(Introduction to Life Writing)

This course will consider a wide range of contemporary works that come under the broad, umbrella term, “Life Writing” - i.e. autobiography, personal essays, autobiographical fiction, biography, journals. We will also read a good many critical/theoretical works that address the issues informing the course, most notably: What are the narrative, epistemological, and ethical issues that confront someone writing about his or her own life or the lives of others? Why the current fascination with memoir? And what are the advantages and risks if academics like us draw on personal experience and a personal voice in our professional writing? (In considering this issue, we will read a few academic essays that do these very things.)

Students will write one substantial critical paper and one substantial autobiographical or personal essay. They will also be asked to contribute one question or comment each week to a listserve of all students in the course; those questions and comments will be due by Monday afternoon. Everyone will be asked to read and consider all these contributions before the class meets (once a week) on Tuesday night. On average, we will read one full-length work each week along with an essay or two. There will be a reading assignment for the first day of class. The two-and-a-half hour class period will consist of short lecture bursts on my part and a good deal of discussion from all of us. Relief will be provided half way through each session. My hope is that this course will appeal to students in both the literature program and the M.F.A. program.

Email me at “hedin” in October for a full reading list.