4-Week: The Art of Memory in Prose

As a source of inspiration as well as verisimilitude, memory’s deployment in prose writing typically offers a kind of grounding for the writer and reader. But as Alexander Chee says, “Memory is the thing you forget with.” In this class, we’ll examine how different writers have unexpectedly turned memory into a galvanizing force in their work. This goes far beyond using memory as a simple basis for a setting or character. Memory is a powerful force at the heart of storytelling—one that can be warped and interrogated toward tension-building, voice creation, and ratifying veracity. Through various readings and writing prompts, we’ll discuss different approaches to wielding memory as one of the greatest tools in the writer’s toolbox. Prose writers of all skill levels, come ready to take what you remember (and what you don’t remember) and turn it into prose gold.