Washington is full of people with interesting tales to tell: some of whom can tell their own stories, others who need help. Many of the books on the New York Times bestseller non-fiction list are penned by ghostwriters and there is plenty of work to be had for those willing to trade their bylines for a paycheck. Learn how ghostwriters appropriate (and often construct out of whole cloth) a literary voice through the mechanics of the trade: narrative, dialogue, anecdote, diction, cadence, even idiosyncratic grammar and punctuation—those elements of an individual's style that add up to what Shakespeare scholar Donald Foster calls the "literary fingerprint."

For those who want to tell their own stories through memoir, this class will also consider literary identity, how to create an authentic identity, how to be honest about that identity, and whether truth and authenticity ultimately matter in a literary work.

*Please note: Students are asked to bring their personal laptops to class. They will be used for in-class projects and assignments.