An Eye for an I: Writing Identity in Memoir

Memoir is at once one of the most read but least understood genres in the writing world. Many memoirists sharing the most personal stories of their lives have been accused of attention-seeking, naval-gazing, exaggeration, and fabrication. But despite these criticisms (and regardless of their merit!), the truth is that memoirs often contain the stories we as writers most want to tell—and the stories readers most need to hear. But when the stakes feel this high, how do we silence the anti-memoir noise to make sense of our own life experiences and ultimately find the readership for whom our stories will hold the greatest resonance?

In this class, Zoë Bossiere, managing editor of Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction and author of Cactus Country: A Boyhood Memoir will guide fellow writers through an investigation of the myriad intersecting identities that make up the unique people and writers we are through deep considerations of the self and our connection to immutable traits such as gender, sexuality, race & ethnicity, disability, age, body size/shape, home, and more. To aid our inquiries we will examine a variety of identity-based texts, participate in guided group discussions, and write from our own experiences with generative nonfiction prompts.

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Details: An Eye for an I: Writing Identity in Memoir with Zoë Bossiere takes place Wednesdays, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12 from 6:30-8:30pm ET remotely online via Zoom.

Genre: Memoir

Level: All levels
Format: Generative workshop

Location: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.

Size: Limited to 14 participants (including two scholarship recipients).

Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by April 19. Click here to apply.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.