The correspondence courses are for people who want to start
life writing and who would like some individual guidance and perhaps some
discipline!. The courses are suitable as a continuation after a weekend
workshop or on their own. As explained on the Correspondence Courses
page, the ten units in each course are based on the two text books, Writing Your Life: a journey of discovery and The
Memoir Book. You can only buy the
whole course, not individual units. There are two courses to choose from:
The Life
Writing Course is designed for those who wish to try writing autobiography a
whole life story. It is based on Writing
Your Life.
The Memoir
Course is designed for those who wish to try writing memoir a time, place,
relationship or experience within a life. It is based on The Memoir Book. ( This course not available until May 07)
Read
through the course outlines, consider your writing project, then decide which
one is for you. For more information and
how to enroll, read the Correspondence Courses page. If you have any further
queries, email the Life Stories Workshop.
Course
Outline: The Life Writing Course
Introduction
If you want to start writing your life
story, this is the course for you. You will need to acquire a copy of Writing Your Life: a journey of discovery
Allen & Unwin 2001. It normally costs $24.95 Australian dollars. (You may
be able to find it for less on an internet bookshop.) All page numbers refer to this edition.
Guidelines for following the course:
Overall
time for completing the course is up to two years. You may complete the course
in a few months if you wish.
Time
limit for each exercise is advised in the edition of the text you are using,
but for the purposes of the correspondence course, disregard the advice. You
may write up to 3,000 words per unit. Do
not be concerned with how long it might take.
Clearly
identify the unit you are doing on the front page, e.g Unit 1.
Return
your exercises one at a time. Wait for the return of each exercise before you
send the next one.
Post is
preferred for return of course units as editing is more efficient on paper, but
in some circumstances, you may email your units.
Make sure
you include a stamped self-addressed envelope with each exercise unit.
For each
exercise unit you complete, you will receive on-page notes and a separate
written report with detailed, individual guidance.
Course Outline
Unit 1:
Getting Started: Read
Workshop 1, beginning at pg 39.
Complete Ex 4, pg 51
Unit 2:
Sources: Read Workshop 2, beginning at pg 55.
Complete Ex3 pg 69
Unit 3:
Memory: Read Workshop 3, beginning at pg 73.
Complete Ex 2, pg
84
Unit 4:
Finding Your Voice: Read
Workshop 4, beginning at pg 90. Complete Ex 3, pg 99
Unit 5:
Bring it to life Detail: Read Workshop 5, beginning pg 104.
Complete Ex 2 or 4 (your choice) pg 113
Unit 6:
Bring it to life
Drama: Read Workshop 6, beginning at pg 117. Complete Ex 3, pg 128
Unit 7:
(note this and following units are out of sequence with book)
Experimenting with Form: Read Workshop 10, beginning pg 180.
Complete Ex 3, pg 189
Unit 8:
Structure: Read Workshop
7, beginning pg 133.
Complete Ex 1, pg 144
Unit 9:
Crafting the Story: Read Workshop 8, beginning pg 151.
Complete
Ex 3, pg 162
Unit 10:
Telling Your Truth: Read Workshop 9, beginning pg 168. Complete ex 4, pg 176
Course
Outline: The Memoir Course
Introduction
If you want to start writing about aspects
of your life a place or time, experience or idea, this is the course for you.
You will need to acquire a copy of The
Memoir Book Allen & Unwin 2007. It normally costs $24.95 Australian
dollars. (You may be able to find it for less on an internet bookshop.) All page numbers refer to this edition.
Guidelines for following the course:
Overall
time for completing the course is up to two years. You may complete the course
in a few months if you wish.
Time
limit for each exercise is advised in the edition of the text you are using,
but for the purposes of the correspondence course, disregard the advice. You
may write up to 3,000 words per unit. Do
not be concerned with how long it might take.
Clearly
identify the unit you are doing on the front page, e.g Unit 1.
Return
your exercises one at a time. Wait for the return of each exercise before you
send the next one.
Post is
preferred for return of course units as editing is more efficient on paper, but
in some circumstances, you may email your units.
Make sure
you include a stamped self-addressed envelope with each exercise unit.
For each
exercise unit you complete, you will receive on-page notes and a separate
written report with detailed, individual guidance. Your enrolment fee entitles
you to one full report per unit.
Course Outline
Unit 1:
Beginning, Again
Read Chapter 2, beginning pg 8. Complete Ex 2, pg 22
Unit 2:
The Importance of Madeleines remembering
Read Chapter 3, beginning pg 24. Complete Ex 4, pg 36
Unit 3:
The Story-Tellers Seat narrating position
Read Chapter 4, beginning pg 37. Complete Ex 3, pg 54
Unit 4:
Making Tapestry detail and texture
Read Chapter 5, beginning pg 56. Complete Ex 6, pg 74
Unit 5:
Finding Form
Read Chapter 6, beginning pg 75. Complete Ex 4, pg 93
Unit 6:
Narrative the Magic
spell
Read Chapter 7, beginning pg 94. Complete either Ex 3, pg 110 or
Ex 4, pg 111
Unit 7:
The Big I - Self Indulgence and Context
Read Chapter 9, beginning pg 130. Complete Ex 2, pg 141
Unit 8:
Wish You Were Here travel writing
Read Chapter 10, beginning pg 143. Complete Ex 1 or
2, pg 158
Unit 9:
Borderlands memoir and fiction
Read Chapter 12, beginning pg 180, Complete
Ex 2 or ex 4 pg 192
Unit 10:
Random provocations the personal essay
Read Chapter 11, beginning pg 161. Complete Ex 4, pg 179
