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Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts.

How to Write a Non-Fiction Novel

What happens when literature gives up on fiction? What is the line that separates – or unites – the novel and the literary reportage? How can we write true crime, going beyond the boundaries of the genre? Nicola Lagioia, one of Italy’s most acclaimed novelists, has long been a writer of fiction. His latest book however, The City of Living, is a meticulous reconstruction of one of Rome’s most brutal crimes of the decade: the murder of Luca Varani. From research to the use of sources, from the collection of testimonies and the organization of documents to questions of ethics, from legal problems to those of the narrative dimension, Lagioia will describe his method in crafting a book which has garnered international acclaim.

All writing levels are welcome in this 90-minute creative writing masterclass.

Presented by TIFA in partnership with the Humber School for Writers. This event is supported by Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Toronto.

The City of the Living: The True Story of Modern Rome’s Most Shocking Murder

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Nicola Lagioia

One of Italy’s most critically acclaimed contemporary novelists, Nicola Lagioia has been the recipient of the Volponi, Straniero and Viareggio awards. In 2015, he won the Strega Prize for Ferocity (Europa, 2017).

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Photo credit: Chiara Pasqualini.