Slipping Through Time in Memoir and Personal Writing with Jocelyn Jane Cox (Zoom)

Time is linear but memories usually aren’t and our presentation of events doesn’t have to be. How we move through time in our writing brings shape to our stories and significantly impacts the reader’s experience, whether they are conscious of it or not. This class will deal with forward and backward narrative motion, pacing, structure, and scope of project. Whether you’re thinking about writing a memoir, or you’re in the middle of the creative process, this class will provide ideas, examples, and generative exercises to highlight how to maintain clarity and avoid confusion when time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ in your book-length manuscript, individual essays, or creative nonfiction.

BIO

Jocelyn Jane Cox is the author of the award-winning memoir MOTION DAZZLE (Vine Leaves Press, 2025). Her personal essays, creative nonfiction, and humor have appeared in publications like The New York Times, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, Slate, Boston Globe, Newsweek, The…