Masterclass Recording: Narrative Non-Fiction

Join Ben Rawlence, award-winning non-fiction author and Arvon Writer-in-Residence, for an in-depth look at how to make true stories sing. Ben approaches non-fiction narratives from a number of different angles in his work: Radio Congo used a travel/memoir style to take readers into Africa’s deadliest war; City of Thorns pioneered third person points of view to bring Africa’s largest refugee camp to life through the eyes of its inhabitants; The Treeline combined science, nature, travel writing and reportage.

In this session he will draw from a range of styles and ‘ways in’ to a narrative, covering the essentials along the way: finding the beginning of the idea, developing the shape of your story, and questions of form, voice, character and structure. During the two-hour session he will break down the heavy-lifting that goes into making an accessible and page-turning work of narrative non-fiction, giving you new direction and focus.

This event is part of Ben Rawlence’s season as Arvon’s Writer and Residence for Spring/Summer 2023. Ben’s series of online and in-person events centre nature, asking writers to develop creative responses to the forces that threaten it. Learn more about Ben’s season here. 

This recording will be available to watch at your convenience. Please see the ‘Access’ tab for information on how to find it.

Online: £25.00

Concessions: £12.50

We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.

When you make your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation, including a link to the recording. You can access it at any time using that link. It can also be accessed by logging in to your account on our website, opening the course card on your ‘My Bookings’ page, and clicking on the red ‘Recording’ button. Any course materials that may have been shared for the live session will also be available via a button in the course card. All Masterclasses are recorded with auto-generated captioning, which appears on the recordings.

If you require any assistance or further information, please email arvonathome@arvon.org