Autofiction is a unique genre (or non-genre) that combines the autobiographical with the fictional. In this course, we will take a close look at the craft of autofiction. We will read novel excerpts, short stories and novellas. We will also look at craft essays on the form. The goal over the twelve weeks is to work on a draft of a novella (if not a full draft, then you will get a solid head start), which can be anywhere from 20K-40K words.
This course will be generative. You will be expected to write and submit a substantial amount of prose per week (1500-2500 words). We will read about 25 pages of excerpts and craft essays each week and discuss them as a group. And there will be an ongoing discussion around goal setting and accountability with your fellow writers. This class is geared towards all levels of writers. Students will be expected to keep up with the weekly assignments (both reading and writing) and have a solid commitment to the process.
Examples of (autofiction) writers that we will look at: Edouard Louis, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Ayah Akhtar, Ben Lerner, Zinzi Clemmons, Garth Greenwell, Sheila Heti, Tao Lin, Ocean Vuong, Brandon Taylor and others.
Access Program
We want our classes to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers class registrations at a reduced rate. The access program for writing classes covers 60% of the class tuition. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available.
Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if you have questions.
Frances Badalamenti
Frances is the author of the novels, I Don’t Blame You, published in 2019 and Salad Days, published in 2021. Some of her shorter work can be found at The Believer Magazine, BOMB Magazine, Longreads, Vol.1 Brooklyn and elsewhere. She also teaches writing workshops and works individually as a counselor for writers. She lives in Portland with her husband and son.
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