About the class
Do you believe in the power of ordinary people to tell extraordinary stories? I do. The genre of the personal essay is deeply intimate and involves sharing a part of yourself. This course is an introduction to writing a personal essay. We will read, discuss, reflect, provide each other feedback, and speak our truth through our stories. We will learn how to apply the techniques
of fiction writing into non-fiction and create a safe space that allows us to be both vulnerable
and honest.
In this beginner's course, participants will learn how to convert a memory into a scene and how
to develop characters. Additionally, participants will leave the course with book
recommendations, writing prompts, and resources to continue their memoir writing journey.
DURATION : 8 hours
DATES : 27th and 28th August,2022
3rd and 4th September,2022
AGE LIMIT : 16+
TAKEAWAYS
- Developing skills of analysis and reflection
- Mindful writing exercises
- Writing and receiving feedback on three personal essays
- Understanding the journey of writing a memoir
Favourite Memoirs
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: A vulnerable, glorious coming-of-age story about words, resilience, and trauma.
Black Boy by Richard Wright: There’s something magical in reading a story from the eyes of a child. This book is a masterclass in details.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion: She made the memoir cool again. Didion takes trauma and turns it into something both honest and engaging.
Highlights
Overcome writer’s block
Write more and have fun through engaging writing prompts
Discuss and evaluate your ideas with your classmates
Write without judgment
Finish a story
- Brainstorm and find an idea to work on
- Expand the idea into a coherent narrative
- Finish the story you started
Submit your story to magazines!
- Find the right place for your story
- Write a cover letter
- Send it!
Interested in this class? We will keep you in the loop when this class happens next.
Drop a query and we will get in touch to answer all your questions.
One Course, three outcomes
Build a strong foundation in fiction
Become a short story writer
Do you want to build a career around books? Learn about publishing houses and literary agents and the role they play in the creation of books. This could be the first step in your literary career!
Get published!
Are you a writer trying to get your book published? Polish your book with our editing techniques and get insider knowledge of the publishing industry. Perfect your book proposal and learn the tricks and tips to getting published!
Schedule
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Age:16 & Above
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Age:16 & Above
More than just a course
- 4 hours of teaching time
- Valuable skills that you can incorporate into your writing
- List of publications you can pitch to
- A certificate to show your writing skills
- Personalised feedback on ideas
About the instructors
Pragya Bhagat
Head – Learning and Communities
Pragya Bhagat is a spoken word poet, award-winning essayist, and author of two books. Her work
has been featured in the BBC, the Wire, and Huffington Post, amongst others. She currently lives in
Goa, where she hosts a fortnightly meet-up called The Poetry Circle.
Their Work at Bound
Bound provides a variety of services that help writers develop their skills and get their work ready for publishing. Tara Khandelwal and Aishwarya Javalgekar offer manuscript and proposal edits and guide writers in developing their stories. Tara has edited many acclaimed books, including Three Impossible Wishes by Anmol Malik and Essential Items by Udayan Mukherjee.
What our clients have to say
Frequently Asked Questions
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