Class Description
What elements make up a successful narrative personal essay or memoir? How do you focus your ideas, memories, and experiences into a coherent form and make sure you’re telling a gripping and moving story? In this seminar, we'll look for models and inspiration from book-length memoirs, literary magazines and commercial publications by authors such as Cheryl Strayed, Lee Martin, Brian Doyle, Dinty Moore, Meredith Maran, and others. Through reading and exercises, we'll look at how writers structure their stories using vivid description, "close-ups" and scene-work; passages of reflection, summary and backstory; efficient characterization; the artful use of narrative order (time) and pacing; as well a focus on some key question, dilemma, conflict, or change. In-class exercises will allow you to practice what we learn. By the end of the class, you’ll have written some passages using these techniques and have ideas for how to move forward with your personal essays and memoirs.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
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