Looking at death with writers' eyes : developing protocols for utilising roadside memorials in creative writing classes

At various times since 1998, I have taken groups of tertiary-level creative writing students to a local cemetery as part of a life writing class. Seeking to inspire biographical and autobiographical research and writing, I have found that these excursions also provided students with a fascinating insight into local history and the individuals who populated past eras, as well as a germane frame for discussions on the ethics of life writing and the biographical subject's right to privacy. In addition, these cemetery visits have furnished a useful foundation in developing protocols for students to follow when utilising roadside memorials in a similar manner; however, a consideration of the unique nature of roadside memorials is essential in planning such an excursion.