There are many reasons to explore writing about yourself. Do you want to preserve personal history or family stories or document your past? Maybe you want to publish your personal experience to educate others, or to entertain them. Perhaps you want to start or enhance a blog? Whatever your end goal, there are techniques that can help you effectively share personal information. In this course, students will explore techniques for writing effective short memoirs and personal essays. The class will discuss different ways to structure their narratives, and how to incorporate theme to bring meaning to personal experience. Students will explore finding their voice. Students will practice writing essays and articles that explore different purposes for writing about themselves. They will also practice journaling.

Material covered relates to modern writing theory, and discusses the structure of recently published works. The teaching method accommodates the needs of students who want to shape their work for publication, as well as those who are writing to create an heirloom, or for personal fulfilment. The instructor has published in multiple genres, and critiques manuscript partials in a number of genres for major writing conferences. She has an active blog, and had a column that ran for several years at Dave's Garden.

This is a hands-on class, with writing assignments (in-class and as homework) and assignments to evaluate elements of other books, films, etc. Students will have the opportunity to have samples of their work critiqued each week.