Course Descriptions
Creative Magazine Writing: Stories That Live
Fall 2009
6 Tuesdays, October 20–November 24, 6:30–9 pm, Vancouver
Instructor: Daniel Wood
Fee $450 / WRIT 315
Course description
Creative magazine writing employs the elements of scene, character, dialogue, and drama once believed the exclusive province of fiction. But with its origins in journalism, everything is true. Creative magazine writing draws from a modern, cinemagraphic approach to non-fiction storytelling: it is visual, active, thoughtful and plotted. The article has a narrative line, a sort of plot‚ so that the information and ideas appear within the context of people and unfolding events. Topics include:
- Turning ideas into magazine article proposals
- Establishing story focus
- Researching and interviewing
- Developing a story structure
- Creating characters and a sense of drama
- The elements of strong writing and tough editing
- Magazines‚ internal structure, editors‚ needs, magazine markets in Canada and pay
- The views of two guest editors/writers
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
What will I learn?
Knowledge
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Turn ideas into focused story proposals
- Understand how the magazine proposal process works
- Research for story and interview for character
- Understand the importance of accuracy, details and good quotes
- Recognize the value of the narrative line or story arc in non-fiction writing
- Understand the internal structure of magazines: the front-of-the-book section, the feature well and service stories
- Find out where newer writers usually fit in
- Say what editors want, then give that to them
- Explain the business of magazines: the markets, contracts, pay rates and problems for freelancers
- Understand how working non-fiction magazine writers survive
- Value the (painful) necessity of self-editing
- Avoid the pitfalls new writers sometimes face
Skills
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Discern the active story within an initial idea
- Focus on what is genuinely central to the story
- Write a catchy and informative one-page story proposal
- Edit a story proposal into a saleable pitch aimed at a specific magazine
- Locate sources of information and position interviewees in a suitable context for the evolving story
- Ask the right questions and be a provocative journalist
- Assess the differing needs of different editors and their magazines
- Respect accuracy in non-fiction journalism
- Discern a clearer philosophy of the role of non-fiction in today's media world
How will I learn?
You will learn concepts and skills through the following activities:
- Lectures
- Class discussions
- Workshops
- Group assignments
- Independent take-home assignments
- Case studies
- In-class exercises
- Extra reading
What are my responsibilities?
You can expect to complete the following:
- One assignment
- In-class participation
How will I be evaluated?
You will be given guidance and feedback on your writing.
What will the program supply?
- Custom course materials
Instructor biography
Daniel Wood, BA, has written 15 books—both fiction and non-fiction—and has been a finalist or has won more than 100 regional, national and international writing awards. His stories have appeared in periodicals such as The Walrus, Discover, Canadian Geographic, GEO, The Georgia Straight, Explore, Vancouver Magazine, Chatelaine, and Islands. His work as an international journalist has taken him to nearly 100 countries. He has also worked as a magazine editor, CBC Radio broadcaster and photographer.
He is one of the founders of the Federation of BC Writers and the Western Magazine Awards, and served as president of both organizations.
Daniel has taught non-fiction magazine writing at SFU for more than 20 years.
For a complete list of all courses taught by this instructor, review the Instructor's Index.
See also