This course, Online Feedback: Creative Non-Fiction with Zoya Patel, takes place online.

In this creative non-fiction writing course, Zoya Patel will provide feedback on your essays and creative non-fiction, enabling you to hone your skills over five months. Feedback will vary depending on each piece but may focus on areas such as voice and tone, structure and pacing, or incorporating research and other materials into your work.

Please note: This Online Feedback course is not suitable for aspiring or beginning writers. We recommend that you complete at least one other creative writing course before enrolling in Online Feedback. By enrolling in this course, you are committing to giving and receiving feedback from peers and the tutor. Read this article here for more information.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program.

Each month, you’ll submit up to 1500 words of creative non-fiction. Your tutor will provide tailored feedback, giving you time to incorporate their suggestions and advice into the next month’s submission. Each month you can submit either new or revised writing.

You’ll also have the opportunity to read and comment on other participants’ work. This process of giving and receiving feedback from fellow writers is an ideal way to determine what works, what resonates, what falls flat – and how to improve.

This online course takes place on a website specifically designed for writers, making it simple and easy to share your writing, give and receive feedback, and interact with fellow writers.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself and develop your skills through constructive critique and independent work, this course is for you.

Please note: this is a feedback-based program. While you are welcome to generate new material for submission during this time, no prompts or themes will be provided.

Participant Requirements

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this course. Please read our FAQ before enrolling>>

This Online Feedback course is not suitable for aspiring or beginning writers. We recommend that you complete at least one other creative writing course before enrolling in Online Feedback. By enrolling in this course, you are committing to giving and receiving feedback from peers and the tutor. Read this article here for more information.

You do not need to log into the course at a specific time and there are no live meetings. You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.

This five month course starts on Monday 15 July 2024 with enrolment into our online classroom. Submissions (personal essays or excerpts from longer works up to 1500 words) are due on the following dates, 10pm (Sydney times):

Monday 22 July
Monday 19 August
Monday 16 September
Monday 14 October
Monday 11 November

After each submission date, you’ll have 10 days to complete peer feedback. At the end of each feedback period, you’ll receive your tutor feedback.

Reviews

‘I really liked having the monthly commitment to post a piece of writing. Zoya’s feedback was so helpful, her suggestions made such a difference to my revisions and also to the next pieces I wrote to post. I also got a lot out of doing critiques of others’ work, especially noticing what worked well and thinking about how I could take that on board.’ — Gillian, 2022

More from Writing NSW

Check out our full range of in-person writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.