Class

Experimental Forms and Creative Nonfiction 101

What’s the difference between creative nonfiction, personal essays, and memoir? Where does narrative journalism and cultural criticism fit? What are the limits of the “creative” aspect of this type of nonfiction?

In this Creative Nonfiction 101 class, we’ll answer these questions and many more. Sessions will include examples and close readings as well as discussions of how each sample fits within the overall Creative Nonfiction umbrella. We’ll also explore the freedoms and limits of each type of creative nonfiction.

Students will be given generative in-class writing prompts, with the option to continue writing as homework. Sessions 2-4 will start with optional sharing of the homework for verbal feedback.

By the end of class, students will have an understanding of personal essays, memoir, narrative journalism (also called literary journalism), cultural criticism, and an overview of experimental forms, including lyric essays, speculative nonfiction, auto fiction, and others. Authors we’ll read include Roxane Gay, Claudia Rankin, Lidia Yuknavitch, Melissa Febos, George M Johnson, Alexander Chee, and many more. Students will also be encouraged to develop a post-class reading list and plan for further exploration of the creative nonfiction type that sparks their writing.

NOTE: All classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.