Journal writing is private, but memoir assumes an audience. Yet can we make our personal memories lucid and even compelling to strangers? That is the central issue of this class: how to grab hold of a reader by the powers of our expression, our ideas, and our writerly charms. Writing about your life might prove therapeutic, but the focus here is squarely on the craft. Prompts will be utilized to kick-start the composing of short, concise pieces each week; we also welcome students who are starting, or in the midst of, longer works. Whether emotional, comical, sensual or revelatory in nature, what are the moments in your life—small and large—that are ripe for the writing? Stories will be disseminated via email, and then read aloud and discussed in class.
