Advanced Nonfiction

This is a class for the writer who already has basic understanding of nonfiction and its genres. It is nonfiction, such as articles, feature stories, and interviews, that will sell while that completed novel languishes unread on the writer's desktop. In addition, nonfiction writing uses most of the same writing skills and creativity as fiction: putting together a nonfiction story on the one hundredth anniversary of the Titanic sinking, for example, involves the same decision making of what to focus on, what perspective to take on the event, and which details to include as a fiction story on the same topic.
In this class, we will choose one general topic to write on, such as the sinking of the Titanic, and plan a series of articles/nonfiction pieces on it: for example, a scholarly history article, a review of the movie, a biography of a passenger on the Titanic, an information article on shipbuilding, etc. The possibilities of nonfiction pieces on one topic are nearly endless. Students will then have the opportunity to learn to market their work on a specific topic.
There will be discussion, reading, and writing assignments each week.
Textbook: "On Writing Well," by William Zinsser, focus on parts 3 and 4, text free online. Also sample readings free online as well. Links to all work provided by the instructor.

Week 1

Topics of Discussion:

Exploring nonfiction prose genres/forms and writing topics.

Reading: Skim Part 3 Zinsser on different types of fiction writing, with more focus on the type(s) of most interest to you.

Marketing: contact a local publication, such as the arts and entertainment section of a local newspaper, regarding publishing opportunities. An alternative is to check online for websites on your topic and see about their publication expectations and possibilities.

Writing due:
Choose at topic, brainstorm at least five related subtopics/writing ideas, and write a short informational or news article on your topic. Choose one or several possible places to market it.

Week 2

Topics of Discussion: Going deeper into and developing your topic and analyzing nonfiction genres.

Reading: Review/Read Chapter 2, Zinsser; sample readings from the teacher

Marketing: visit the library/book store (or online booksellers such as Amazon or online library if you have access to one). Check out the periodicals section of the library/bookstore. Find five potential markets for your work, those publications that publish pieces on the same topic, and note the required format of as well as contact information for their submissions.

Writing Due: a review of someone else's work, book, article, movie, etc., related to your topic or a short summary of several pieces on your topic. Choose a market(s) for the work.

Week 3
Topics of Discussion: More extensive research on a topic. Refining ideas, organization, details and development, perspective on a topic.

MarketIng: Contact the editorial department of at least one publication to see about publishing your work.

Reading: Part 4 Zinsser, sample readings.

Writing due: longer informational or scholarly piece on your topic using research/outside source material. You may also do a biography of or an interview with an expert on the topic.

Week 4
Discussion Topics: Polishing our work, organizing in conventional formats. Conciseness, clarity, format, organization, word choice, and sentence construction.

Reading: Part 4 Zinsser. Other sample readings TBA.

Marketing:Submit one nonfiction work to one publication, online or in print, and/or to a contest, such as the nonfiction contest on the fanstory site.

Due: take one of your past pieces and polish it, or write a new piece in the genre of your choice. Find a potential market(s).




Instructor: Stacia Ann

About The Instructor: Stacia Ann is an Linguistics Lecturer and Writing Instructor at the University of California. She has a doctorate of Education, Master's of Art in English/TESOL. This instructor has taught writing classes for over ten years. She also teaches academic writing and English as a Second Language at the University of the Pacific. A published author including works of short fiction and academic nonfiction including contest winning stories.