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 faz parte do Programa de cursos integrados Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself
Writing Stories About Ourselves
oferecido por
Programa - O que você aprenderá com 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 vídeos (Total de 37 min), 1 teste
5 videos
Give the Readers What They Need, Not Necessarily What They Want7min
How Do I Pick a Subject?3min
I Want to Know What Happens Next7min
Interview with Amy Bloom12min
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 vídeos (Total de 38 min), 1 teste
5 videos
Hyper-Vivid Prose4min
I Can See It Perfectly in My Head.... Part 27min
The Inherent Drama of the White Page8min
Interview with Amy Bloom, part 28min
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 vídeos (Total de 20 min), 1 teste
4 videos
Get Them to the Second Line5min
Does the Second Line Live Up to the First?4min
Before the Opening Line4min
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 vídeos (Total de 25 min), 1 teste
5 videos
The "Sound" of Dialogue2min
The Unfortunate Limits of Dialogue4min
What We Lose When We Only Speak Aloud5min
Interview with Amy Bloom, part 38min
Instrutores
Said Sayrafiezadeh
Visiting ScholarShapiro Center for Writing
Sobre 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.
Sobre o Programa de cursos integrados 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.
Perguntas Frequentes – FAQ
Quando terei acesso às palestras e às tarefas?
Ao se inscrever para um Certificado, você terá acesso a todos os vídeos, testes e tarefas de programação (se aplicável). Tarefas avaliadas pelos colegas apenas podem ser enviadas e avaliadas após o início da sessão. Caso escolha explorar o curso sem adquiri-lo, talvez você não consiga acessar certas tarefas.
O que recebo ao me inscrever nesta Especialização?
Quando você se inscreve no curso, tem acesso a todos os cursos na Especialização e pode obter um certificado quando concluir o trabalho. Seu Certificado eletrônico será adicionado à sua página de Participações e você poderá imprimi-lo ou adicioná-lo ao seu perfil no LinkedIn. Se quiser apenas ler e assistir o conteúdo do curso, você poderá frequentá-lo como ouvinte sem custo.
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