What Others Say

Congratulations for the way you have prepared this course, and for the inclusion of all those additional sources which we now know are available on the internet. I have made several attempts at writing my life story without getting very far and now I have the confidence to get on with it.

Thankyou for all the lessons. I have followed a number of online writing courses and I wanted everyone to know how much I have enjoyed Cate's lessons. They are among the best.

Thankyou for all the lessons. I have followed a number of online writing courses and I wanted everyone to know how much I have enjoyed Cate's lessons. They are among the best.

This course was undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking that I have ever taken. While the exercises could be done at multiple levels and had NO right or wrong, if you took the assignments seriously and even streatched your brain around some of the self-discovery work (without actually writing it all out) you should be well on the well to writing biographies and/or autobiographies more comfortably.

This course was undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking that I have ever taken. While the exercises could be done at multiple levels and had NO right or wrong, if you took the assignments seriously and even streatched your brain around some of the self-discovery work (without actually writing it all out) you should be well on the well to writing biographies and/or autobiographies more comfortably.

The level of e-mail activity which this course generated helped me feel much closer to the other students than I have in most other courses I've taken.

The level of e-mail activity which this course generated helped me feel much closer to the other students than I have in most other courses I've taken.

Just thought I would let you know that the content of the course has really got me going. I can't believe I have become so enthusiastic. I'm running around with a journal jotting all sorts of things down. I guess for people who write down a lot of things this isn't unusual, but for me who usually keeps most things inside it's very cathartic. It amazes me in the act of writing how many more things are coming back to me. My son is very proud of me just for starting, he'll probably throw a party when I finish.

Just thought I would let you know that the content of the course has really got me going. I can't believe I have become so enthusiastic. I'm running around with a journal jotting all sorts of things down. I guess for people who write down a lot of things this isn't unusual, but for me who usually keeps most things inside it's very cathartic. It amazes me in the act of writing how many more things are coming back to me. My son is very proud of me just for starting, he'll probably throw a party when I finish.

From your course info, ideas started to form and I have now completed the contents pages and the outline of my book. I have made a set of Working Notes and have started to write different parts of the book as the mood takes me. The book will be about 70,000 words, and will have an Appendix that will collect all the photographs, tables, lists and memorabilia etc. So you can see, your course has been a great source of inspiration for me and I refer to it daily as I search around for all sources of information

From your course info, ideas started to form and I have now completed the contents pages and the outline of my book. I have made a set of Working Notes and have started to write different parts of the book as the mood takes me. The book will be about 70,000 words, and will have an Appendix that will collect all the photographs, tables, lists and memorabilia etc. So you can see, your course has been a great source of inspiration for me and I refer to it daily as I search around for all sources of information

Its amazing to me but quite true that I had begun my autobiography about three months ago and without any knowledge of the New Autobiography had worked out that I had to dramatise important events to make them come alive and when I enrolled I expected to find that my approach was all wrong! Thanks for a course that is tailor made to my needs.

Its amazing to me but quite true that I had begun my autobiography about three months ago and without any knowledge of the New Autobiography had worked out that I had to dramatise important events to make them come alive and when I enrolled I expected to find that my approach was all wrong! Thanks for a course that is tailor made to my needs.

The course suited my needs because: 1) I could work on it when I was able to do so (I have a disability) and in my own time without any pressure. 2) I can continue to work on this project with no interruptions. 3) So far in the course I have completed my goals. 4) I have written a poem.

The course suited my needs because: 1) I could work on it when I was able to do so (I have a disability) and in my own time without any pressure. 2) I can continue to work on this project with no interruptions. 3) So far in the course I have completed my goals. 4) I have written a poem.

As this was the first U3A course that I have done, I was unsure what to expect. I have been pleasantly surprised by the depth of the course, as well as the resources provided. I have also enjoyed being part of the weekly group discussions.

As this was the first U3A course that I have done, I was unsure what to expect. I have been pleasantly surprised by the depth of the course, as well as the resources provided. I have also enjoyed being part of the weekly group discussions.

Living with chronic illness makes attending face to face courses problematic, so being able to do a course at home via the internet has given me freedom to do it in my own time and at my own pace, as well as enjoying being part of a group. I can recommend this way of learning to others.

Living with chronic illness makes attending face to face courses problematic, so being able to do a course at home via the internet has given me freedom to do it in my own time and at my own pace, as well as enjoying being part of a group. I can recommend this way of learning to others.

I enjoy learning online courses, as I can arrange my own time. I picked up helpful hints.

I enjoy learning online courses, as I can arrange my own time. I picked up helpful hints.

The course had weekly objectives. Mardi suggested daily topics for us to use as a basis to address the weekly objectives. Mardi’s feedback and the feedback of course members was positive and useful.

The course had weekly objectives. Mardi suggested daily topics for us to use as a basis to address the weekly objectives. Mardi’s feedback and the feedback of course members was positive and useful.

It created a discpline for me to work to. I eagerly awaited each day’s work and was never disappointed. I have gained so much from Mardi and intend to keep writing for at least ten minutes each day. I hoped to join the next "Writing for pleasure" course but will be in Alsaka for three of the eight weeks. I look forward to other courses in the future. Thank you Mardi.

It created a discpline for me to work to. I eagerly awaited each day’s work and was never disappointed. I have gained so much from Mardi and intend to keep writing for at least ten minutes each day. I hoped to join the next "Writing for pleasure" course but will be in Alsaka for three of the eight weeks. I look forward to other courses in the future. Thank you Mardi.

It was my first time doing a course on line and I enjoyed every moment. I still can’t believe that my class had two students from the UK. It blew me away. I most certainly will be doing other courses. 

It was my first time doing a course on line and I enjoyed every moment. I still can’t believe that my class had two students from the UK. It blew me away. I most certainly will be doing other courses. 

The participants showed a willingness to share life experiences testing the strengths and weaknesses in writing their autobiograpies or finding the resolve to keep a daily journal interspersed with memories for self, family, friends or a wider audience. Posts showed empathy and non-judgement.

The participants showed a willingness to share life experiences testing the strengths and weaknesses in writing their autobiograpies or finding the resolve to keep a daily journal interspersed with memories for self, family, friends or a wider audience. Posts showed empathy and non-judgement.

Time starvation limits participation for some, however, u3aonline courses could be a window on the world - a virtual peer interest network for homebound older adults, who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness. Less computer experienced would benefit from technical support checcklists.