Foundations of Nonfiction
Master the art of writing the real
through personal, discursive or narrative essays, revealing hidden layers of meaning
in our lives and in our world.
COMING JULY 2026
“We write because language is the way we keep a hold on life. With words we experience our deepest understandings of what it means to be intimate. We communicate to connect, to know community.”
— bell hooks
How do we tell a story about what is real?
Dive into the expansive world of nonfiction where narrative meets fact
Is this for me?
An ideal creative writing course for…
first-time essayists wanting a solid grounding in the creative, practical and technical aspects of writing
seasoned essayists returning from a creative hiatus, and wanting to recover their artistic instincts
any writer wanting to stabilise their writing routine with a creative flow best suited to their body and lifestyle
anyone looking to hone their cognitive abilities, or deepen their spiritual connection to creative practice
Beginner or expert.
Personal or discursive.
Casual or pro.
This course is for you.
Your essay. Your muse.
What you learn
A holistic grounding in narrative writing
Style & voice
Unlock the soul of your essay with language that evokes your topic and attitude, while breathing life into every line.
Concept & perspective
What is left to be said? Learn how to culture fresh takes on timeless themes, drawing on your interests and personal experience.
Structure & form
Every creature, large or small, has a shape all its own. Master an array of frameworks for sequencing your essay with intention.
Research & argument
Bulletproof logic, scrupulous citations, and the learning to back up every claim. If it’s worth contemplating, it’s worth articulating honestly.
What you get
Everything you need
Classes
8 weekly lessons of 75 mins each (i.e., 10 hours total class time), in small cohorts of up to 12 students, following an original curriculum designed to unleash creative freedom, within a stable structure that ensures steady progression.
Tasks
High-impact writing tasks in manageable chunks, including creative challenges, technical exercises, and a course project - all customisable to suit your preferred style and subject matter.
Feedback
Comprehensive, personalised notes on all practical tasks, giving you the 1-on-1 attention to support your unique development as a writer.
Playbook
Value-packed course playbook, including all lesson notes plus bonus materials: explanations, demonstrations, tips and templates, bonus exercises, and our extensive list of resources.
Community
Lifetime access to our Facebook Group and Discord Server, sharing daily inspiration, encouragement, opportunities, humour and exclusive offers.
What you do
A selection of experiments
Technical exercises
Short, weekly assignments which align with that lesson’s theme. Practise key essay-writing techniques and write in any nonfiction style you like.
Creative challenges
Weekly tasks and provocations to inspire and embolden your artistic process, including habit-building hacks and strategies for unlocking flow.
Course project
A single, larger essay which you write over the course of the entire 8 weeks, allowing you to synthesise and showcase all your new skills along with all your personalised feedback.
Do it your way
All tasks are customisable, so you can make them your own.
Write in your preferred genre (e.g., personal, polemical, nature writing, etc.).
Pick from suggested topics, or come up with your own.
Stick to a length that works for you.
With you all the way
Get 1-on-1 attention, personalised support and comprehensive feedback to help your writing soar.
Transformation guaranteed
Our promise to you
We’re here to help you win — not waste your time.
If your writing hasn’t demonstrably improved by the end of any of our courses, we’ll gladly refund you 100% of your purchase.
Students eligible for refunds must fulfil all reasonable criteria, demonstrating that they’ve attended all lessons, completed all assignments, implemented all feedback provided, and liaised with their teacher for additional support to raise concerns or query our learning content.
Course details
Course dates
Foundations of Creative Nonfiction runs for 8 weeks, each term.
Classes start in July 2026.
Click I’m interested to get notified.
Class times
Each weekly, in-person class runs for 75 minutes.
Classes take place in the afternoons and early evenings.
Pick your preferred time slot on the sign-up form.
Location
We teach across Cape Town, including the Southern Suburbs, Atlantic Seaboard and around the CBD.
For students’ convenience, we finalise venues only once we have an indication of interest, allowing us to choose an optimal location.
Pricing
Download our brochure for up-to-date pricing, or contact us for more info.