives will begin to resemble a “performance” crafted onto paper rather than a private entry in a journal.
Outline
- What Can We Learn From Fiction?
- The Most Important Person in My Story Is Me, Right?
- Give the Readers What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want
- How Do I Pick a Subject?
- I Want to Know What Happens Next
- Interview with Amy Bloom
- Train Your Eye Like a Filmmaker
- I Can See It Perfectly in My Head...
- Hyper-Vivid Prose
- I Can See It Perfectly in My Head.... Part 2
- The Inherent Drama of the White Page
- Interview with Amy Bloom, part 2
- Opening the Story
- Judging a Story by Its Opening Line
- Get Them to the Second Line
- Does the Second Line Live Up to the First?
- Before the Opening Line
- The Joys and Pitfalls of Dialogue
- Intro to Dialogue
- The "Sound" of Dialogue
- The Unfortunate Limits of Dialogue
- What We Lose When We Only Speak Aloud
- Interview with Amy Bloom, part 3
Summary of User Reviews
Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
The course is well-structured and provides valuable insights into writing about oneselfPros from User Reviews
- The instructor is knowledgeable and engaging
- The assignments are challenging and thought-provoking
- The feedback from peers and instructors is helpful and constructive
- The course materials are well-organized and easy to understand
Cons from User Reviews
- Some of the assignments can be time-consuming
- The course may not be suitable for those who are not comfortable with sharing personal experiences
- The peer-review process can be inconsistent at times
Said Sayrafiezadeh
4.2 Raiting
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