Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing
Nonfiction writing appeals to the amateur historian/anthropologist/psycholigst/biographer in all of us. When you pursue nonfiction writing, you can research, interview, and explore virtually any subject that interests you, and then write about what you’ve learned.
Contemporary nonfiction is more than facts and figures – readers expect their nonfiction to be engaging, compelling, entertaining and, of course, informative. Apply creative writing techniques to any nonfiction project, from personal essays to articles or full-length books. You will work with a published nonfiction writer to complete an article, collection of other related essays or a chapter of a nonfiction book (up to 2,500 words).
Course level: Beginner / Intermediate
Required Book: Creative Nonfiction: Researching and Crafting Stories of Real Life by Philip Gerard
Workshop Length: 12 weeks
Tuition: $350.00 ($315 for VIP)
Start Date: View Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing Course Schedule
Course Structure
This workshop will consist of six two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with writing assignments incorporating the techniques learned in the session, which you will submit to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises. (2.4 CEUs)
You will learn:
- How to use detail in your writing
- How to interview and add description to your interview material
- How to make your point using structure and organization
- How to create unity of viewpoint, pronouns, place, and time
- How to polish your prose using rewriting and revision
Who should take this course:
- Writers interested in pursuing Nonfiction (any style)
- Nonfiction writers who want to learn compelling, entertaining, and engaging nonfiction techniques
- Individuals who feel they could benefit from the insights and guidance of a Published Author
Course Outline
Session One: Getting Started
- Creative nonfiction
- Descriptive writing
- Using detail in your writing
Writing Assignment: A 500-word description of a public place—and the actions of the people in it—as though you were crafting a larger story about this place.
Session Two: Real-life Characters
- An introduction to interviewing
- Using quotes
- Paraphrasing & summary
- Adding description to interview material
Writing Assignment: A short “profile” of a real person, based on an interview (maximum 500 words). For a subject, you can use a friend or family member, or someone else you have reasonably easy access to (your boss, a local small businessperson, your minister, etc.). Use a combination of description, and quotes to portray not just the substance of the interview, but some aspect of the subject’s personality as well.
Session Three: Making Your Point—Logically
- Structure & organization
- Beginnings, middles and ends
Writing Assignment: Select a topic of your choice and write an opening (with an appropriate hook and lead), a summary of the body of the piece, and an ending (with an appropriate concluding device)—maximum 750 words.
Session Four: Style, Part I—Unity & Rhythm
- Unity of viewpoint
- Unity of pronoun
- Unity of place
- Unity of time
- Rhythm and pacing
Writing Assignment: A complete article or essay on the topic of your choice, concentrating on the use of the stylistic techniques covered in this session (maximum 1,000 words).
Session Five: Style, Part II—Voice & Tone
- Using an appropriate voice
- How tone complements voice
- Finding your voice
Writing Assignment: Put all of the piece together to write the first draft of an article, collection of related essays or other short pieces, or a chapter of a nonfiction book (maximum 2,500 words total).
Session Six: Polishing Your Prose
- Drafts
- Revision
Writing Assignment: An article, collection of related essays or other short pieces, or a chapter of a nonfiction book (maximum 2,500 words total). You may revise and rewrite the piece(es) you submitted for Session Five, based on the feedback you’ve received, or you may submit new work.
