Creative non-fiction often begins with experiences that are deeply personal yet widely recognizable. How can writers transform intimate moments from their own lives into stories that resonate with others? How do autobiographical narratives open onto broader social, ethical, and philosophical questions?

In this seven-week course, Writing the Self, tutor William Keohane invites writers with an intermediate level of experience to develop new creative non-fiction that explores a significant autobiographical concern in their lives. Through close reading, discussion, and workshop feedback, students will be encouraged to write with care, curiosity, and compassion about experiences that matter to them.

Each week pairs extracts from memoirs and personal essays—centred on themes such as illness and addiction, birth and death, love and heartbreak—with group discussions of craft and ethics. Alongside practical writing exercises and peer feedback, we will consider questions of voice, memory, truth, and the responsibilities involved in writing about ourselves and the people who inhabit our stories.

This course is designed for writers who wish to deepen their practice while engaging thoughtfully with the possibilities—and challenges—of autobiographical writing.

Please note: Creative non-fiction frequently engages with emotionally complex experiences. Readings, discussions, and workshop submissions may address sensitive topics, including death, illness, grief, trauma, addiction, and other potentially distressing subjects. Students are never required to disclose more than they desire to, and are encouraged to engage with the material in ways that feel appropriate for them. Because workshop discussions may include personal material, all participants are expected to treat one another's work and experiences with empathy, respect, and confidentiality.