Led by novelist Nick Barlay, author of the lauded, non-fiction family history Scattered Ghosts, this comprehensive course provides tuition in the technical skills needed to turn real life into poignant stories, including character development and dialogue. You’ll find out how to use research to add depth and understanding to your writing, and you’ll discover how historical detail and narrative dynamic can come together to reveal the universal truths in particular family histories.
Content
- The ingredients that make any family history compelling to read
- How to find the universal in the particular
- Form and voice: the ‘I’ of autobiographical writing
- How to develop a distinctive writing style
- Character description and representation
- How to write about place
- Dialogue – using voices and quotations to create scenes
- Narrative development – the dynamics of structure and plot
- Key research skills
- How to research your own family history
- Q&A and group discussion
Tutor profile
Nick Barlay is the author of four highly acclaimed novels and was mentioned among Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2003. He has just published his first work of non-fiction, Scattered Ghosts, which tells the story of his Hungarian Jewish family over two centuries. Other writing ranges from short stories to award-winning radio plays. Click here for his website.
You may also be interested in…
- Finishing and editing your novel: A one-day course
- Free your creativity and get started on your book
Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be among the first to find out about our latest courses and special offers. You can also follow us on Twitter, and read our latest articles and interviews on our blog.
Details
Dates: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February 2016
Times: 10am-4pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £449 (includes VAT, booking fee, lunch and refreshments)
Event capacity: 18
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
