Memoir Writing

Many of us have had fascinating lives, whether lived inwardly or outwardly, during childhood long ago or in the past decade. But when it comes to writing a memoir, where do we begin? The day of our birth? The day we left home? The beginning or end of a marriage? Memoir is most successful when it is not the "story of a life" but a focused part of that life: a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather's farm; a long relationship with a dying relative; the first year of law school. In this course, students will explore methods for planning and focusing on what their memoirs should be. By the end of this class, students will complete the first 20-30 pages of a book-length memoir.

By the end of this course, students will:
• Understand the different types of memoirs and their parts
• Understand the process of writing a memoir, including making an outline
• Be able to use the various literary techniques that enhance narrative and memoir writing
• Be able write the first 20-30 pages of their own memoir
 

Course Number: WCWP-40200
Credit: 3.00 unit(s)
Related Certificate Programs: Creative Writing