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Fall 2026: Everything’s a Story: Writing Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction

Welcome to Everything’s a Story: Writing Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction! We’re so glad you’re here.

This course explores how storytelling techniques can transform nonfiction writing across genres, from memoir and personal essay to op-eds and how-to pieces. Through self-paced lessons, participants will learn core narrative structures, study compelling examples, and practice shaping their own work with clarity, flow, and emotional impact.

Course material and lesson plans are curated and developed by the teaching artists, Mentor, Hanna R. Neier and Mentee, Olivia Wronski.

Learning Objectives

Story Structure & Craft: Analyze essential elements of storytelling and apply them to nonfiction writing.
Genre Exploration: Examine a variety of nonfiction forms to understand their unique purposes and audiences.
Engaging Narrative Techniques: Use creative writing techniques to make nonfiction more compelling and impactful.
Crafting Nonfiction Narratives Develop and refine an original nonfiction piece by applying storytelling techniques learned throughout the Journey.

Requirements

2 pair sessions per month
Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)
Complete all lessons provided in the course Fall 2026: Everything’s a Story: Writing Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction
Submit a personal essay about a story that shaped you

Asynchronous Coursework

Complete each lesson in the the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press complete before moving on to the next.

Everything’s a Story: Writing Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction
This course explores how storytelling techniques can transform nonfiction writing across genres, from memoir and personal essay to op-eds and how-to pieces.

Engagement Dates

Mentees and mentors must attend one Journey Live Meetings each month.

Fall Cycle Journey Meetings:

Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 7:30-9:30 PM ET
Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 7:30-9:30 PM ET
Thursday, January 7, 2027 | 7:30-9:30 PM ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—recommended options for this journey include Community Studios and Career Chats.

Submissions

For the final project, please write and submit a personal essay (800–1200 words) about a story that shaped you. As we progress through this Journey, you will gain more insight into how to harness the power of story to elevate your nonfiction writing, and we encourage you to incorporate those techniques into this essay.

Final Essay Submission by January 31, 2027

All participants are required to submit an essay in order to complete this Journey. Please upload your final essay as a Google Doc in the folder shared in the final assignment lesson in your course.

Submission instructions are within each course.

Curriculum

5 Sections
26 Lessons
10 Weeks

Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections

Introduction
3 Items
Section 1: Storytelling Through the Hero’s Journey
7 Items
Section 2: Writing Techniques for Powerful Prose
8 Items
Section 3: Finding and Shaping Your Story
7 Items
Final Assignment: Stories that Shape Us
1 Item
- 5.1
  Final Assignment Instructions

Instructor

sally.familia

249 Students

13 Courses

Fall 2026: Everything’s a Story: Writing Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction

Curriculum

Instructor

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