Biography is a very definite region bounded on the north by history, on the south by fiction, on the east by obituary, and on the west by tedium.

- Philip Guedalla -

 

This course supports you in developing your own biography project - including memoir, life writing, literary biography, or even autobiography - through an engagement with the issues and practices of biographical writing including the history of the genre, ethical concerns, research practices, approaches to structuring your book, audience expectations and engagement, and issues around publication.

As part of a small group, allowing for individual attention and feedback on your work, you’ll be guided through a series of readings, discussions and writing exercises over four weeks, culminating in a week-long retreat where you’ll have the opportunity to use what you’ve learned in the introductory lessons to really hone in on your own work. You’ll be invited to send in an extract from your work to the tutor a week before the retreat, on which you’ll gain one-on-one and peer feedback.

During each day of the retreat, there’ll be a writing workshop, quiet writing time, and opportunities for individual feedback from the tutor. There’ll be plenty of time for you to write, read, think, learn and grow in a relaxing, natural environment. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day. A dinner out on the first night is included, and a last-night BBQ. During the week, you can take advantage of the fully-equipped kitchen to prepare your evening meal together.

Course Tutor: nike bourke

Nike Bourke is the tutor for the biography and autobiography course. Nike is an award-winning author, with more than ten years experience teaching creative writing and research in universities and writing centres, and working as an editor, and as a judge of writing competitions. Her book publications include: The Bone Flute, The True Green of Hope and What The Sky Knows.

Nike's focus as a teacher and facilitator is on nurturing the creative talents of each participant, assisting them to recognise the skills they already have as well as developing new, more sophisticated and effective approaches to their work, and recognising and nurturing the deep pleasures of writing.

Her goal is to help you become a confident, independent writer with a toolkit of skills you can use for this project, and for a range of other projects in the future. It is also to help you develop an awareness of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and to develop strategies for continuing to improve and develop your craft.

During the course, you will have an opportunity to get individual feedback on your work from Nike, including feedback about how to further improve and develop the work, and on navigating the path to publication.

What’s Included?

The Biographical Writing Course Reader, broken up into four weekly ‘lessons’, each of which includes:

• Extracts from key works of autobiography
• Articles and secondary readings
• Commentary, instruction and close reading notes
• Writing Exercises
• Discussion Topics/Stimulus

Participation in an email discussion list (run for the four weeks leading up to the retreat) with the other participants and the tutor.

A week-long intensive retreat at Olvar Wood, including most meals.

WHEN

The 2009 Biography Course commences May 11.

The pre-retreat course runs for four weeks, from May 11 - June 6.

The course retreat runs from June 12 - June 19.

Bookings

Bookings can be made at any time up to May 4.

To reserve a place, simply send an email indicating your interest, and including a brief outline of your proposed biographical project, to: admin@perilousadventures.net

Cost

The full cost of the five week course is $3000.00, which includes all tuition, readings, feedback and both accommodation and most meals during your retreat.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: If you book and pay your deposit before February 1, you will receive a 10% discount.

Friends of Olvar receive a 20% discount.

We offer a 10% discount to QWC members and full-time students.

 

 

 

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Perilous Adventures in Olvar Wood. Queensland, Australia