Writing Memoir: Advanced Workshop

October—November 2019

Overview: We do not stop time’s passage in a memoir: we understand it. A memoir resonates with the deeper story of our lives, the one known only to the individual. This interactive workshop is designed for writers who have already embarked on writing memoir and who wish to shape and craft their narrative further. This workshop is geared toward writers who have taken courses in writing creative nonfiction, memoir or the personal essay and who wish to explore memoir writing further, both on the page and around the seminar table. Sample writing prompts include: Who speaks—the filter of self, Route/root—the narrative, and Risk—trust in the difficult. This workshop meets over eight weeks and builds on the participants’ writing from week to week. Writers may wish to work on existing personal narratives to shape them into a more coherent whole. You will receive detailed feedback on your writing from Diane and your peers, with a chance to develop your writing skills. Examples of published memoirs will also be considered with an attention to craft. Lively discussion and participation are at the heart of the course.