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.
Este curso forma parte de Programa Especializado - Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself
Writing Stories About Ourselves
ofrecido por
Programa - Qué aprenderás en este curso
Semana
1What Can We Learn From Fiction?
In this week, we’ll learn what sorts of techniques we can borrow from fiction and how to overlay them onto our personal stories.
5 videos (Total: 37 min), 1 quiz
5 videos
Give the Readers What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want7m
How Do I Pick a Subject?3m
I Want to Know What Happens Next7m
Interview with Amy Bloom12m
Semana
2Train Your Eye Like a Filmmaker
In this week, we’ll learn how to create powerful scenes and vivid details by seeing precisely what we’ve put on the page—and what we haven't.
5 videos (Total: 38 min), 1 quiz
5 videos
Hyper-Vivid Prose4m
I Can See It Perfectly in My Head.... Part 27m
The Inherent Drama of the White Page8m
Interview with Amy Bloom, part 28m
Semana
3Opening the Story
In this week, we’ll learn how to open and frame a story by examining the efficacy of various first lines.
4 videos (Total: 20 min), 1 quiz
4 videos
Get Them to the Second Line5m
Does the Second Line Live Up to the First?4m
Before the Opening Line4m
Semana
4The Joys and Pitfalls of Dialogue
In this week, we’ll learn when and where to use dialogue, and what makes for the best soundbites.
5 videos (Total: 25 min), 1 quiz
5 videos
The "Sound" of Dialogue2m
The Unfortunate Limits of Dialogue4m
What We Lose When We Only Speak Aloud5m
Interview with Amy Bloom, part 38m
Instructor
Said Sayrafiezadeh
Visiting ScholarShapiro Center for Writing
Acerca de Wesleyan University
At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit.
Acerca del programa especializado Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself
How To Write About Yourself...so that someone else wants to read it! This is the heart of this Coursera specialization in Memoir and Personal Essay. Masters of both genres share tips, prompts, exercises, readings and challenges to help every writer imagine, construct and write compelling pieces of non-fiction's most popular form: the personal narrative.
Preguntas Frecuentes
¿Cuándo podré acceder a las lecciones y tareas?
Una vez que te inscribes para obtener un Certificado, tendrás acceso a todos los videos, cuestionarios y tareas de programación (si corresponde). Las tareas calificadas por compañeros solo pueden enviarse y revisarse una vez que haya comenzado tu sesión. Si eliges explorar el curso sin comprarlo, es posible que no puedas acceder a determinadas tareas.
¿Qué recibiré si me suscribo a este Programa especializado?
Cuando te inscribes en un curso, obtienes acceso a todos los cursos que forman parte del Programa especializado y te darán un Certificado cuando completes el trabajo. Se añadirá tu Certificado electrónico a la página Logros. Desde allí, puedes imprimir tu Certificado o añadirlo a tu perfil de LinkedIn. Si solo quieres leer y visualizar el contenido del curso, puedes auditar el curso sin costo.
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