Life Writing with Sisonke Msimang

Learn how to begin or develop your memoir manuscript or personal essay

Join Sisonke Msimang in this introductory workshop about the flexible and vibrant genre of life writing.

With a particular focus on memoir and personal essays, this workshop will teach you how to approach writing about deep, personal and often intimate experiences for a public audience. Through a series of writing exercises and insights from your teacher, you'll explore how to narrate your own life in a deeply thought-through way while keeping a clear eye on a set of larger ideas and topics that prevent your work from being narcissistic or overly inward-looking.

You'll learn how to:

  • inject substance and voice into basic facts
  • use rhythm to add life to your writing
  • fit your personal experiences to a narrative arc
  • embrace doubt to inspire you to ask questions
  • utilise rewriting to polish your work

The course is designed to take you 5-6 hours in total, and can be completed in short stages at your convenience. Scroll down to see the full course curriculum and a list of frequently asked questions.

"Working through the KYD Life Writing course was time well spent. This is a great foundational course that provides an overview of the entire process of writing a memoir, but the course also has much to offer more seasoned writers."

"An easy and relaxing way to assist and teach, being able to access the platform anytime allows me to dip in and out and review over and over again. I loved the examples of other memoirist that were offered and have a long reading list now."


KYD Members receive a 10% discount on this course and all other KYD online courses throughout the year. Become a member here, or contact [email protected] for more information.

Want to buy a course for a friend? Purchase a gift voucher here.


Your Instructor


Sisonke Msimang
Sisonke Msimang

Sisonke Msimang is the author of two books – Always Another Country: a memoir of exile and home; and The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela, which is a biography of the political activist. Her essays have been featured in the Guardian, the New York Times, Al Jazeera, CNN and other news outlets. She serves as a fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER) and is on the editorial board of Africa Is A Country.


Course Curriculum


  Welcome
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  Theme and Structure
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  Ethics, Voice and Writing Techniques
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  Rewriting, Feedback and Getting Published
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  Feedback
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish. We encourage you to approach this material not just as lessons to be finished once and for all, but also as a collection of resources to which you can return time and again.
How long do I have access to the course?
Forever! After enrolling, you have unlimited lifetime access to this course - across any and all devices you own.
Does the teacher provide feedback?
No. If you are interested in receiving feedback on your project, we encourage you to check out KYD's Manuscript Assessment Service: https://killyourdarlings.com.au/shop/manuscript-assessments/
How do I access my course?
All our online workshops are hosted at workshops.killyourdarlings.com.au, via the Teachable platform. You can access your workshop by logging in at that link, or by following the link in your welcome email when you enrol. Please note that as the Teachable platform is a separate website to KYD you will need to create a new account, and will not be able to use your KYD login details.
I'm a KYD member. How do I receive my 10% discount?
Click on 'Enrol in course for $169'. Enter the coupon code that was emailed to you when you became a KYD member at checkout, underneath the tutor's photo.
What if I have another question?
You can email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

Get started now!