In this class, we'll read and explore, through our own writing, the genre (maybe!) of autofiction. What's at stake when the writer is a character in their own story? As writers of autofiction, are there other considerations—in addition to those we bring to writing fiction— that we need to keep in mind? What exactly makes a piece of fiction "autofictional"? What can we learn, from both fiction and nonfiction, about crafting autofiction? How can we be more effective writers of autofiction (and fiction)? While this class is geared for folks who have some experience with writing fiction and/or creative nonfiction, it is open to and welcoming of writers of all genres.
The first part of this class will be focused on reading assigned texts and building a shared vocabulary around course themes pertaining to narrative and narration. The class is inclusive and participatory—we'll take turns leading discussions of the readings and guiding the group in writing exercises and experiments, although the focus will not be on in-class writing. The latter part of the class will focus on writer-led discussions of writing and works-in-progress. Throughout, we'll explore and seek to expand the limits of first-person narrative.
