Narrative or Creative Nonfiction Track
REALITY INSPIRES YOU. It’s stranger and more intriguing than fiction. But what do you do with the stories you’ve heard? How do you relate what you’ve experienced? Who would be interested in your true tale? This is the place; this is the track to learn what to write, how to package it and who might want it.
NARRATIVE NONFICTION I: IDEA AND ELEMENTS
The literature of reality – learn to use the dramatic tools of fiction in shaping ideas and telling true stories. Discover the principles of what works and what does not in this growing segment of publishable nonfiction. Leave with the beginnings of your book or article, your story goal and a grasp of the content and competition research necessary for a proposal. Prerequisite: Creative Writing Introduction.
NARRATIVE NONFICTION II: ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT
In this powerhouse class you’ll organize your book from start to finish. Complete the first two to three chapters, prepare a detailed outline of the book, research the competition and develop an author platform. Write a cover letter to go with the chapters and outline. Voilà: the first draft of your nonfiction book proposal! Prerequisite: Narrative Nonfiction I: Idea and Elements.
For those building chapters, at any point of the writing experience, in any genre, this class offers weekly deadlines and accountability while helping you brainstorm what to write next. For all students, anywhere in the creation process – a class of allies, critique partners and deadlines. Feel free to take
it until you’ve completed your first draft – and again when you are working on your second/third, etc.! Prerequisite: Completion of one of the program’s three tracks.
You’ve completed a first draft. Where do you go from here? Revision offers hard-core analysis of structure, character and pacing while preparing you to write a stronger, cleaner draft, no matter which draft it is. This final “story” class helps you deepen what you’ve already created while giving insight to what still needs to be done. Prerequisite: All Tracks: Chapters and manuscript approval.
ALL TRACKS: POLISH (Offered spring, 2010)
Polish covers the minutiae, details, trimming and edits that will help you perfect the words on the page – the difference between “done” and “finished.” It also includes synopsis writing, logline pitches and every step up to the query letter. Be sure your book is as good as you can make it. This class is spit and polish, not rewriting. Prerequisite: All Tracks: Revision and manuscript approval.
SMU
Writer's Seminar in New York
For four days, in the extraordinary setting of an Upper East-side
mansion, students will have the opportunity to live the literary life.
Hear an honest and full critique of your manuscript from publishing
professionals, enjoy meals and lectures with those in the business, and
learn firsthand the intricacies of the publishing world. Prerequisites:
Visit smu.edu/newyork for complete prerequisite listing.
Nonfiction Workshops
Creative Nonfiction: Newspaper & Magazine Writing
Today's economy means there is even more room for freelancers! Publishing
articles in magazines and newspapers requires original thoughts and workable
ideas-the engines of writing nonfiction. Stimulate your personal creativity and
learn to identify and mold concepts into a publishable article. Consider the
many forms-essay, column, review, feature, how-to, commentary, and investigative
report-to find the story you want to write, and the story others will pay to
read.
Creative Nonfiction: Travel Writing
From Herodotus to Conde Nast, travel writing has gripped our
imagination. The story of a trip isn't only an external journey, but it
is also about personal transformation – on any scale. Bring your tale of
experience and learn to apply vivacity, subtext, texture and depth, thus
discovering the great adventure within. Whether for publication, or
personal pleasure only, by class conclusion you'll have the "road map"
to write your odyssey.
Creative Nonfiction: Memoir/Biography
Truth is stranger than fiction. How do you write truth with the drama of fiction? Turning a life, whether yours or another's, into riveting text, is more than simply recording and reporting facts. Learn how to use character development, dialogue, and vivid imagery to reveal an engaging – true! – story. Apply research, interviews and firsthand observations to story structure and watch it come to life.
Register now to secure your place, and get an "early registration" discount!
*Formula For Success:
The SMU Writer’s Seminar in New York serves as a culmination of the SMU Continuing Education Creative Writing Program, and as such, carries several prerequisites. These prerequisites help our students move from course to course within the program along pre-determined “paths” that contribute to their success and help to ensure that students gain certain skills before moving on to the next level. In addition, following these prerequisites helps to ensure the highest level of quality for the SMU Writer’s Seminar in New York applicants.
For complete program information, including program “paths,” course dates and times, and New York Seminar prerequisites, please visit www.smu.edu/creativewriting.