Write Your Life: An Introduction to Short-Form Memoir and Creative Non-Fiction
23 October 2026
2:00-5:00pm
Online
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates:
23 October 2026 - 24 October 2026
Study Format:
Online - live
Fees:
£140.00
Who doesn't have a true story to tell? It might be your own lived experience, or that of a person you admire; it might be the story of a town, or an object, or a pivotal event that moved you. Writing short-form, creative non-fiction (sometimes called 'Flash CNF', at 1000 words or fewer) is an approachable way to make a start, to experiment with style, to consider where your story begins and ends – and what it might mean to a wider readership.
In this hands-on writing workshop, we'll explore different types of writing, including short memoir, personal essay, hybrid writing, autofiction and creative non-fiction. First we'll examine and discuss some published and prize-winning pieces, learning the techniques authors use to bring life to the page. Then we will undertake some guided writing in class, creating two or more first drafts, to be refined during our time together. We'll focus on identifying 'the story' in what might have started as an anecdote; on creating strong characters (which can be challenging when the character is yourself, someone you've never met, a town, or even an object). We'll look at developing a sense of place to enrich our writing, and seek out the broader themes in our work. For beginners and experienced writers alike, this is the ideal course for anyone wishing to explore short-form life-writing in its own right, or as a pathway to a longer written work.
This event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 20 October 2026.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
IT requirements
The University of Oxford uses Microsoft Teams for our learning environment, where students and tutors will discuss and interact in real time. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.
If you have not used the Microsoft Teams app before, once you click the joining link you will be invited to download it (this is free). Once you have downloaded the app, please test before the start of your course. If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, you will also be offered the option of connecting using a web browser. If you connect via a web browser, Chrome is recommended.
Please note that this event will not be recorded.
Recommended reading
Programme details
Friday 23 October
2pm
We’ll convene online with a short introduction to the day ahead, including a quick overview of the many forms life writing can take, and the allure of short-form (flash) writing in particular.
2.15pm
How is it done? We’ll undertake a close reading of two pieces of flash non-fiction to see what techniques authors have used in the telling of their tale.
2.45pm
We’ll make a start with two guided writing exercises, designed to turn your ideas into rough first drafts.
4pm
First revisions: using the drafts we’ve just written, we’ll focus on character and environment – two essential elements that work together to bring readers into the world we’re writing about. We’ll look at what elements to include, and what might be omitted; we’ll also look for possible metaphors within the story.
5pm
End of day. You’ll have overnight and the next morning to work on what we’ve started.
Saturday 24 October
2pm
During our second day, we’ll shape the writing we began yesterday. We’ll focus on the use of the senses and sensory detail, and see how these powerful tools work to leverage our reader’s lived experience. We’ll look at how we might structure our pieces, and strengthen our sentences and our word choices.
3.30pm
Beginnings and endings: possibly the most difficult aspects of any piece of writing! We’ll examine where our stories start and end; we’ll think about compelling titles, intriguing first lines, and final sentences that stay with the reader, long after the reading has finished.
4.30pm
We’ll explore ideas and options for publishing short-form memoir and non-fiction – and have a look at submission strategies.
5pm
End of workshop
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Event fee | £140.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Gail Anderson
Gail Anderson is a writer of short forms: flash fiction, short story, creative non-fiction and poetry. Recent writing has taken first prize in the Edinburgh Award for Flash Fiction, Reflex Fiction, The Writers’ Bureau, Winchester Writers’ Festival, and the Scottish Arts Trust Story Awards. Twice shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, and three times nominated for the Pushcart Prize, her work appears in journals such as Ambit, Mslexia, Popshot and The Southampton Review.
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.
