Writing a Life

online

Writing a Life

w/ Arnold Zable

Drawing on thirty years of experience both as an acclaimed writer across the genres and as a lecturer and teacher, Arnold Zable’s 6-week program will explore the most imaginative and engaging ways to structure and write a life’s story. It will include writing exercises, feedback, mini-talks, and question and answer sessions.

Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm (AEST), 1 May – 29 May

Online

$620 / $ 527 alumni

This is a past course.

There are many ways of writing a life. Stories drawn from life, tales of journeys and family history can range from memoir to autobiography; from short story to novel; from personal journal to biography. Or they can be written just for family.

The crucial questions are: what is the best way to write a life story, how to bring your recollections and research into family history to life, and how to write in a way that will hold the reader.

This is a rare opportunity to study with the acclaimed author Arnold Zable over 6 weeks in a supportive online environment.

Your course includes:

• 6 weeks of 2 hour evening tutorials (5 consecutive classes followed by a reunion class with date to be negotiated between tutor and students).
• A complimentary copy of a recent A&U publication.
• On completion of the course, alumni discounts on future Faber Writing Academy courses and books from the Allen & Unwin Website.

Writers you'll be working with:

Arnold Zable

Arnold Zable is an acclaimed writer, novelist, storyteller and human rights advocate. His books include Jewels and Ashes, The Fig Tree, Cafe Scheherazade, Scraps of Heaven, Sea of Many Returns, Violin Lessons, and The Fighter. His most recent book, The Watermill was published in March 2020. His work ranges across many genres and includes novels, short stories, essays, columns, opinion…

Course outline

Session 1: Wednesday 1 May. Introductory Session.
• Introduction, including participant introductions
• The many ways of writing a life: From non-fiction to fiction, memoir to novel
• Introduction to the art of scene construction
• Beginnings: Capturing moments in time

Session 2: Wednesday 8 May. Models of writing character
• The art of scene construction expanded
• Being fully present
• Points of view and tenses
• Writing exercise
• Q and A

Session 3: Wednesday 15 May. Writing place, settings
• The art of scene construction continued
• Structure: Interaction between spontaneity and planning
• Exercise: Writing character and place
• Q and A

Session 4: Wednesday 22 May. Objects and the stories they tell
• Review of exercises, Q and A
• Stories and scenes generated by objects
• The interaction between research and writing

Session 5: Wednesday 29 May. Where to from here: Taking your stories forward.
• How to take a story forward
• Overcoming blocks
• Review of exercises
• Q and A: Participants’ projects.

Session 6: Reunion class (date to be negotiated)

Revisit your work after time away from the class
Date to be determined by class

Praise for this course

‘It put me into into an enjoyable discipline of writing – Arnold’s exhortation to ‘just write’ and his sharing of writing relevant to the central theme each week was instructive and helped me to think about the why and wherefore of storytelling.’

‘There is always something one can learn from Arnold. He is such an enthusiastic bundle of knowledge.’

‘I learned so much in just a few weeks and the interaction with others was very helpful. Arnold is an excellent teacher.’

‘Arnold Zable was generous with his time and feedback. He is excellent in giving encouragement and guidance. Look forward to participate in other sessions with Arnold.’

How to Book

This is a past course.