The Memoir Seminar: Action and Conflict

Setting is often an overlooked component of a story or poem. Sometimes it's considered less important than characters or action. But the place and time during which a story or poem occurs provide an essential element of a literary work. Take this poem: "In a Station of the Metro" by Ezra Pound, "The apparition of these faces in the crowd;/Petals on a wet, black bough." Its meaning depends heavily on the setting. The same could be said for many works of fiction and nonfiction from the novel, "The Shining" by Stephen King, to the memoir, "Growing Up" by Russell Baker. In the Memoir Seminar for Spring, 2025, we will look at ways to highlight the details of a setting to drive both the characters and the action. We will then use what we've learned to enhance our own writing.