Creative Nonfiction II [Anne Liu Kellor]

This class is for those looking to build upon craft learned in Creative Nonfiction I or those already familiar with the basics of the genre including points of view, scene, reflection, and form. Each week we will delve deeper into the process of generating and sharing our own vital material from in-class prompts and read/discuss a diverse range of essay/memoirs. Students may receive feedback from the instructor on a piece and optionally from the whole class in a workshop setting.

CNF II Weekly Themes and Anticipated Readings

1. Exploration, Vulnerability, and Breaking Silence
Introductions to each other; free-writing and generating approaches; lists
Homework Readings for following week: Patricia Hampl’s “Memory and Imagination; Lidia Yuknavitch’s excerpts from The Chronology of Water

2. Truth, Memoir, and Metaphor
Why write memoir?; voice; metaphor, themes, and images
HW Readings: “Apricots” from Rebecca Solnit’s The Faraway Nearby and Brenda Miller’s “A Braided Heart”

3. Diversity of Forms in CNF
Braided, collage, and hybrid pieces/books…
HW Readings: Kiese Laymon’s “How to Slowly Kill Yourself in America”; Dena Landon’s “The Women in My Family Had to be Good With Money” and MORE

4. The Classic Short Personal Essay
Scene and reflection; past vs. present tense; coming of age/out of innocence/reckoning
HW Readings: Student Papers (and MORE readings- will discuss time allowing)

5. Longform Essays
Exploring fragments and threads; looking inward and outward
Readings: Student Papers

6. Exploring Second Person
Writing to yourself and to others
Readings: Student Papers

7. Hermit Crab Essays and Writing Workshop
Readings: Student Papers

8. Writing Workshop and Final Reflections