Memoir and Autofiction Writing – an Introduction

This course will stimulate and develop your writing based on personal experience with literary purpose. By the end of the course, you'll have built up a collection of written pieces to serve as a structure for a full-length memoir or autofiction.

Each session will focus on an element of memoir writing and you'll undertake exercises to explore it. Each exercise is aimed to encourage the development of your writing skills, imagination, and provide you with an awareness of what makes a good memoir from the perspective of the reader. You'll be expertly guided by your tutor, Christine Aziz, at every turn, and she'll offer objective advice to help you develop your skills further.

This course is highly practical, with exercises and activities designed to challenge and inspire you, whilst having fun at the same time. You'll learn and develop your skills and ideas in an encouraging environment that will be a safe space for you to share your personal memories and any writing or research.

Please note, the sharing of your work isn't compulsory and will be kept private if so desired.

• How to expand a personal story into writing that'll resonate with others
• How to create a structure for a memoir that'll give shape to the writer's material 
• Development of research skills
• How to address the critical concepts of truth and memory, differing perspectives, permission, and voice
• The essential differences between memoir and autofiction and the legalities
• How to bypass the obstacles encountered by most people trying write memoir
• The essential tools needed to write: developing believable characters, compelling dialogue, story/plot, and where to begin
• Exploration of works by memoirists

• Possess the skills needed to write your own memoir or autofiction
• Understand the essential tools to craft a story, including developing believable characters, writing compelling dialogue, developing story/plot
• Understand how to organise your memories to the best effect for your reader and how to choose which memories to include and which to leave out
• Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
• Have boosted creativity and imagination
• Be encouraged to experiment and explore your ideas, remembering that there's no right or wrong way to be creative
• Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course
• Leave with a range of beautiful pieces designed and created by you

All students with 100% course attendance will be issued with an official AUB Short Course certificate of attendance.

After this course, you could:

• Continue to harness your creativity and develop your writing skills further; explore our full range of Creative Writing short courses
• Broaden your creative horizons and try your hand at a range of disciplines; explore our full range of evening and weekend courses
• Continue to develop your skills at home as a hobby
  

• You'll study at a leading specialist university – we know what we're doing when it comes to providing unparalleled courses
• Our tutors are industry professionals, so you'll learn from the best
• We cater for all abilities and have no formal entry requirements for this course, so there's nothing holding you back
• You'll learn in a safe and encouraging environment where there's no right or wrong way to be creative
• You'll learn 'by doing' and always feel fully included and supported
• Benefit from our incredible campus and its industry-standard studios, and use state-of-the-art equipment and software to unleash your creativity