Class

Nonfiction Toolkit: Beyond the Memoir

Write what you know, they say. But it turns out that's harder than it looks! Memoir writing is a unique way to embed your own story in what you write. In this class, we will explore memoir, but we'll also look at first-person narrative in journalism, essays, and even "auto-fiction" as methods to tell your story in writing. The goal of the class will be to discern how best to tell your story—in what genre, style, and voice.

Texts read will include The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr and The Situation and the Story by Vivian Gornick. We will also consult the work of Jeff Sharlet, Jon Krakauer, Anne Lamott, Ben Lerner, David Carr, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. We will work under the premise that any good memoir, like a novel, needs a plot that builds to a climax and reaches some kind of resolution. The class will consist of teaching and discussion, and students will be provided with links to additional reading and video resources to support further learning and development following the class.

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.