In Foundations of Creative Nonfiction, we will examine the shapes that memory takes on the page. We will craft our own autobiographical voices, drawing from both our lived experiences and our subjectivities—recognizing our limits and, still, the ways we seek to relate to the world. We will consider pace, place, and the act of rendering the people we know in writing. Together, we will read and discuss essays by authors including Marguerite Duras, Brandon Shimoda, Elissa Washuta, and Kate Zambreno, considering a diverse array of literary forms to hone our prose.

This 8-week course will cover the fundamentals, with prompts and assigned readings offered between classes to keep the learning experience brisk and engaging. We’ll explore the ways in which techniques of narrative craft can be harnessed to impose order, or shape compelling stories out of real-life material. We’ll read examples of creative nonfiction including personal essays, narrative reportage, memoir excerpts, and flash creative nonfiction, and we’ll draft new works of our own. This class seeks to include those who identify as new to creative nonfiction as well as those who are looking for a fresh approach to the genre.