This month, on March 12, I’ll be teaching a class at The Loft’s Creative Nonfiction Conference called In Profile: The Art of Writing Life. We’ll look at work by Elizabeth Gilbert, Michael Paterniti, Bill Bryson and others who have worked in one of the richest veins of narrative nonfiction. Besides that, there are lots of other great classes. Sign up here!
Archive for the Teaching Category
Profile Writing at The Loft’s Creative Nonfiction Conference
Posted in Events, Teaching, Writing on March 4, 2011 by frankburesUpcoming Class: Narrative Nonfiction
Posted in Teaching, Writing on May 11, 2010 by frankbures
This weekend, I’ll be teaching a couple classes at the Rochester Writers Festival, in Rochester, Minnesota, home to IBM, lots of geese, and a clinic where famous people go when they’re ill (and, no doubt, where they invented that delicious condiment). My class is titled “Writing Narrative Nonfiction: The Power of Stories,” and I’ll talk about why in order to write powerfully in today’s media environment you really need to be able to tell a great story. It’s not on the program yet, but trust me, I’ll be there.
Upcoming Class: Travel Writing on Madeline Island
Posted in Teaching, Travel, Writing on April 16, 2010 by frankbures
This summer, if you want to get out of the house, smell the air of the inland sea and learn how to write about your travels, I’ll be teaching a course at the brand new Madeline Island School, just a few hours drive from the Twin Cities, set in the cool waters of Lake Superior’s southern coast. The school is offering lots of other classes as well, but if you want to learn about turning your journal into an actual story, that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about. Here’s the description: “Narrative travel writing can be one of the most powerful forms of nonfiction writing. This workshop will explore what 
makes a great travel story, what doesn’t, and how you can turn your travels into tales. We will read selections from the Best American Travel Writing 2009, along with other great works of travel literature. We will discuss leads, structure, and the archetype of the journey and touch on the various markets for literary travel writing.” More details here.
Upcoming Class: In Profile, the Art of Writing Lives
Posted in Events, Teaching, Writing on March 24, 2010 by frankbures
Do you like people? Or, do you at least like to read about people? And write about people? To find out how they got where they are, and where they might be going? To ask how they’ve succeeded and where they’ve failed? If so (and if you happen to 
be within driving distance of Minneapolis) you may be interested in a class I’ll be offering at The Loft called In Profile, the Art of Writing Lives, on April 17. I’ve profiled writers, senators, brain scientists and Klingon karaoke stars. Everyone has a story. You just have to know how to find it. More info here.
Summer School
Posted in Teaching, Writing on June 22, 2009 by frankbures
For anyone who wants to sharpen up their storytelling skills, look into the history of New (and newer) Journalism, examine some of the new science on the role of narrative, you might be interested in a class I’m teaching at The Loft in Minneapolis called, The Search for Story: Writing Narrative Nonfiction. The description: “To be a successful nonfiction writer these days, it’s not enough to know how to type, to have a blog, or to be able to put an article together. To write powerfully in today’s media environment, you need to be able to
tell great stories. In this class, we’ll look at the evolution of narrative nonfiction and New Journalism. We’ll review some of the master nonfiction writers and learn how to apply narrative techniques in profiles, travel stories, features, and essays. Advanced or professional writers only. Please submit two writing samples (maximum of 5,000 words per sample) or clips to Loft Education by Friday, June 19 (not postmark deadline). Accepted students notified by July 1.“
Viroqua Writers Workshop
Posted in Teaching, Writing on September 8, 2008 by frankbures
If you happen to be in the driftless area of Wisconsin next weekend, I’ll be giving a presentation on “The Art of Writing Great Travel Stories,” Friday afternoon at the Viroqua Writers Workshop.
