Learn from a Master of Autofiction
Join acclaimed author HANNAH PITTARD in DeepDive’s new course,
How to Write Autobiographical Fiction
ENROLL NOW
Learn how to transform your own life into powerful storytelling with acclaimed author Hannah Pittard. In this intensive DeepDive course, Pittard shares her insights into the craft of autobiographical fiction, showing you how to balance memory and imagination, navigate vulnerability, and shape personal experience into art.
What You’ll Learn:
-
⛏️ How to mine your life for stories without losing narrative control.
-
🎭 Techniques for blending truth and invention in service of the work.
-
💗 Strategies for handling vulnerability, risk, and emotional honesty.
-
✍🏼 Choosing the right voice, structure, and point of view for your story.
-
👉🏼 Practical tools and exercises to push past fear and finish your project.
Expert Insight from a Publisher
Michael Wheaton is the founder and publisher of Autofocus Books, an independent press dedicated to autobiographical writing. Through Autofocus, he has built a home for some of today’s most exciting voices in autofiction, memoir, and hybrid literature.
In this course, Michael shares the publisher’s perspective: what editors look for in submissions, how the market views autobiographical fiction, and what makes a manuscript stand out. His guidance offers an invaluable complement to Hannah Pittard’s instruction, giving you not just the writer’s toolkit, but also insider knowledge of how to bring your work into the world.
Why Turning Truth
Into Fiction is So Hard
- You’re not sure how much of your life to put on the page—and how much to leave out
- You worry about hurting people you know or exposing too much of yourself
- Your stories feel too raw, messy, or personal to shape into real fiction
- You get stuck between fact and imagination, unsure how to blend the two
-
Fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism keep you from finishing
You don't have to do this alone.
See your story come alive…
-
Stop second-guessing yourself and write with clarity and purpose
-
Discover a narrative voice that feels authentic and compelling
-
Know how to protect your privacy and still write boldly
-
Finish with a manuscript you’re proud to submit or publish
Turn your life into the fiction only you can write. Your story is waiting—now is the time to tell it.
Ready to turn your life into story?
At DeepDive, we believe the fastest and most effective way to learn is by studying with writers who’ve already mastered the craft. In How to Write Autobiographical Fiction, acclaimed author Hannah Pittard will show you how to:
-
Transform lived experience into compelling fiction
-
Balance honesty and imagination without losing control of your story
-
Write with vulnerability while protecting what matters most
This course offers a clear, practical roadmap to writing autobiographical fiction. Learn the mindset, discipline, and craft techniques that professional authors use to transform memory into art.
Whether you’re beginning your first story, reshaping a stalled manuscript, or searching for the courage to put your life on the page, How to Write Autobiographical Fiction will meet you where you are—and guide you to where you want to go.
This course is perfect for writers who are serious about telling their personal truths in fiction and want expert guidance, structure, and inspiration from one of today’s masters of autofiction.
ENROLL NOW
Get the DeepDive app.
Learn anywhere, at your own speed, on your own time. Access immersive audio courses, bonus content, and community features on your iPhone or Android—so you can learn on your schedule, wherever you are.
Meet Your Instructor
HANNAH PITTARD is the author of the novels If You Love It Let It Kill You, Listen to Me, and The Fates Will Find Their Way. She is a winner of the Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award, a MacDowell fellow, and the Guy M. Davenport Professor in English at the University of Kentucky.
What's Included in
How to Write Autobiographical Fiction...
MODULE 1
Definitions, Misconceptions, and Possibilities
Before you can write autobiographical fiction, it’s important to understand what it is—and what it isn’t. In this opening module, Hannah Pittard unpacks the meaning of autofiction, clears up common misunderstandings, and shows you the wide range of possibilities the form can take.
-
Define autobiographical fiction and how it differs from memoir.
-
Debunk myths about truth, accuracy, and self-indulgence.
-
Explore the creative freedom available when life meets imagination.
MODULE 2
Read, Read, Read
The best way to learn how to write autobiographical fiction is to immerse yourself in it. In this module, Hannah Pittard emphasizes the importance of wide, intentional reading—and how careful study of autofiction can sharpen your instincts, deepen your understanding of the form, and spark new ideas for your own work.
-
Build a reading list of essential autobiographical fiction.
-
Learn how to read like a writer—analyzing choices, not just outcomes.
-
Discover how other authors transform memory and experience into art.
MODULE 3
Recognition, Ethics, and the Narrator
Autobiographical fiction lives at the intersection of memory, imagination, and responsibility. In this module, Hannah Pittard explores the essential craft questions writers face when drawing from real life: how to know when an experience belongs on the page, how to shape it into a story, and how to portray yourself as a compelling narrator.
-
Recognize when a personal experience has the resonance to become fiction.
-
Use prompts and exercises to mine your life for surprising material.
-
Navigate the ethics of borrowing from real people while staying true to emotional truth.
MODULE 4
Voice, Persona, and Structure
The “I” in autobiographical fiction is both familiar and invented—a character and a voice that must feel intimate, honest, and compelling. In this module, Hannah Pittard explores how to craft a narrator with presence and depth, while shaping a structure that carries the story forward.
-
Develop a voice that feels conversational, human, and alive on the page.
-
Balance scene, reflection, and dialogue to keep readers engaged.
-
Use structure to echo your themes and heighten your narrative’s impact.
MODULE 5
Distance, Characterization, and Perspective
Autobiographical fiction requires both intimacy and distance—finding the right balance between what really happened and what serves the story. In this module, you'll learn strategies for stepping back from lived experience, evaluating whether a personal story belongs on the page, and portraying both yourself and others with honesty and artistry.
-
Use distance—third person, invention, and perspective shifts—to transform memory into art.
-
Apply practical criteria to decide if your material has the weight to carry a story.
-
Render yourself and others ethically, using techniques like composite characters and fictional masks.
MODULE 6
Identity, Obsession, and Reinvention
Autofiction isn’t just a form—it’s a way of exploring identity on the page. In this module, Hannah Pittard examines how writers return again and again to their deepest themes—family, faith, sex, power—and how autobiographical fiction allows you to reinvent yourself with each new draft.
-
Use autofiction to revisit and transform your recurring obsessions.
-
Harness the genre’s subversive potential to break taboos and confront shame.
-
Capture the many selves we contain—private, public, and evolving across time.
MODULE 7
Research and Self-Documentation
Autobiographical fiction is built from the raw materials of life—but those fragments must be shaped into art. In this module, Hannah Pittard explores the many ways writers gather and organize source material, from journals and letters to text messages, photos, and voice recordings.
-
Learn how to mine memory, artifacts, and conversations for narrative sparks.
-
Avoid overwhelm by deciding what truly deserves a place on the page.
-
Transform raw documentation into crafted scenes that serve the story.
MODULE 8
Writing Through Trauma
Some of the most powerful autobiographical fiction comes from painful experiences—but writing about trauma requires honesty, distance, and care. In this module, Hannah Pittard discusses how to approach difficult material without being consumed by it, and how to transform raw pain into art that resonates.
-
Create the distance you need to write about trauma without being re-traumatized.
-
Overcome self-doubt by focusing on genuine connection, not comparison.
-
Decide how much to disclose—and how to reshape experience while preserving emotional truth.
MODULE 9
Persona and Voice
At the heart of autobiographical fiction is the narrator—the “I” on the page, the voice that carries the story. In this module, Hannah Pittard explores how to construct a persona that feels authentic, flawed, and deeply compelling, while developing a voice that balances truth with artistry.
-
Build a narrative persona that functions as a mask, a lens, and a character readers can root for.
-
Find and refine your natural voice, balancing vulnerability with control.
-
Maintain consistency in voice across a full-length work while allowing for growth and change.
MODULE 10
Revision and Refinement
Revision is where autobiographical fiction takes its final shape—and it can be one of the hardest parts of the process. In this module, Hannah Pittard shares her strategies for seeing your work with fresh eyes, spotting weaknesses, and transforming raw drafts into seamless, compelling narratives.
-
Learn how to identify weak spots by noticing where you skim or cringe.
-
Balance lived truth with the demands of craft to create art, not revenge.
-
Use trusted outside readers to catch blind spots and strengthen your manuscript.
MODULE 11
From Page to Publication
Finishing your novel is only part of the journey—bringing it into the world is the next step. In this final module, Hannah Pittard discusses the realities of publishing autobiographical fiction, from writing a query letter to navigating agents, publishers, and publicity.
-
Craft a query letter that captures attention without falling into common pitfalls.
-
Understand the challenges and opportunities of selling autobiographical fiction.
-
Prepare for submission, find the right agent, and handle the vulnerability of publication.
FOUNDER & HOST
Brad Listi
Welcome! I'm the founder of DeepDive and the host of How to Write Autobiographical Fiction. I'm also the author of the novels Be Brief and Tell Them Everything and Attention. Deficit. Disorder., an LA Times bestseller.
Since 2011, I've hosted and produced the Otherppl podcast, which features in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Past guests include luminaries like Karl Ove Knausgaard, Lorrie Moore, George Saunders, Min Jin Lee, Elizabeth Strout, Roxane Gay, Jonathan Franzen, Louise Erdrich, Dave Eggers, and many more.
Through these conversations—and through my own years of experience as a working writer, editor, and publisher—I’ve come to understand the writing process intimately: the struggles it involves, the doubts it stirs up, and the mindset and tools it takes to persevere and publish.
Why this course is different...
-
Taught by a Master of Autofiction
Learn directly from acclaimed author Hannah Pittard, one of today’s leading voices in autobiographical fiction. -
Publisher's Perspective
Learn from Michael Wheaton, founder of Autofocus Books about what editors look for, market realities, and how to position your work for publication. -
Focused and Intensive
A focused and impactful course on transforming lived experience into art—without overwhelming you with unnecessary content. -
Practical and Honest
Real strategies, exercises, and candid insights that address the unique challenges of writing from life.
Listen to an Episode
In this special sneak preview from How to Write Autobiographical Fiction, Hannah Pittard breaks down what autofiction really is—and what it isn’t. She clears up common misconceptions, explores the wide range of possibilities within the form, and sets the stage for how you can begin transforming your own life into compelling fiction.
GET STARTED TODAY!
How to Write Autobiographical Fiction
with Hannah Pittard
Bundle & Save: Get Both Courses Together
-
How to Write Autobiographical Fiction: $147 (Special Launch Price - Limited Time)
-
How to Write a Novel: $397
- Both Courses Together: $447 (Save $97)
Upgrade your order and get How to Write Autobiographical Fiction plus How to Write a Novel at a special bundled price.
More than 58 hours of expert training. One unbeatable value.
Enroll in the Bundle & SaveFrequently Asked Questions
What is 'How to Write Autobiographical Fiction?'
Who is the instructor?
How do I listen to the course?
Who is this course for?
What makes 'How to Write Autobiographical Fiction' different from other writing courses?
What makes this course different from reading craft books on writing?
How long will I have access to the course?
Do I need to listen in a specific order?
I loved this course and want more! What other courses do you offer?
What is your refund policy?
I need to contact Customer Support.
Successful writers take action.
Don't lose more time spinning your wheels—struggling with self-doubt, confusion, and unfinished drafts. Months or even years can pass without meaningful progress on your book. Don't miss the chance to learn directly from an author who has faced the same challenges and found her way through. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to build momentum and confidence. Investing in this course today means finally giving your writing the structure, insight, and inspiration it deserves.
GET STARTED NOW