Writing Nonfiction

Nonfiction is now more abundant than ever—we read it in magazines, newspapers, books, on the Internet…. And nonfiction writing is wonderfully varied; memoir, biography, history—all this, and more, “counts” as nonfiction.

At this workshop, we’ll explore how to make nonfiction happen on the page, including:
> how to find focus within subjects of interest
> how to research authentically, for surprising results
> how to interview successfully—for provocative quotes
> how to write well-structured, compelling, true prose.

Beginners and non-native English speakers welcome.


“Now I know what my priorities are, how to organize my notes and work with my material.”
- Isabella

See more comments about Nonfiction below.

32 comments:

  1. “The topics discussed and the verbal information relayed was accessible and useful; likewise with the group participation. There was a strong sense of focus in the workshop.”

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  2. “I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the workshop! The examples that you addressed during the workshop were great!”


    “It was inspiring to hear the guest speaker’s story.”

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  3. “What a nice surprise the guest speaker was! He made a pure,upright (righteous) and kind of innocent impression on me—never met a person like him before. Amazing.”

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  4. “I learned how to interview someone and how to
    structure a profile. The guest speaker was very
    interesting, open, and kind.”

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  5. “I learned to pay attention to the music of words; to take inspiration from good writing; to pay attention to issues that I find important.... I thought the reading material in the hand-out was great and supported many ideas discussed in class.”

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  6. “I learned about arranging facts and truth into an engaging story--and the power and fun in it.”

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  7. “More than anything else, what I liked best was the chance to sit and write in a more structured way. I found it an excellent intellectual and spiritual experience.”

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  8. "I have been to many of your workshops. Always, they are inspiring, creatively driven and passionate about making good work great. I would encourage anyone interested in writing to get involved."

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  9. “I enjoyed the workshop so much because of the instructor’s professionalism, the demands she made on us as writers and readers and the generosity with which she encouraged us to look at our own work and that of others. It was really instructive to engage with other people's work and to learn from them how infinite are the variety of ways in which you can approach a piece of nonfiction.”

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  10. “I learnt a great deal regarding different interview techniques, ways in which you can approach an interview and gain information from people you’re interviewing.

    How you structure, contextualise and edit a narrative was well addressed in the course and made me aware of my personal strengths and weaknesses.

    The workshop really made me evaluate how I write and the different approaches I can consider when set a writing task.”

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  11. “I learned to express my thinking on paper in the right words.”

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  12. “The class opened my eyes: nonfiction can be every bit as inventive and exciting to read (and write) as fiction. I enjoyed the process of deconstructing a piece to find out exactly how a writer makes it shine.”

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  13. “I'm very critical of myself and struggled enormously with my own feeling of inadequacy throughout, but the encouragement was tremendous. It made me realise that...my writing style is different and it works for me.”

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  14. “What did it feel like to get live feedback on my work? Constructive. I learned how to be more self-confident in writing. The feedback...has really stuck with me :)”

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  15. “The workshop taught me how to review my interview technique and how to use research material to create a story that tells the truth. I liked the positive learning environment. Due to the super-effective build-up of the workshop, I learned a lot.”

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  16. “For me this was a literary feast! It was the first time I have ever participated in such an event, it was the first time I shared my writing with strangers, and it was the first time since my primary school days that I received formal instruction on writing itself and the process of getting there (interviews, research, etc.) and it was WONDERFUL. I didn't want it to end.”

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  17. Suzanne S.June 16, 2013

    “I learned how to push through my resistance and produce a decent first draft. What were the highlights of the class? The diversity of the group and the skillful way the instructor accepted our input without compromising the fundamentals.”

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  18. “I really enjoyed it!”

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  19. “I learned very practical techniques for doing interviews and how not to confuse reporting with interpretation.”

    “I noticed that, apparently, I am my own worst critic. Whereas I am used to see only what doesn't work in my writing, I now see all the things that do work.”

    “It was a wonderful experience to feel the concentration and positive energy of the group.”

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  20. “I was sweating during the whole class, but I must say that it was worth it.”

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  21. “I learnt that I have to be creative with language to make a piece special and that sometimes wonderful phrases just create themselves if you start poking around in the dark corners of your mind for inspiration. I also realised that there's some strange stuff that happens when you start to write…”

    “I learnt that if I have a deadline I find it easier to focus and produce good work. I can then work quite quickly and ignore distractions.”

    “I was enchanted by many of the pieces.”

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  22. “I learnt to approach interview writing in a fresh and interesting way. Also, the course has made me more conscious about various writing techniques that can be used while compiling any text really. Very helpful.”

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  23. “This was my first “creative” writing class, ever. It taught me that writing takes time and focus. A lot of both. It's a basic lesson, but over and over again I find myself surprised by the amount of time and energy one needs to produce a page that doesn't make you want to dip your laptop into a pot of boiling acid…The class specifically taught me about the ways of storytelling that I absorb and enjoy on a daily basis.”

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  24. “My big revelation was that slow and steady wins the race. I realized that being calm and is quite helpful as a… Classes like these always inspires me to write more.”

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  25. “I realised the importance of being prepared for an interview and asking the right questions.”

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  26. “I definitely learned to be more conscious about what I do well, and to use that to my advantage… From the guest speaker, I learned that passion has to be helped a little bit, and that asking for help never hurts.”

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  27. “I got a sense of reality from the guest speaker. I liked the fact that we got to discuss the publishing world and what life looks like when you’re an established writer.”

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  28. “I learned more tips and tricks for interviews; I learned more about the nature of literary nonfiction and the combination of fact and creative writing; I learned more about literary devices and the need to balance the perspective of the writer vs. the interviewee… I enjoyed the workshop tremendously. Another big boost!”

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  29. “There's so much learning value in hearing people's assignments and the instructor’s insightful analysis.”

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  30. “The instructor knows her craft thoroughly and, I suspect, has a huge wealth of experience about which she doesn’t boast. She lets her knowledge speak for itself; her willingness to share knowledge is invaluable.”

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  31. “At “Writing Nonfiction” I got much-needed inspiration and a boost to continue writing. I find that these workshops really give me the boost I’m looking for.”

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  32. “In terms of the instructor, be prepared to meet a professional—both as a writer, and as a trainer—with decades of experience. For two days I basked in knowledge; ready-to-apply approaches; tips; technical information; and related anecdotal examples. It was a mix of boosted learning, entertainment, and an absolutely positive nudge to be creative and professional…. The instructor knows what she is doing. And so will you.”

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If you have taken this workshop, please send us your feedback here.