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  • Berkeley Global

Writing Creative Nonfiction

ENGLISH X480

41108

Creative nonfiction can take many different forms and includes the subgenres of personal essay, memoir, nature and science writing, travel and food writing, and historical and biographical narrative. Learn to master the form and elements of creative nonfiction through reading assignments, writing exercises and respectful criticism of peer writing in a workshop format. The material you cover applies to a wide array of disciplines, including the humanities, the sciences and journalism. Enrollment is limited.

Course Outline

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Course Objectives

  • Read, analyze and duplicate various forms of writing considered creative nonfiction.
  • Comprehend narrative strategies and techniques used in creative nonfiction, including scene, description, dialogue, point of view, character development and narrative structure and flow.
  • Understand the basic tenets of nonfiction writing and reporting, including researching, interviewing, adherence to fact and accuracy.

What You Learn

  • Form and elements of creative nonfiction
  • Bridges and boundaries between fiction and nonfiction
  • Subject matter and the subgenres of narrative nonfiction
  • Narrative structure and plot
  • Writing scenes
  • Reporting techniques and interviewing
  • Character and dialogue
  • Voice, tone and point of view
  • Theme
  • Unity and rhythm
  • Revision
  • Writing life and the business of creative nonfiction

How You Learn

  • In-class discussions
  • Readings
  • Writing exercises
  • Student writing workshops
  • Writing creative nonfiction essays (several short and one long)

Is This Course for Me?

This course is intended for beginning and intermediate creative nonfiction writers who have college-level reading and writing skills and who intend to build a body of work sufficient for entry to a graduate creative nonfiction writing or journalism program.

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Sections

Thank you for your interest in this course. Unfortunately, the course you have selected is currently not open for enrollment. Please contact the academic department at the email or phone number listed in the Notes section for more information.

This course applies to the following programs:

Interdisciplinary Writing Program

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Individualized Study Plan

  • Effective Writing in the Workplace
  • Writing for Social Media: Prose That Works for Web 2.0
  • Grammar, Mechanics and Usage for Editors
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Science Writing
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Introduction to Public Relations Writing
  • Writing and Editing Internship Program
  • Editorial Workshop I: Introduction to Copyediting
  • Writing Skills Workshop
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Developing the Memoir
  • Developing the Memoir II
  • The Craft of Reading
  • The Craft of Writing
  • Exploring Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Writing Fiction
  • Intermediate Fiction Writing
  • Advanced Fiction Writing
  • Developing the Novel
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Poets Studied and in Conversation
  • American Fiction
  • The English Novel
  • Great Novels You Always Meant to Read
  • Mystery Fiction
  • Shakespeare

Learn More About this Program

Professional Writing Program

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Required Courses

  • Effective Writing in the Workplace
  • Introduction to Public Relations Writing
  • Writing for Social Media: Prose That Works for Web 2.0

Electives

  • Writing Skills Workshop
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Editorial Workshop I: Introduction to Copyediting
  • Technical Communication I
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Science Writing

Capstone Project

  • Professional Writing Program - Final Project

Learn More About this Program

Certificate Program in Writing

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Required Courses

  • The Craft of Reading
  • The Craft of Writing
  • Writing Skills Workshop

Electives (Literature)

  • American Fiction
  • Contemporary Voices: Speaking From the Margins
  • The English Novel
  • Fact or Fiction: Reading and Writing the Personal Essay
  • Great Novels You Always Meant to Read
  • Great Writers Steal: How the Work of Other Writers Can Inform and Inspire You
  • Mystery Fiction
  • Shakespeare
  • Short-Story Masterpieces
  • Meet the Writer: Guided Study and Discussion With Fiction Writers
  • Ursa Minor Production Class

Electives (Writing Workshop)

  • Exploring Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Writing Fiction
  • Intermediate Fiction Writing
  • Advanced Fiction Writing
  • Writing Genre Fiction: Science Fiction, Mystery, Romance and More
  • Mystery Writing
  • Developing the Novel
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Screenwriting Workshop
  • How to Write a Story
  • Writing and Appreciating Poetry
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Poets Studied and in Conversation
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Developing the Memoir
  • Developing the Memoir II
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Science Writing
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Writing and Editing Internship Program

Courses of Related Interest

  • Children's Picture Book Writing Workshop
  • Story Lab
  • Writing the First-Person Essay

Learn More About this Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-letters@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-1110

Prerequisites

In order to succeed in this course, it is recommended that non-native English speakers have achieved a minimum TOEFL score of 90. All other non-native English learners should instead consider COLWRIT X400.1 Academic Writing for ESL or COLWRIT X411 Business English for ESL Students. Please contact the department if you require any additional information.

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