(July 9, 2022)
We experience life in and through our bodies – but when did you last read a book in any genre that really captured embodied experience?
This course is about reclaiming the body as an important subject and portal in writing in order to help you claim your narrative voice. It is suitable for writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction alike.
The course will equip you with a set of new techniques to develop your confidence in tackling subjects and perspectives that have been side-lined in canonical literature or mainstream culture. From plotting your narrative, to finding new endings and beginnings to developing your voice and unearthing hidden transformations in your characters. We will tackle taboo and draw inspiration from trailblazing artists and writers who have taken ownership of their bodies through their work.
You will be guided through a series of exercises and discussions that will encourage you to draw on intimate, visceral experiences, as you discover how these connect to broader themes; finding the big, collective story in the small and personal.
The aim of the course is to set you up for writing about the body in a way that is meaningful in your work
This course is for anyone who wants to explore how writing about the body can refresh their practice and help them deepen their sense of voice.
Marieke Bigg writes about bodies and culture. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Cambridge, where she studied the technological transformation of human reproduction. She now writes both nonfiction and fiction about the cultural dimensions of biology and bodies. Her debut novel, Waiting for Ted (Dead Ink Press, forthcoming October 2022) was described by her agent as Sally Rooney meets Waiting for Godot meets The Stepford Wives – so it’s very weird! Her non-fiction debut, Misdiagnosed (Hachette, forthcoming January 2023), explores gender bias in medicine, drawing on scientific research, personal experience and cultural analysis.
In addition to her books, Marieke collaborates with scientists and biologists to discuss and produce art that conjures new social worlds. In her teaching, she is interested in working with underrepresented writers to develop new stories, by moving the body practically and thematically to the centre of their practice.
Author page – https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/marieke-bigg
Website with online articles- https://mariekelouisebigg.wixsite.com/mariekebigg
Social media –
https://twitter.com/MariekeBigg
https://www.instagram.com/mariekebigg/
https://www.facebook.com/marieke.bigg
