Instructor: Julie Lythcott-Haims
This class is a two-hour interactive Zoom seminar for those who want to better understand the genre of memoir, the craft elements required to write it well, and the red flags inherent in writing about real humans. In this course we will explore the tensions inherent in being author, narrator, and subject all at once; unpack the subjectivity of truth; commit to treat all characters fairly; learn to report from the body; discuss the importance of the story you can’t bear to share; and examine your obligations to the others about whom you will be writing.
Students will complete this course with:
* heightened understanding of the genre - both what it is and what it isn’t
* deepened understanding of craft tools that will yield better memoir
* greater confidence in knowing the red flags and in assessing whether and how to proceed
New York Times bestselling author, speaker, teacher, mentor, and activist, Julie Lythcott-Haims believes in humans and is interested in what gets in our way. Julie's first book, How to Raise an Adult, inspired a widely viewed TED Talk. Their PEN Oakland award-winning memoir, Real American, explores personal experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. A third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, is considered a groundbreakingly frank guide to navigating adulthood. Julie's forthcoming book, The Not So Empty Nest: A How-To Guide for Parents and Adult Children Living Together, releases in May 2027. Julie holds a B.A. from Stanford, a J.D. from Harvard Law, an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Puget Sound. They also teach memoir at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD.