Autobiographical writing: getting started

City Lit

Course

In London

£ 119 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

How to use your life story as a source for writing.

The Tutor
Paul Laffan is the author of four novels, a book of reportage and has ghosted several works of autobiography. He holds a BA in English Literature from Oxford and an MA in Creative Writing and a PhD in English from Florida State University in America. He taught writing and literature for six years at Florida State, and has also taught at Birkbeck, Morley College, the Mary Ward Centre and Lambeth College.

City Lit reserves the right to change course tutors from those advertised in this outline. In line with our refund policy we are unable to grant a refund on the grounds of a change of tutor.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
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Keeley Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 4BA

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

- Identify your individual strengths as a writer
- Critique and thereby improve your writing
- Participate constructively in a workshop setting.

Please bring a notebook and pen or pencil with you to class.

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Subjects

  • Writing
  • English

Course programme

- Your voice and narrative voice
- Structure and Time Line
- Autobiography into Fiction.

- Workshopping, ie sharing and discussing your writing. - Discussing technical issues in the genre. - Reading and discussing published examples of autobiographical writing. - Outside of class you will be asked to read material provided and develop writing exercises. All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit. For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

Additional information

City Lit runs a two-term 'Autobiographical writing' course, and experienced students can progress from there to 'Advanced autobiographical writing' and receive feedback on their works-in-progress. All students are invited to join us at City Lit Talks Back, our monthly performance night for City Lit writers. Everyone is welcome, admission is free and there's no need to book in advance. Visit for more details or if you're interested in reading your work. Students are also encouraged to submit to Between the Lines, our annual anthology. Learn more at For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00. See the course guide for term dates and further details

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Autobiographical writing: getting started

£ 119 VAT inc.

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