Life writing encompasses memoir, autobiography, family history, and other forms, of writing. For some, it can be cathartic. For others, it’s the opposite, bringing up all kinds of feelings about personal events and experiences, often for the first time.

Join this course to explore and share your life stories, to understand the writing process, and to experiment in a constructive atmosphere to help develop your projects.

The course will be taught with a mixture of tutor-led discussion, examples, short practical writing exercises for reading and sharing in class, and occasional short writing exercises to be done at home for reading out during the next class.

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone with an interest in writing from life, writing about their experiences or their memories, or their personal and family histories.

Will I need any equipment or materials?

This course will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.

You will need a pen and paper to take notes, or to use your computer/laptop.

Are there any follow-on courses I can take?

Bishopsgate Institute runs a range of creative writing classes, including classes in playwriting, creative non-fiction, and short story writing.

Will I be assessed?

There is no formal assessment for courses at Bishopsgate Institute. However, to monitor your learning and progress, tutors will assess your participation in classroom activities.