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Online Courses

You can take these courses from wherever you live. You can even take them travelling!

Online Courses: Writing True Stories

There are two online or correspondence courses on offer, both based on the new edition of Patti Miller’s writing text, Writing True Stories, published by Routledge, 2024. They are designed to help people get started and continue writing memoir and are an economical way of gaining feedback as you write.

All exercises for each course are drawn from Writing True Stories. You will need to acquire a copy of the book from your local bookshop.A Life Stories Workshop tutor will work with you individually.  Because life is often complex, you are allowed up to two years to complete the course.

Writing True Stories Part One

For those who are beginning to write autobiography or memoir. There are eight units of readings and writing exercises from Writing True Stories with full, individual tuition and notes on each completed lesson. The units are:

  • Getting Started
  • Memory and Research
  • Bringing it to life with detail
  • Bringing it to life with scenes
  • Finding your voice
  • Structure – how to shape your writing
  • Narrative structure; story patterns
  • Style and editing: how to edit your own work

Course Fee: $590 (excluding cost of text book). The fee entitles you to on page editing notes and a feedback report for 8 x 3,000 word chapters.

Writing True Stories Part Two

For those who have either completed Part 1, or have made a start on writing memoir already. It assumes an intermediate level of writing experience. There are ten units of readings and writing exercises from Writing True Stories with full, individual tuition and notes on each completed lesson: The units are:

  • Sensory Detail
  • Research – how to weave it in
  • Narrating position
  • Structure –  avoiding problems
  • Narrative – how to create a story
  • Diaries and Journals OR the Personal Essay
  • Crime, journalism, Nature Writing OR Travel Memoir
  • Difficulties of Truth Telling
  • Avoiding Self Indulgence
  • Borderlands – fiction and memoir

Course Fee: $730 (excluding cost of text book). The fee entitles you to on page editing notes and a feedback report for 10 x 3,000 word chapters.

If you wish to have feedback on ten chapters, one by one, without doing the course, please email for this service, for which the fee is the same.

To Enrol:  Contact pmiller@lifestories.com.au  We will assign a tutor and send a detailed course outline.

Bank details will be forwarded to you to make a direct deposit. (You may send a cheque if you wish). We will email a receipt once the full payment is made and you can start whenever you wish.  The course fee is non-refundable once you have begun the course.