Developing Your Narrative Nonfiction Book - Remote!

Class Description

So, you're writing a book of nonfiction! Maybe it contains some of your personal history, but it's not a pure memoir (like On Immunity by Eula Biss). Maybe it’s a collection of essays (like Malaya by Cinelle Barnes). Maybe it involves a lot of research and quotes and interviews (like The Library Book by Susan Orlean). Maybe it is a life guide or self-help book (like How to Be Less Stupid About Race by Crystal Marie Fleming). Maybe it is a hard-hitting journalistic take-down (like Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow). Maybe it is a mash-up of several of these things in one (like The Fact of a Body by Alex Marzano-Lesnevich). However you slice it: you're writing narrative nonfiction! But no matter what kind of nonfiction book you’re writing, getting a whole book together is hard work, and it can be hard to know where to begin.

This class is for any writer who wants to figure out how to make their nonfiction book a reality. Each week, we will look at different steps in the process of writing a work of narrative nonfiction, such as organizing research, keeping track of sources, structuring an outline, actually writing the book, crafting a query letter, and putting together a book proposal. We will explore these topics by reading interviews with writers about their book-writing process, as well as samples of real book proposals, query letters, and excerpts of published work (we’ll even get to ask some authors and agents questions about the whole process!). Throughout the course, students will also upload drafts of and receive feedback on their own query letters, book proposals, and excerpts from their book so far, as well as provide feedback to your fellow writers on their works in progress.

You will leave the course with an action plan, a draft of a query letter and an outline for your book proposal, and concrete steps for how you can finish writing your nonfiction book.

Please note: Class does not meet October 11th.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.