Writing the Memoir

The memoir is as popular as ever – tales of persistence and overcoming odds grip us like no other. Students in this course will concentrate on the craft of writing the memoir, a work of creative nonfiction rooted in and focused on the writer's memories. Unlike personal essays, memoirs foreground the writer's past to illuminate the complex development of understanding that past. This aim results in works that are typically book-length, in which the writer applies the techniques of creative nonfiction to describe and make observations and draw conclusions from personal experience. Class discussions emphasize essential writing skills, techniques for exploring and recording memories, and professional approaches to the research required to make the past come to life for the reader. Taking advantage of a supportive workshop format, students will share their ideas about craft and content with a view toward book publication.