In recent weeks, I purchased two books written by emerging writers who had passed through one of my University of Toronto workshops. And I had long since collected The Monks and Me by yet one more: Mary Paterson. I would
like to say that all of these publications are down to me. But I don’t dare.
People would call me out. Put it this way: at least I didn’t get in the
way! And here we are again, scarcely more than one month from starting (July 11) my
one-week intensive course in narrative nonfiction (aka creative
nonfiction) at the U of T summer writing school. A number of folks have
already registered, wisely bent on securing the $50 discount offered for
early-bird registration. 

As
you can see, I do ask for submissions (up to 1,500 words) so we can hit
the
ground running. Below, we find a nutshell description and an image of
the official “me.” Dr. Jekyll. We do have a good time. And I do believe
that this workshop can move you forward. Click here for Course Details. And come on down!

Meanwhile, here’s that nutshell description:
Anyone looking for today’s most exciting writing should check out
Narrative Non-Fiction, an
emerging genre in which writers apply literary techniques to factual
narrative. This course will orient writers within the genre, which
includes both personal streams (memoir, autobiography, travelogue) and
impersonal ones (true-crime writing, biography, historical narrative,
immersion reporting). The workshop focuses on craft, and will
include lectures, discussions, exercises, and workshopping student
writing.

You have to register before
submitting material.  Please submit a story–maximum 1,500 words: scs.writing@utoronto.ca  Note:  these pieces will be uploaded so that students can read each other’s work before the start of the course.

Required
Textbook: The Art of Fact: A Historical Anthology of Literary Journalism by
Kevin Kerrane and Ben Yagoda, ISBN-13: 978-0684846309–available at the U of T
Bookstore.