Memoir and Blurred Memories (2-part)

Class Description

As the great writer Joan Didion once said: “We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were.” And that is especially important for the genre of memoir.

The driving questions of memoir are: Who have I been? Who am I? How did my past shape me? Can I remember all the details? Sometimes I can't. Sometimes memoir is the genre of oblivion…. But what we can’t remember opens up the possibility of exploring options, myths, imaginations, rumors to build narrative. You can play with that. It is the possibility of introducing “fiction” into non-fiction.

In this fun, intensive two-part workshop, writers will look at model memoirs, including pieces by, but not limited to Mary Karr, Beth Kephart, Gay Talese, Anne Boyer, Joan Didion, David Carr, Beth Ann Fennelly, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Cristina Rivera Garza. Writers will learn their techniques to hunt for blurred memories. And will hunt for their own. The only rule of truth is, be honest.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

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.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.