In this course, we will examine formal experiments in life writing—with a focus on texts that combine biography and memoir—as models for our own writing. Any life story is also the story of others. Our readings will emphasize forms of narration that grapple with relations between self and others, with intimacy and distance, with personal experience and cultural history. We’ll listen to podcasts that tell life stories, examining narrative techniques in relation to audio craft. In the process, we’ll examine interwoven questions about the ethics of life writing; truth, fiction, and subjectivity; memory and imagination; historical context and character development; style and point of view.

To complement the longer readings, we’ll read short craft essays and theoretical articles. Students will experiment with writing about a subject of their choice in a variety of forms, including a Wikipedia entry or website, a preface, a footnote, an obituary, a series of social media posts, and a biographical or autobiographical essay. Drawing on course texts, we’ll conduct workshops on elements of craft on a regular basis–leading up to intensive workshops to help you develop the essay that will be  your semester project.