Journaling: a taster

What is the course about?

There are few activities more meaningful than reflecting on the events of our lives, those we care about and the world we live in. Whether you are journaling to create a keepsake containing your most precious moments, to improve your creative writing or simply want future generations of your family to know about your life experiences, this short course teaches a range of journaling approaches and techniques that will open new avenues of reflection in your life.

What will we cover?

- Finding your journaling purpose.
- Approaches to life writing and autobiographical writing.
- Techniques to develop setting.
- Techniques to delvelop character.
- Journaling prompts of an introspective nature.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Develop your own unique approach to life writing.
- Learn about a range of journaling prompts and techniques that will enrich your life writing experience.
- Know where to find further journal inspiration for your life writing.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an introductory course which is open to all learners.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

A mix of writing exercises, pair work, group work, class discussion and formal tutor modeling and instruction.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You need to bring a notebook that you'd like to use as your journal. On some weeks, students will be given research activities for homework to inspire their writing in the next class.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

City Lit offer a range of life writing courses including memoir, autobiographical writing and nature writing.

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.