When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
This class is the chance to create your personal essay or extend into a full memoir -- from planning and structure to bold narrative brushstrokes to the layering of significant detail. You will develop the opportunity to find your voice and see it come alive, amplified and improved, on the page. This is the chance to tell your story in a way that invites readers in; your story, written to be read. The memoir and personal essay are two of the best-selling and most universally acclaimed genres in the world of modern creative writing. Welcome to your story.
In this week, you will learn how to discover what you wish to say, and how to organize your material and your story (and what is the difference between the two).
What's included
5 videos1 peer review
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 41 minutes
Open Your Eyes•7 minutes
Five Nouns•9 minutes
Open the Window•7 minutes
Foibles, Fallibilities, and Flaws•7 minutes
A Conversation with Said Sayrafiezadeh•11 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
The Mistake•60 minutes
How Not to Fail
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this week you lean how to overcome your internal critic and your fears.
What's included
5 videos1 peer review
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 39 minutes
Step by Step•9 minutes
Out of the Ditch•5 minutes
Building As You Go•7 minutes
A Little Distance•6 minutes
A Conversation with Dani Shapiro•12 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Using Memory•60 minutes
The Truth of the Story Lies in the Details
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this week, you will learn how to sift through the dusty attic of all your memories, to find the ones that are narrative gold.
What's included
4 videos1 peer review
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 29 minutes
The Intimate and the Everyday•7 minutes
What Are Facts For?•5 minutes
In the Story•6 minutes
A Conversation with Chandra Prasad•12 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Details in the Story•60 minutes
Writing to be Read
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this week, you will learn how to tell a good sentence from a bad one and how to absorb the lessons of great memoirists and essayist, without copying anyone.
What's included
5 videos1 peer review
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 41 minutes
Begin in the Middle•6 minutes
Drowning in Rhinestones•7 minutes
White Space•7 minutes
A Conversation with Ariel Levy•13 minutes
Building the House•8 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Listen to the Sound of Your Writing•60 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
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Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand. With our distinctive scholar-teacher culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates go on to lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.