Memoir Writing Workshop

Learn a concrete, step-by-step process for planning, drafting, and sharing your true stories under the guidance of a published memoir writer.

We all have stories to tell. Our lives are rich with characters, settings, plots, and emotions. Through readings, craft lectures, group discussions, writing prompts, and interactive sessions, this three-day workshop will demystify the process of turning memories into memoirs. All writing levels are welcome.

You’ll read and explore works of memoir by Brian Doyle, James Baldwin, E.B. White, Joan Didion, Maxine Hong Kingston, Harrison Candelaria Fletcher, and Maggie Smith. Using craft methods demonstrated by these authors, you’ll apply techniques of narrative voice, scene-building, descriptive language, and structure to create your own short pieces. You’ll also examine book-length plot lines and draft sample outlines of your full story.

The goal of this workshop is to provide you with the practical knowledge and creative inspiration to turn your true story into a memoir. It will foster a supportive learning and artistic environment based on the simple idea that we all have stories to share. Come with your ideas and leave well on your way with your memoir.