Memoir and Life Writing
How can we write about our lived experience?
This course aims to encourage, support, and excite participants in engaging with creative writing in a safe and informal space.
Memoir and Life Writing: Spring 2026, evenings (sold out)
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| When | Tuesday evenings, 6 pm - 8 pm |
| Dates |
8 meetings 3 February to 31 March 2026 (no class for half-term 17 February) |
| Where | University of Bristol, Arts Complex, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TB. |
| Course tutor | Rachel Bentham |
| Description |
You will be introduced to a variety of approaches to memoir and life writing through a discussion of different texts, and we'll do writing exercises to explore your material in a confidential space. There will be opportunities to share your work and get feedback if you wish. Every week, we'll do exercises to explore aspects of the craft of writing, including how to progress and structure your writing, how to develop an individual narrative voice, mapping your plot, and how to integrate non-fiction material. Can dialogue be included/created? What kind of source material can be used? How do we navigate the vagaries of memory and differing points of view? Do we need to get the permission of others? If you want to write about your life and engage in lively discussions with other writers, then this course is for you. Each term's teaching is designed anew, so that former students can continue to attend ongoing courses and find fresh stimulus. There are always different aspects and more layers of your writing to explore! |
| Reading List |
Suggested reading: Wild; A Journey from Lost to Found - Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic Books 2012) Further reading: The Outrun - Amy Liptrot (Canongate, 2016) |
| Course fee |
£190 |
| Previous qualifications/experience | No qualifications needed. Open to the public. |
Booking for this course is now closed.
To register your interest in future courses, you can sign-up to our mailing list here.
Booking advice
Booking for this course will be open on a strict first-come-first-served basis and is only available online through our University of Bristol secure online shop.
In order to avoid problems during booking, you may find it useful to make sure you are logged in to your online shop account when bookings open. You can login or create a new account here: University of Bristol Online Shop. There is also a Help button available on the online shop where you can view FAQs if you are experiencing technical difficulties.
Please also note that our booking system works best when accessed through a laptop or desktop computer.
Memoir and Life Writing: Spring 2026, afternoons (sold out)
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| When | Wednesday afternoons, 2 pm - 4 pm |
| Dates |
8 meetings 4 February to 1 April 2026 (no class for half-term 18 February) |
| Where | University of Bristol, Arts Complex, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TB. |
| Course tutor | Rachel Bentham |
| Description |
You will be introduced to a variety of approaches to memoir and life writing through a discussion of different texts, and we'll do writing exercises to explore your material in a confidential space. There will be opportunities to share your work and get feedback if you wish. Every week, we'll do exercises to explore aspects of the craft of writing, including how to progress and structure your writing, how to develop an individual narrative voice, mapping your plot, and how to integrate non-fiction material. Can dialogue be included/created? What kind of source material can be used? How do we navigate the vagaries of memory and differing points of view? Do we need to get the permission of others? If you want to write about your life and engage in lively discussions with other writers, then this course is for you. Each term's teaching is designed anew, so that former students can continue to attend ongoing courses and find fresh stimulus. There are always different aspects and more layers of your writing to explore! |
| Reading List |
Suggested reading: Wild; A Journey from Lost to Found - Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic Books 2012) Further reading: The Outrun - Amy Liptrot (Canongate, 2016) |
| Course fee |
£190 |
| Previous qualifications/experience | No qualifications needed. Open to the public. |
Booking for this course is now closed.
To register your interest in future courses, you can sign-up to our mailing list here.
Contacts
Please address any enquiries about the courses to:
Department of English Part-time Courses
School of Humanities
11 Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1TB
Email: english-lifelong@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: 0117 455 8271