Join us for a five-week class series designed to provide tools and organizational tips on how to get started writing a personal story or memoir. Writing techniques discussed in class will help participants plan and organize their personal stories. Classes are interactive as ideas are shared, personal manuscripts are read, and feedback is provided. Class meets for five weeks and each session lasts 90 minutes.

Class fee: $50 for the series per person

Objectives

1st week. Overview of what a memoir is and what it isn’t. Planning and organizational tips to think about before writing a manuscript. Handouts and references provided in all classes.

2nd week. Discuss the purpose and theme of individual memoir outlines, focusing on specific memories that will move a story forward and help define a narrative for the storyline. Examples and references will be shared.

3rd week. The importance of writing a compelling beginning and ending will be emphasized as the writing begins. In each class, there will be group discussions about story ideas and reading of individual writing projects.

4th week. Tips for expressing feelings will be discussed. Writers will read parts of their manuscript. Kind feedback through group participation will be provided.

5th week. Review. Writers share stories. This last class will also focus on “where to go from here” and briefly review publishing options.