An ever-changing creative medium that explores some of the most diverse and intimate corners of the human experience, life writing encompasses a dazzling range of non-fiction from (auto)biography and memoir to deeply existential, philosophical encounters with illness, mortality, nature and spirituality.
In addition to exploring the wide variety of genres, sub-genres and dynamics that constitute the domain of life writing, you will also gain valuable insights into the art and craft of fashioning and perfecting your own examples of creative non-fiction.
If you have a passion for reading and writing and are keen to nurture your creativity, but feel daunted at the prospect of having to produce fiction, this course will allow you to hone your skills in vital areas of non-fiction writing, such as storytelling, generating ideas, narration and dialogue, observation, as well as the use of humour and satire.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WORKS STUDIED & ACTIVITIES
We’ll be reading and analyzing excerpts from the following:
BIOGRAPHY & MIXED GENRES
An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World, Pankaj Mishra
Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma, Michael Peppiatt
MEMOIR & MIXED GENRES
A Hell of Mercy: A Meditation on Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul, Tim Farrington
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone, Olivia Laing
The Shepherd’s Life: A People’s History of the Lake District, James Rebanks
A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Rebecca Solnit
LIFE & DEATH
Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, William Dalrymple
Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery, Henry Marsh
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddharta Mukherjee
GENERAL
The Arvon Book of Literary Non-Fiction
Crafting the Personal Essay: A Guide to Writing and Publishing Creative Nonfiction, Dinty Moore
ACTIVITIES:
1. Reading / Analysis Assignments
2. Creative ‘Experiential’ Homework Exercises
Designed to complement the readings, the creative ‘experiential’ homework exercises are essentially thought experiments that will help you to generate ideas for both impromptu in-class activities and your written pieces. Please remember to take notes, record your impressions/observations while conducting these thought experiments.
3. Crafting Your Own Example of Life Writing
Details on forthcoming workshops & syllabi: TBA
Text & Images: © Solivagant Wisdom