Spiritual Autobiography: A Unique Form of Creative Nonfiction

1 credits · Undergraduate

While William James says mystical experience 'defies expression,' creative writers believe good writing is rich with clear examples and description. How then is it possible to write a good spiritual autobiography? This question will form the focus of our exploration. Students will read spiritual narratives from a wide range of traditions, respond to them in writing, and construct their own spiritual autobiographies. There will be weekly writing assignments as well as a final spiritual observation essay and a spiritual autobiography. In class, our time will be devoted to workshopping, discussion of writing craft, and close reading of published spiritual narratives.