Writing The Self: Biography and Autobiography

Everyone has a story to tell. This six week course will give you some of the tools needed to write and experience life writing about yourself, your family, or fictional imaginings based on real life. We will look at a variety of ways in which to write about history, such as writing in a diary, sensory memory, writing from a prompt and research methods. If you have always wanted to write about your life and travels, your family, or a few select memories, then this course is for you.

Week One: The diary. Writing for purpose. Examples of varied diary use through history. Memory and how memory changes. Different types of memory. Practical writing exercise.

Week Two: Proust’s Madeleine. Using the five senses to form a visual and sensory memory moment. Practical writing exercise.

Week Thee: The photograph. Taking inspiration from the photograph to recall and create the immediate time. Incorporating dialogue and direct speech. Practical writing exercise.

Week Four: A special event or day: The idea of a moment out of the ordinary. Using first person to narrate this day in a narrative and linear form. Practical writing exercise.

Week Five: Perspective. Using recall of one event. Replaying that same event through another’s narrative perspective. Exploring the possibility of the non linear narrative. Practical writing exercise.

Week Six: Found Literature and beginning a research project. Exploring how ‘found literature or imagery’ can prompt memory or creative writing work. Advice on beginning a project in Life Writing. Practical writing exercise.

Saturday 4th February for 6 weeks
5 - 7pm 
£35 for term

Pre-booking is essential. Tickets are available from our Box Office on 01452 50 30 50.