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Writing Stories About Ourselves
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 10 hours
  • Course by Wesleyan University
  • Offered by

About

In this course, creative nonfiction writers will explore traditional storytelling methods, especially those which overlap between fiction and memoir. By looking at examples from a wide range of genres, including film, song, painting—even the theme music for Jaws!—we’ll practice exercising the creative muscle that sees ourselves as characters and the experiences we’ve had as tales. We’ll focus on critical elements, like how to begin a story, what makes for worthy content, the essential use of detail, the strengths and limits of dialogue, the power of the white space. The ultimate goal is for us to become aware of an “audience” when we write, so that the documentation of our lives will begin to resemble a “performance” crafted onto paper rather than a private entry in a journal.

Modules

The Most Important Person in My Story Is Me, Right?

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • The Most Important Person in My Story Is Me, Right?

Give the Readers What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Give the Readers What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want

How Do I Pick a Subject?

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • How Do I Pick a Subject?

I Want to Know What Happens Next

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • I Want to Know What Happens Next

Interview with Amy Bloom

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Interview with Amy Bloom

Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Assignment 1: A Most Interesting Event

I Can See It Perfectly in My Head...

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • I Can See It Perfectly in My Head...

Hyper-vivid Prose

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Hyper-Vivid Prose

I Can See It Perfectly in My Head... Part 2

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • I Can See It Perfectly in My Head.... Part 2

The Inherent Drama of the White Page

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • The Inherent Drama of the White Page

Interview with Amy Bloom, part 2

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Interview with Amy Bloom, part 2

Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Assignment 2: Fond Memories

Judging a Story by Its Opening Line

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Judging a Story by Its Opening Line

Get Them to the Second Line

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Get Them to the Second Line

Does the Second Line Live Up to the First?

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1 Videos

  • Does the Second Line Live Up to the First?

Before the Opening Line

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Before the Opening Line

Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Assignment 3: Giving It Away - or Not!

Intro to Dialogue

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Intro to Dialogue

The "Sound" of Dialogue

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • The "Sound" of Dialogue

The Unfortunate Limits of Dialogue

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • The Unfortunate Limits of Dialogue

What We Lose When We Only Speak Aloud

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • What We Lose When We Only Speak Aloud

Interview with Amy Bloom, part 3

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Interview with Amy Bloom, part 3

Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Assignment 4: Dialogue or Narration

Auto Summary

Unlock the art of storytelling with the "Writing Stories About Ourselves" course, designed for creative nonfiction writers eager to master the blend of fiction and memoir. Dive into a rich exploration of traditional storytelling techniques with a creative twist, examining examples from diverse genres such as film, music, painting, and more. Guided by expert instruction from Coursera, you'll refine your skills in crafting compelling narratives, focusing on essential elements like story beginnings, content worthiness, detail precision, dialogue dynamics, and the impactful use of white space. Over approximately 600 minutes of immersive content, you'll learn to transform your personal experiences into engaging stories that resonate with an audience. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your foundational writing skills, this course provides the tools to document your life as a performance on paper rather than just a private journal entry. Start your journey with a Coursera Starter subscription and bring your stories to life with creativity and finesse. Ideal for anyone passionate about storytelling within the arts and humanities domain.

Said Sayrafiezadeh
Instructor

Said Sayrafiezadeh