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Texts

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit!$!Jeanette Winterston!$! !$!!$!1985
When You Are Engulfed in Flames!$!Sedaris, David!$!!$!!$!
Amsterdam!$!McEwan, Ian!$! !$!!$!1998
The Year of Magical Thinking.!$!Didion, Joan!$!!$!!$!

Description

Novel and memoir are pervasive, complex and culturally important literary forms. This unit is designed to help you examine the theory and practice of novel and memoir writing across various genres; the relationship between imagination and inspiration and the process of planning and research leading to the development of a novel or memoir proposal, including an initial chapter and synopsis. The subject also promotes the acquisition of analytical skills in professional and personal creative fiction and non-fiction writing.

Aim

This unit aims to:

- Familiarise you with the scope, challenges and practices of developing a novel or memoir,

- Familiarise you with the standards, conventions and possibilities of the novel and memoir forms,

- Enable you to produce a synopsis and chapter of an original piece of sustained prose,

- Develop your editorial skills,

- Provide you with peer workshop and mentor feedback over a period of several months in a blended learning environment.

Assessment

Project: a 1500 word piece of memoir (40%); Proposal: a novel or memoir proposal suitable for submission to a professional agent or publisher, including an opening section (2500-3000 words) of a novel or memoir, a succinct synopsis, and a brief cover letter (60%).

Other Details

Offered in: 2011, 2010, 2009
Current Campus: Kelvin Grove
Levels: Undergraduate
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