Writing Life: The Craft of Memoir

Description

There are memoirs that provide us with interesting details about the author’s life, and there are those that do much more. These are the memoirs that  draw us in with their precisely chosen words, their evocative metaphors, and their intriguing narratives. The author’s distinctive voice rings true, at times as familiar as an old friend, at times extraordinary and exciting. These works of literature live with us long after we finish the last page. What elevates a personal story to something greater than a series of facts? How can memoirs educate, entertain, inspire, and promote empathy? And how can we learn to write in such a way?

In this writing course, we will look at literary memoirs, memoirs which are works of art as much as they are personal stories. We will notice how sentences, paragraphs, and storylines come alive when crafted with care and expertise. We will observe what experienced writers bring to the page when they turn their attention and artistry to their own story. Using We Are the Words by Beth Kephart as a guide, we will examine the craft of writing, different writing forms, what it means to become a self-aware writer, and what the writing life involves. We will also read from a wide range of memoirs by respected authors. Participants will engage in weekly in-class writing exercises and writing assignments.

Required Text:

• * We Are the Words: The Master Memoir Class by Beth Kephart. Juncture Workshops, 2021. 
• * Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell. Random House, 2010.

Participants must obtain a copy of the required texts at the bookstore or library of their choice.

Details