Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/writing-about-ourselves
### Course Review: Writing Stories About Ourselves #### Overview "Writing Stories About Ourselves" is an engaging and insightful course available on Coursera that caters to aspiring creative nonfiction writers. This course dives into the world of storytelling, exploring techniques that blur the lines between fiction and memoir. Whether you're a seasoned writer looking to enhance your skills or a newcomer eager to find your voice, this course offers practical tools and inspiration to create compelling narratives drawn from personal experiences. The course is thoughtfully designed to challenge participants to think of themselves as characters in their own stories. By examining a diverse range of storytelling mediums—including film, song, and even iconic theme music like that from *Jaws*—learners will develop a nuanced understanding of narrative construction. Expect to flex your creative writing skills while focusing on critical elements that make for engaging storytelling, such as beginnings, dialogue, and scene crafting. #### Syllabus Highlights 1. **What Can We Learn From Fiction?** - This week delves into the techniques borrowed from fiction writing that can enhance personal storytelling. It’s a perfect starting point to understand how narrative devices can make personal stories resonate more deeply with readers. Expect discussions on structure, character development, and dramatic tension. 2. **Train Your Eye Like a Filmmaker** - Here, the focus shifts to creating powerful scenes and vivid descriptions that bring life to your writing. Students are encouraged to critically examine their own writing—identifying not just what is on the page, but what is missing. This week’s exercises cultivate a cinematic approach to storytelling, emphasizing the importance of visual imagery and detail. 3. **Opening the Story** - First impressions are everything, and this week teaches you the art of crafting captivating opening lines. Through analysis of various story openings, you’ll learn how to frame your narrative to intrigue your audience right from the start. This segment is particularly useful for writers who struggle with beginnings. 4. **The Joys and Pitfalls of Dialogue** - Dialogue can make or break a story, and this week focuses on the strategic use of dialogue in narrative. Learn when and where dialogue can be most effective and how to write soundbites that resonate. This will enhance your ability to create authentic exchanges between characters, vital for both memoir and fiction. #### Recommendation I highly recommend "Writing Stories About Ourselves" for anyone interested in personal storytelling or creative nonfiction. Whether you're an experienced writer looking to refine your skills or a beginner seeking fundamental guidance, this course offers a wealth of knowledge that is both practical and inspiring. The blend of theory and application, alongside the engaging content, will leave you motivated to explore your own stories more vividly. What sets this course apart is its interdisciplinary approach—drawing from various art forms to enrich the understanding of storytelling. By the end of the course, you will not only have developed your writing skills but also gained insights into how to view your life experiences through the lens of narrative creativity. So, if you're ready to embark on a storytelling journey that transforms your personal voice into compelling narratives, look no further than "Writing Stories About Ourselves" on Coursera.
What Can We Learn From Fiction?
In this week, we’ll learn what sorts of techniques we can borrow from fiction and how to overlay them onto our personal stories.
Train Your Eye Like a FilmmakerIn this week, we’ll learn how to create powerful scenes and vivid details by seeing precisely what we’ve put on the page—and what we haven't.
Opening the StoryIn this week, we’ll learn how to open and frame a story by examining the efficacy of various first lines.
The Joys and Pitfalls of DialogueIn this week, we’ll learn when and where to use dialogue, and what makes for the best soundbites.
In this course, creative nonfiction writers will explore traditional storytelling methods, especially those which overlap between fiction and memoir. By looking at examples from a wide range of genres, including film, song, painting—even the theme music for Jaws!—we’ll practice exercising the creative muscle that sees ourselves as characters and the experiences we’ve had as tales. We’ll focus on critical elements, like how to begin a story, what makes for worthy content, the essential use of det
Thank you for professor Saiid for such a wonderful course
Very interesting and engaging! I learnt a lot about writing about myself, which is actually very difficult. This course provide a great start for someone who are looking for something like this.
Said is an incredible teacher. He speaks with such insight and passion. Inspiring.
It is a good course. I learnt many simple yet valuable lessons on writing.
Nice course and specialization. The videos are inspiring. Would be nice to see more involvement of the lecturers in the forums.