Aims of the course:
- This course will begin with an introduction to life writing: what it is, its tradition and how it has changed in recent years
- Participants will assess what they know already about their proposed biographical subject or the period they want to write about, and what they need to know
- Each week will focus on a different aspect of life writing: bringing people to life, writing about a place, telling the story and polishing and revising work
- The participant will learn how research can enhance writing and influence the way in which a story is told.
- This course will encourage participants to establish a writing regime.
Course outline
Welcome to the course
- Become familiar with navigating around the VLE and from VLE to links and back
- Test your ability to access files and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
- Learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- Contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course
Week 1: What is life writing?
By studying this week you should have:
- An awareness of the range of different styles used to write a biography or memoir
- An ability to see the advantages and limitations of different approaches
- A growing sense of which style might suit your own approach to writing
Week 2: Knowing your biographical subject
By studying this week you should have:
- A biographical sketch of the subject
- A timeline of the events in the person's life
- An awareness of any themes to be explored in that person's life
Week 3: Creating a sense of place
By studying this week you should have:
- An awareness of the different tools available to help the writer recreate a place
- An understanding of what makes a good piece of writing about place
Week 4: Telling the story
By studying this week you should have:
- An awareness of the different approaches to structure
- An understanding of how to create drama
Week 5: Polishing your work
By studying this week you should have:
- An awareness of what makes a good writing
- An understanding of how to improve your work
Week 6: Feedback and future directions
- Derek will give a summary of the course and provide individual feedback
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online):
Orientation Week: 27 October-2 November 2025
Teaching Weeks: 3 November-7 December 2025
Feedback Week: 8-14 December 2025
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards,etc).
Certificate of Participation
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students say
“Derek was an immensely constructive, generous and sympathetic tutor. His extremely prompt feedback always on point and encouraging. As a result, he created an environment in which one felt supported and confident to take risks."
"This man has the patience of a saint. Derek N. truly reads every word I submit! I don't feel deserving of him. The feedback I get here is so truly tangible and helpful, that I really want to pursue a degree here."
"Derek's style and knowledge are perfect for virtual learners. He creates a safe, and engaging environment. We benefit from his suggestions for our writing and fellow students. He is very accessible and supportive. He loves to teach and develop us. He is adept at facilitating discussions and questions during the Zoom session. I think the role of the tutor is critical in the experience of the student. Derek has helped direct me to the right people for a variety of questions. My experiences have been so positive through Derek, I signed up for the certificate program in the Fall. I am very new to Creative Writing, and these two courses I've taken through VLE/ICE were vital. One of the things I really enjoyed about this course is the variety of authors (American, British), the introduction of humour, pace, and tone. The assignment with Miss Denny's album was fascinating and it promoted collaboration between the participants. My favorite week was the last one---about humour, polishing/editing our work, etc."
