The memoir continues to thrive as a genre because it recognizes that our individual lives and experiences deserve to be articulated, celebrated and affirmed. This memoir writing course introduces students to tools and techniques that will help them explore past experiences imaginatively and meaningfully. The course begins by studying, for inspiration and instruction, short essays by Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Walker and others to explore the range of literary methods and narrative strategies used by memoir writers. Then, through a variety of process-oriented exercises, students will identify a memory-driven writing project, experiment with different forms of voice and style and practice the art of revision. Students will have the opportunity to share their writing with the instructor and classmates to receive constructive feedback on drafts and refine their own creative process. No prior writing experience is necessary; all students interested in learning how to frame their personal experiences into compelling narrative are welcome.

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