Writing Together

Memoirs help us find meaning in our lives by showing us how our lives fit into a larger mythic pattern. Although not every memoir reflects a mythic theme, most memoir writers unconsciously reveal mythic themes in their desire to find meaning in their lives. Memoirs address the domains of myth: Who am I? Who are my people? What is my journey? What is my purpose? We will explore contemporary memoirs by Joan Didion, Dani Shapiro, Natasha Trethewey and James McBride from a mythological perspective and respond to short writing prompts to expand your perspective about your own memoir.