SEMINAR - Letting Our Memories Speak: A Creative Writing Workshop

- Course Closed

Perhaps you’ve finally retired and now have time to review your life. Here is where memoir comes in. Memoir writing takes readers into our lived moments and documents them for family and friends. By exploring your pasts in writing, you’ll uncover lingering emotions and turn them into narratives. During our sessions, we’ll discuss the various elements that make for compelling accounts of earlier experiences, and I’ll give you writing prompts that will lead you into these moments from earlier in your life.

We'll also read and discuss the work of veteran memoir writers for insights into the crafting of personal narrative. The stories you then write will draw upon lessons learned from literature, as well as from weekly instructor and class feedback. At the end of this class, you should be able to trigger your own significant moments and shape them into stories to either publish or share with your friends and family. 

You needn’t be a “creative writer” to take this class. As long as you can write a coherent sentence, you should have the necessary skills to complete the workshop’s assignments. 

Please note that we’ll be using Zoom’s breakout room feature for groups of 3-4 students who will read and comment on each other’s drafts during part of our class time. You will need enough technical skills to interact on zoom as well as to send and receive emails. You’ll also need to type your submissions and submit them to me as an email attachment before each class meeting when they’re due. 

ENROLLMENT NOTE: This class is limited to 25 students. Should more than 25 apply, a lottery will select participants on Wednesday, January 27, and those who are not selected will be refunded. First meeting (February 3) is required, as is regular attendance. Do not apply unless you can make this commitment.