Workshop C: Teaching Creative Nonfiction: Concepts, Art, and Craft

Doug Hesse, University of Denver
Session Description: How do various genres of creative nonfiction—essay, memoir, literary journalism, and so on—fit in the writing curriculum? And, wherever, we place them, what teaching practices are effective, even enjoyable? My presentation will address both questions. After a quick overview of some history and concepts, along with some suggested readings, I’ll sketch a couple of course options, describe a number of assignments, and discuss teaching some teaching approaches I’ve found useful.


Quick note 9/13/08
Doug shared with us excerpts from the work of his friend, David Foster Wallace.

Here is a link to the full piece, "Consider the Lobster," from Gourmet Magazine: http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2004/08/consider_the_lobster

Quick note 9/16/08
We learned of David Foster Wallace's suicide this past weekend. A headline in Slate said it best: "Infinitely Sad" I just wanted to add to this space this link to a commencement address that DFW gave at Kenyon College a few years back: http://www.marginalia.org/dfw_kenyon_commencement.html. It says so much about the courage of his intellect and the source of his insights. And it strikes me too as another excellent example of the kind of writing creative nonfiction can lead one to.