This course will help emerging writers develop skills and explore the richness of the life writing genre. Over four months, you will investigate how to access memory, how to create the lived texture of experience on the page, how to find a narrating position, where to find a voice, how to structure your story, how to avoid self-indulgence, how much research to include, how far to go in the borderlands between memoir and fiction—indeed all the myriad arts and skills of writing true stories.
Taught by Dr Sophia Barnes under the directorship of Patti Miller, each student will also have two 30-minute individual sessions with Patti and Sophia to discuss their own particular writing issues. During the course, participants will write two chapters and have them workshopped in detail with two additional sessions providing ample time to discuss structural issues under Sophia’s expert guidance. In addition, there will be the invaluable opportunity to intimately discuss the challenges of writing with inspiring authors and experts in the publishing world. Guest writers will share the benefit of their experience. Participants will also learn how to pitch their work and the opportunity to talk to a publisher and/or agent will be offered near the end of the course.
During this course, you will be provided with:
- Feedback on two chapters of your work-in-progress, delivered through whole-class workshops.
- One 30 minute one-on-one consultation with Patti Miller.
- One 30 minute one-on-one consultation with Dr Sophia Barnes.
- Regular classes taught by Dr Sophia Barnes covering everything from research and narrative structure to style and tone.
- The ability to connect with fellow committed non-fiction writers, building a close-knit community of trusted readers.
- The chance to establish valuable industry connections with key insiders from the Australian publishing industry. There is no better way to get on the road to publication than to meet the people who know how to make that happen.
- A complimentary copy of Writing True Stories, by Patti Miller.
Writing True Stories is a practical and inspiring course for writers who are ready to commit to the process of producing a full-length work of memoir or creative nonfiction. Apart from the writing classes and writing exercises, students will be expected to dedicate as much time as possible to writing during the week. The course is best suited to the intermediate writer. Graduates will have the opportunity to move into the longer Writing a Creative Nonfiction Book program which runs from July 2025 – May 2026.
