Class Description
Memory may drive memoir but with some distance and time we can see that while were just living our stories, history was also unfolding. People often put down memoir writing as “narcissistic," but where would history be without the first-hand testimony of individuals whose recollections deepen or complicate conventional historical accounts. Often what’s experienced in the home and neighborhood is subject to the dynamics of political, economic and cultural change. But how do we bring the larger world into our autobiographical writing without sacrificing the intimate voice of the personal? And how do we write about politics without our work veering into OpEd or polemical territory? In this class we will read the works of writers who’ve been able to successfully thread that needle, including works by Jesmyn Ward, Nick Flynn, James Baldwin, Bridgett M. Davis, Mikal Gilmore, and Garrard Conley.
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 detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
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!
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!