Sometimes what holds us back as writers is what we think we already know—about ourselves, about our stories, about our craft. On the blank page, certainty is a dead-end road. But how do we move beyond it? How do we enter that vulnerable space of unknowing from which compelling and necessary work emerges? In this course, we will explore that question through an examination of the essential elements of creative nonfiction: story, scene, summary, voice, conflict, language, and structure, with an emphasis on the elusive nature of memory and how our understanding of it informs our approach to writing. Through mini-lectures, in-class prompts, and discussion/sharing among class participants, we will work together to re-enliven a sense of wonder for what’s possible—for ourselves as well as for the form.

Steve Edwards is author of the memoir BREAKING INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY, the story of his seven months as caretaker of a 95-acre backcountry homestead along federally protected Wild and Scenic Rogue River in Oregon. His work has appeared in Orion Magazine, The Sun Magazine, Literary Hub, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. He lives outside Boston with his wife and son.