The Bloomsbury group’s exploration of forms of expression went beyond art and fiction into what Virginia Woolf called ‘The New Biography.’ It was the start of memoir as we know it today — the extraordinary lives of ordinary people, full of life, voice, colour and feeling – balancing, as Woolf described, the ‘granite’ of truth with the ‘rainbow’ of imagination.
Now in its eighth year, this popular course invites people of all writing levels to explore their own ‘rainbow and granite’, to create a compelling account of your own life, or perhaps the lives of others. Led by Charleston Reader-In-Residence and author, Holly Dawson, you will be guided through a series of exercises, activities and prompts to explore all the different themes of life writing and start to build your own story.
Each week’s session will draw on a wide range of life writing texts, spanning styles, themes, place and era, alongside a variety of tailored writing exercises. You will make use of different prompt objects, photographs, music and sensory triggers to conjure memories and recollections. You will also explore the craft of writing such as structure, tense, plot and point of view, along with dialogue and voice.
As you increase in confidence and skill, you will have the opportunity to generate new ideas, try different approaches and techniques, deepen your writing practice and develop your work. If you feel ready, you will also be encouraged to experiment with ambitious or unconventional forms and styles you may not have previously considered for your work.
There will be opportunities to share your work with the group if you wish (but not compulsory) and Holly is also happy to offer 1-1 time with students and provide feedback on work. Some students may feel ready for guidance on next steps, such as agents or publishing, for which Holly is happy to provide individual advice.
