106-186 Creative Writing: Autofictions

This subject is not available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Arts.

This is an introductory creative writing subject offering students an appreciation of the specific craft involved in the practice of different genres and the chance to hone writing skills through workshop exercises, readings and discussion. The lectures provide students with an idea of the range of practices which can be usefully identified as autofictions; and specific lectures will be devoted to writing skills in given genres: poetry; short and extended fiction. By the end of semester you should have developed skills in researching larger narratives impinging on your own life stories, which will enhance your own autofictional practices.

• research: through competent use of the library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

• critical thinking and analysis: through recommended reading, essay writing and workshop discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• thinking in theoretical terms: through lectures, workshop discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of creative writing, the humanities and social sciences;

• understanding of social, ethical and cultural context: through the contextualisation of judgments, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

• communicating knowledge intelligibily and economically: through essay writing and workshop discussion; written communication through essay preparation and writing; public speaking: through tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• attention to detail: through essay preparation and writing, and examination revision; time management and planning: through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

• team work: through joint projects and group projects.

Writing exercises totalling 1000 words 20% (due mid-semester), a 3000 word creative writing folio 70% (due at the end of semester) and class participation 10%.

A subject reader will be available from the University Bookshop.