Writing about Writing: Practice, Form, and Inspiration

In this course, we read and discuss a range of books and essays on writing – from classics such as The Elements of Style by Strunk and White to practice-oriented guides like Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones and reflections on the craft by Joan Didion, Sheila Heti, and Zadie Smith. We explore why and how we write, and how notions of “good writing” are historically shaped and continually redefined. We ask how writing about writing relates to memoir, fiction, the essay, the craft guide, and self-help, and how different traditions shape a sense of voice and style. Each session focuses on a different author and perspective on writing. Alongside discussion, participants experiment with exercises inspired by the readings. In the final weeks, we share and workshop participants’ own texts – whether attempts to put these ideas into practice or reflective pieces on writing itself. The course is open to anyone interested in deepening their relationship to writing, from beginners to writers already working on longer projects. It offers a shared space to think about writing both as craft and as a form of thought. The course is taught entirely in English and takes place online.