Creative Non Fiction

If you have a factual story that you want to tell but are not sure what form to tell it in, this course will help you explore the possibilities. Over the course of the weeks, we will look at life-writing in its many guises, voice in non-fiction, characterisation, and the shape of your story. During each two-hour class you will be guided through handouts on craft, invited to partake in written activities, and encouraged to discuss the elements of craft encountered in assigned extracts and in your own work.

There will be a reading assignment each week and your written goal will be to complete a preface and opening chapter. While your manuscripts will not be workshopped during the classes, I will suggest that you share your work in progress with the group so that any references you make to your text during our discussions will be familiar and thus enable the sharing of ideas.

You will be encouraged to submit an extract of 2000 words from your work a fortnight after the classes finish to enable me to offer any advice I think may be helpful.

Writers of creative non-fiction you can expect to encounter include David Sedaris, Michael Harding, Emilie Pine, Eílís Ní Dhuibhne, Pat Boran, Frank McCourt, Hilary Mantel, Mary Karr, Tobias Wolfe and Doireann Ní Ghríofa.

Course cost €100

Class numbers will not exceed nine.