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Everything you've been told about nonfiction is a lie

Fiction Techniques for Nonfiction

Make your nonfiction more engaging for your readers & more fun for you to write by employing the best tools from fiction!

Online. 7 weeks, April 22 to June 3
7 pm - 9 pm New York Time

If you’re like most people, you’ve been told that none of the things that make fiction so gripping and fun –character, setting, plot, dialogue, emotion – have a place in the hard cold fact-based world of nonfiction.

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Join Dr. Hanne Blank Boyd for seven weeks of unlearning the lies and discovering the rich array of options for adding texture, color, depth, and impact that nonfiction writers really have at their disposal.  

In this class we toss all the tired old lies out the window and dive into the ways the best nonfiction uses all these techniques and more,

just differently. 

About the instructor

​​Dr. Hanne Blank Boyd is the author of numerous nonfiction books including Fat, Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality, and Virgin: The Untouched History. She also has a best-selling Substack that includes an 18 part series, Get Your Facts Straight: Research Skills for Writers.

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Hanne teaches our nonfiction courses, including last year's Worldbuilding for Nonfiction and has many years of teaching writing, including at university level.

What you'll learn

  • Best practices for dialogue, challenges in handling narratives and tropes 

  • The relationship between descriptive language and information integrity, playing with chronology

  • The dance of information and emotional response

  • The firm foundation of nonfiction ethics

Each class will include skillbuilding exercises and a writing prompt to develop and deepen the ways you apply these “fiction” tools to your nonfiction work.

This course is perfect for

​Advanced beginner and intermediate nonfiction writers who want to bring their nonfiction stories to life

  • Writers who've done some nonfiction writing (essays, articles) who want their writing to stand out from the crowded field

or

  • Writers thinking about a book project who want to put pen to paper

Student, California

I took Nonfiction World Building with Hanne Blank Boyd and it was amazing!  I have a whole new set of concepts in my toolbox.

What you'll get

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Live sessions

7 live sessions to help you develop a toolkit of fiction techniques to bring your writing to life and engage your readers. Each week focuses on a different aspect.

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Writing prompts​

Each week you'll receive a writing prompt and accompanying worksheet based on that week's technique. These are yours to keep and use!

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Guidance for your project​

You'll receive constructive feedback on your writing in each session from your instructor and peers.

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In addition to the course, you'll have a complimentary 60 minute 1:1 session with the instructor (valued at $150).

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Student, USA

There’s very little writing in my life I haven’t run by Hanne. Her unerring and rigorous eye, her lyricism, her formidable intellect, and human understanding make her an invaluable editor.

​Happiness policy

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Our students love our courses. But if you aren’t satisfied with the experience, we’ll work with you to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

  • How much writing experience do I need?
    None! Just a love of reading and storytelling. Our students range from aspiring writers to experienced authors. Everyone is welcome.
  • Can I bring my kids/partner?
    Sorry, but no. This retreat is just for those who want to focus on their writing without distractions.
  • Are there shared rooms?
    The palazzo you'll stay at only has single-occupancy rooms.
  • Where do I fly into?
    Nardò is an just an hour's flight from Rome. There are 2 airports you can fly into. Brindisi Airport: 1 hour drive from Nardò Bari Airport: About 2 hour drive from Nardò You can also take a train to the beautiful city of Lecce from anywhere in Italy. Lecce is about a 25-minute drive from Nardò. The trains in Italy are wonderful - clean, safe and modern. It's also a great way to see the country. We can arrange a transfer from either of the two airports or the train station. If you would also like recommendations for booking travel, don't hesitate to contact me at Lloyd@writinggrove.com.
  • Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
    Yes! Don't hesitate to contact me at Lloyd@writinggrove.com with your needs or requirements.
  • How can I offset the impact of my travelling by plane?
    For every participant, I donate to a local biofarming regeneration project that sequesters 600kg (.7 tons) of carbon per year. If you'd like to make an additional donation, let me know!
  • What to expect on a writing retreat
    In short: rest, inspiration, relaxation and focus! You can read more about what to expect on writing retreats here: https://www.writinggrove.com/post/why-you-should-go-on-a-writing-retreat
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