281. Creative Nonfiction
If in fiction writing, creativity is a matter of invention, what does it mean to write creatively and remain beholden to the literal truth? In the course of a semester devoted to the reading, writing, and workshopping of "creative nonfiction," we'll attempt to define the genre itself, affording each writer an opportunity to consider where his or her own work stands in relation to fiction as well as to journalism, memoir, biography and other nonfictional forms. Our reading and writing assignments will focus on formal elements such as detail, metaphor, structure and perspective, while our subject matter will be organized around the themes of past (personal memory and cultural history), present (what in the present moment is worthy of examination in creative form?) and future (writing that speculates on possible tomorrows). You will write short pieces weekly, then compose, workshop and revise one longer piece by the semester's end.