Beyond Feature Writing: Unveiling the Art Behind Great Nonfiction with Richard Warnica

Hone your feature and essay writing craft with acclaimed writer Richard Warnica in an all-new masterclass on the art and science of distinctive nonfiction writing.
Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 @ 12pm–3pm EST (9am-12pm Pacific)

Why does great nonfiction sound like it does? On a sentence-by-sentence level, what separates writers like Joan Didion, Larissa MacFarquaur, or Ta-Nehisi Coates from their peers? In this three-hour masterclass, we’ll look at distinctive nonfiction that blends feature and essay writing with one goal: to understand how it works and why. Students will study the rhythms and word choices of great nonfiction writers and learn how to apply those methods to their own work. The goal is for students to come out of the class with the confidence and inspiration to try something new and bolder in their own writing.

This is an all new masterclass. Both new students and students who have taken a previous PanU feature writing course are welcome to enroll. 

For an additional fee, students can also upgrade to Stream B and receive written personal feedback from Richard on a feature story or essay they are working on. (Only 10 Stream B spots available.)

INCLUDES

Stream A: Live 3-hr lesson (with break) with Q&A; access to re-watch the webinar anytime you want.

Stream B: Students who upgrade to Stream B for an additional $75 CAD will also receive written feedback from Richard on a feature story or essay they are working on. There are 10 Stream B spots available.

PREREQUISITE

This is an all new masterclass. Both new students and students who have taken a previous PanU feature writing course are welcome to enroll. 

Not sure it’s for you? Feel free to reach out and ask us directly: info@pandemicuniversity.com.

TESTIMONIALS FROM RICHARD’S OTHER CLASSES

“It was jam-packed with great stuff, from the readings to the sessions to the guests. I learned a ton and Richard is an accessible, down to earth teacher. My brain hurt, but in a good way.”

–Ferrukh Faruqui, physician and freelance medical reporter

“Richard Warnica is an adept instructor who gets to the heart of what writers want and need to know in a down-to-earth and approachable way.”

—Jordan S., freelancer

“The seven weeks I spent learning about voice and feature writing with Richard and an amazing group of classmates reignited my passion for the craft of journalism after an isolating year chasing the news cycle from my apartment desk. I have a clearer vision of the kinds of stories I want to write and the skills I need to get there, plus the tools to level-up my everyday journalism at work.”

—Moira Wyton, The Tyee health reporter and graduate of Finding Your Voice as a Feature Writer

REGISTRATION

After checkout, you’ll receive a receipt with a link to download your tickets, which will include Zoom passcodes and additional webinar information. You will also receive an emailed reminder a few days before the event.

ACCESSIBILITY & RECORDING

This webinar is designed for live participation but a recording of the webinar will be provided to all registrants to stream if they’re unable to attend in full or wish to view it again. Closed captioning is also available for both live and recorded video, however, it’s auto-generated and subject to error.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Richard Warnica is currently a business feature writer at the Toronto Star and a part-time professor of journalism at Humber University, where he teaches undergraduate feature writing. A finalist for several National Newspaper Awards, Richard has worked as both writer and editor for such outlets as Politico, The National Post, Canadian Business, and Maclean’s. Known for his deep, sometimes obsessively, reported features, long and short, he’s covered the justice system, popular culture, health issues, the fall of Rob Ford, and the rise of Donald Trump. He was a 2010 Investigative Reporting Fellow at the Tyee Solutions Society, and the 2018-19 Webster/McConnell Fellow at Massey College, at the University of Toronto. He lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter.

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