True Stories, Real People: When Your ‘Characters’ Know Where You Live [Neal Thompson]

Introductory / Intermediate | How do you bring nonfiction subjects to life without getting sued — or stabbed? This class will cover the challenges and thrills of writing about real human beings — public figures, dead people, friends, and trickiest of all: family — in narrative nonfiction, journalism, essay, biography, and memoir. We’ll read and discuss examples of writers who deftly craft true stories about real-life subjects. We’ll do a few in-class and take-home writing exercises, and discuss our work. We’ll host a special guest author visit.