Nonfiction Writing - Getting to the heart of your story with Dr Sian Prior

Overview

Whether you’re writing a memoir, a media release or a newsletter article, you need to do more than produce a faithful description of ‘what happened’. To craft an engaging piece of writing, you need to find the ‘story’ at the heart of the 'situation'.

Whether you call it finding an angle, offering an insight, or arriving at a poetic truth, it’s a task that requires structure, discipline and an empathy with your readers. In this hands-on course, Sian Prior, author of the critically-acclaimed memoir 'Shy - A Memoir' will cover how to convert a bunch of facts into a gripping tale to grab your audience.

Course content

How to tell the difference between the ‘situation’ and the ‘story’ in nonfiction writing.
How to identify the ‘story’ in your own personal and professional writing projects.
How to identify and describe vivid ‘characters’ to convey the ‘story’ in your writing.
How to choose the most appropriate ‘voice’ with which to tell your story.
How to ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ a story to your readers.

Ideal for

Anyone who needs to write about events, topics or stories for websites, social media platforms, company publications or any other medium.
Creatives committed to higher communication standards in nonfiction writing.
Anyone who wants to improve their writing skills and bring their writing to life.

Important Information

Please be advised that the content of this course is covered in the longer courses also run by Sian Prior: Feature writing and Creative Nonfiction Writing

More information

Outcome

Students will refine their story-telling skills by developing a deeper understanding of the key ingredients of engaging nonfiction writing. They will be able to differentiate between the ‘situation’ they are describing and the ‘story’ they want to communicate to their readers. They will be able to identify the universal elements in their story in order to broaden its appeal to readers, followers and customers.

Pre-requisites

Students must be 18 or over and should have an interest in writing nonfiction.

Materials supplied

All other relevant course materials are included.

Materials to bring

Pens, paper and/or laptop for writing exercises. You will be sent pre-course reading to complete.
Optional but desirable: A personal or professional project for work-shopping (an extract of up to 1200 words) that you are already working on.

Award

Participants will be awarded an RMIT Certificate of Completion.

Additional notes

Dr Sian Prior is a writer, broadcaster and teacher of nonfiction writing. She has worked as a journalist for 25 years and taught writing at RMIT for over a decade. She also runs community writing workshops and mentors individual writers. Sian has a PhD in Creative Writing and her critically-acclaimed memoir ‘Shy’ (Text Publishing) was published in 2014. sianprior.com

Testimonial

Thank you! This has exceeded my expectations. The content was great and I feel like I'll be able to apply what I've learnt - which is what you want! Eloise

I was super excited to learn but super nervous to be thrown in the deep end and write 'on the spot'! No need, Sian was great! Engaging, knowledgeable and not remotely scary!!! Jessica

The facilitator was excellent and the other members of the group were intelligent and fun. Katherine

Great content, discussion, perspectives and some very useful take-aways for future writing. A great welcoming class atmosphere - loved the group discussions. Stephanie

Loved the tutor & content - presented in a beautifully engaging way. I want more! Loved it! Sandra

Inclusive, informative, logical, helpful. Techniques & language were very helpfully explained and useful for my writing. Great course, very informative, helpful and inspiring! Milli

Printable course flyer

Available course dates

Saturday 05 September 2020

Code S345330
Start date 05.09.20
End date 05.09.20
Hours 6
Campus City
Fee $365.00

Enrol now

Session	Start	End	Hours
Sat 05.09.20	10:00am	05:00pm	6.00

Thursday 26 November 2020

Code S345330
Start date 26.11.20
End date 26.11.20
Hours 6
Campus City
Fee $365.00

Enrol now

Session	Start	End	Hours
Thu 26.11.20	10:00am	05:00pm	6.00