Life writing: getting started

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 creating a keepsake containing your most precious moments, hoping to improve your creative writing or simply want future generations of your family to know about your life experiences, this workshop teaches a range of life writing approaches and techniques that will open new avenues of reflection.

What will we cover?

- Approaches to enriching life writing.
- Innovative structural techniques within life writing.
- Developing a voice and style in life writing.
- Life writing prompts of an introspective nature.

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

- Experiment with different writing styles.
- Develop your understanding of structural techniques within life writing.
- Experiment with instrospective prompts that open up new avenues in your life writing.

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

Open to all levels of writer, from beginners to more experienced, with a willingness to explore a range of writing techniques. Comprehension of written and spoken English is essential.

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

A mix of writing prompts, 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?

Writing materials / journal to write in.

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

City Lit offer a range of writing courses that encourages aspiring writers to explore their creativity.

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.