CPW525
Non-Fiction Series for the Weekend Student
At its core, non-fiction writing is about telling a true story that entertains and informs. It is about personal experience, real people and events told in a compelling and creative way.
In this intensive course, we will explore strategies and tools to craft effective non-fiction pieces for a variety of audiences.
The course will be hands-on, interactive and participatory, including exercises to expand your non-fiction toolbox, workshop opportunities to give and receive feedback, as well as strategies on how to move towards publication.
Overview
Location: Vancouver
Duration: 6 Saturdays
Tuition: $567
Upcoming Offerings
- Sat, Jan 25, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sat, Feb 8, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sat, Feb 22, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sat, Mar 8, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sat, Mar 22, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sat, Apr 5, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Sep 21, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Oct 5, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Oct 19, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Nov 2, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Nov 16, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Sun, Nov 30, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
Course outlines
Instructor: Mark Winston
Session 1: Introduction to non-fiction genres and writing strategies
Session 2: Telling a story: the power of place
Session 3: Writing about characters / Focus on audience
Session 4: Personalizing your narrative / How to pitch
Session 5: Peer writing consults
Session 6: Formal reading and feedback from participants / How to publish
Instructor: Eve Lazarus
Session 1: Introduction to non-fiction, character, and the art of the interview
Session 2: Personalizing your story and the importance of place
Session 3: Research and editing
Session 4: Creating structure for your work and building an outline
Session 5: Breaking down the book proposal and why you need an author platform
Session 6: Getting published and where to look for grants
This six-week course will focus on developing your work in progress, whether that’s a book, podcast or other long-form project. In this interactive class you will participate in workshops, engage in writing exercises and work on your writing in small groups where you will give and receive feedback and work towards eventual publication.
What you will learn
By the end of this course you will be able to do the following:
- Prepare an outline
- Construct and develop a compelling narrative
- Personalize your non-fiction to include your own experience
- Strengthen your writing through research, interviewing and editing
- Give, and receive, feedback
- Employ strategies for non-fiction publication
How you will learn and be evaluated
- Reading/analysis of diverse non-fiction writing, in and outside of class
- Class discussions
- Small-group in-class exercises/workshops
- Working on your own writing
- Reading your work in class and receiving class/instructor feedback
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Recommended reading:
- Margaret Atwood: Negotiating With the Dead
- Stephen King: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
- Anne Lamott: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life