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  3. Advanced Non Fiction Writing

Advanced Non Fiction Writing (JOUR90009)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 2
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This subject focuses in the intersection of journalistic skill and literary technique in the genre broadly defined as ‘creative non-fiction’. The weekly workshops discuss classic and contemporary authors of narrative journalism, personal essays, polemics and features such as Joan Didion, Hunter S Thompson, James Baldwin, Michael Paterniti, Rachel Kushner, Caity Weaver, George Orwell and others. Each week examines different aspects of the craft of non-fiction: research, interviewing, structure, voice, characterisation, metaphor and so on. The subject also emphasises practice, simulating the experience of writing for publication. Through the course of a semester, students choose their own topic and angle, and then pitch a non-fiction article to a guest editor from a major magazine or other outlet. They submit a draft for feedback before writing a polished piece of creative non-fiction.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

  • Have a knowledge of the tradition of journalistic non fiction writing, and be familiar with key examples
  • Understand the structures and techniques of journalistic feature writing, including the different methods of research required
  • Have completed a portfolio of work demonstrating the skills of literary journalism.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:

  • High level ability to analyse writing techniques and affects
  • High level ability to express thoughts, ideas and observations in accessible written English.

Last updated: 1 October 2024