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Authoring Justice

Authoring Justice

Designed for those eager to enrich their craft and embark on the journey of writing a book or long form work, this course is for prospective authors who are keen on writing non-fiction narrative on a variety of human rights topics: from climate justice to gender equality; from racial justice to social justice at large.

Under the guidance of Professor Andrew Leon Hanna, author of "25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs" (Cambridge University Press), a Financial Times Best Book of the Year, participants will embark on a transformative journey – learning about the principles of narrative non-fiction writing, developing their own Capstone Project (~2,000-word piece) and receiving tailored personal feedback to nurture their ideas.

Drawing inspiration from live webinars with renowned authors and publishers - who will share their tactical wisdom, firsthand experiences and writing tips - participants will reinforce their writing skills and methods while also getting practical advice on navigating the whole path from the first spark to publication.

Over the span of five modules, our online programme will provide a collaborative environment that celebrates community, diversity and inclusivity. The course, open to participants from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and experiences, is tailored to resonate with all those who seek to harness the power of the written word for profound social change. We will actively encourage creative brainstorming and support sharing feedback among participants.

 

Course Outline

The course is organised in 5 modules:

Module 1 - Selecting a writing topic that makes you "come alive"

To kick off our time together, this session will be primarily focused on introspection. To write something powerful that can create change, it’s important for the author to first consider what sparks their deepest passions. In this session, we will help you consider what issues, concepts, communities, etc. most make you “come alive,” so that you can select a writing topic that will allow your voice to be heard clearly.

Module 2 - An Intro to Narrative Non-Fiction and Human-Centred Storytelling

With your potential writing topics in mind after the first session, this one will focus on better understanding narrative nonfiction and human-centred storytelling. We will discuss the basic tenets of narrative nonfiction, also called creative nonfiction, and read excerpts from some impactful works within the genre – including both traditional nonfiction books and memoirs. We will discuss what it looks like to be “human-centred” in the writing approach, honouring the voices of the people featured.

Module 3 - Navigating the Writing Process and Ethical Considerations - Part I

At this stage, with topics selected, we will focus on how to conduct the writing process. This part includes structuring the final work and planning and executing research/interviews as needed.

Module 4 - Navigating the Writing Process and Ethical Considerations - Part II

In this session, we will continue our discussion about navigating the writing process, getting a level deeper on particular tactics you can use as you write, and exploring key ethical issues to consider.

Module 5 - Getting Published

This session will cover the common paths to getting your work published. We will discuss possible avenues to getting books published, including the academic and “trade” paths, and ways to get other shorter pieces of nonfiction published as well.

Main Lecturer

The course is taught and coordinated by Prof. Andrew Leon Hanna, award-winning author, entrepreneur and lawyer.

 

Lecturers and Experts

Guided by Professor Andrew Leon Hanna and connected through live webinars with eminent writers and publishers, participants will reinforce their writing skills and methods while also getting practical advice on navigating the whole path from the first spark to publication.

 

F.A.Q.s

 

 
 

Enrolment

How do I enrol in the course?

The course is available upon invitation only.

Is there a selection procedure to participate in the course?

Participants are selected on the basis of their application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 
 

Accessibility

Is the course accessible to persons with disabilities?

We want all participants in our courses to enjoy a great learning experience and we strive to always improve accessibility. Each week of the course includes one or two video lectures with accompanying transcripts and reading materials. The texts are in PDF format, work at low bandwidths, are printable and can be zoomed to the desired size. Some readings may include pages from accessible websites. This makes all of them accessible to those who use assistive technology software such as screen readers. Likewise, weekly discussions and module quizzes can be completed through our platform which is accessible, for example, to people who use speech input, keyboard accessible controls or text to speech tools. For more details please visit EdX Website Accessibility Policy.

 
 

Structure and content

Is there a schedule for the course or is it self-directed?

The course is mostly asynchronous so you can study in your own time. However, to enhance peer learning and interactive participation, weekly sessions and webinars are proposed at set dates. Participants are required to attend at least 4 out of 5 webinars. For a more detailed course outline, check the tab at the top of the course page.

 
 

Certificate of participation

What do I need to do to get the certificate of participation?

At the end of the course, if you have actively participated in all required webinars and submitted your assignments and final Capstone Project, you will receive a certificate of participation.

 

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  1. Course Number

    aj24
  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End

  4. Estimated Effort

    05:00
Enrollment in this course is by invitation only