Writing the Multi-Cultural Memoir

Multiple languages, historical epochs, cultures, and places can overwhelm the writer attempting to create a family memoir that spans centuries and continents. In this class, we will discuss approaches for making a complex, multi-cultural story work and will address topics such as: How does one find the right structure for a story with several threads? When do you translate and when do you leave material in its original language? How much research is necessary? How do you move smoothly through time and bring a lost world to life for today’s readers? How do you make your story relatable to an American audience while retaining its authenticity? We will read short excerpts from memoirs by Edwidge Danticat, Mara Moustafine and Peter Balakian, among others, as well as do writing exercises and discuss your own challenges with your memoir projects, no matter at what stage.