2024 WRITER IN RESIDENCE: How to Start a Compelling Memoir (And Not Lose Your Mind)
SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 | 10AM - 3PM MST
ONLINE WORKSHOP
AWCS Members: $75
Non-Members: $100
How to Start a Compelling Memoir (And Not Lose Your Mind)
“How is it possible to bring order out of memory? I should like to begin at the beginning, patiently, like a weaver at his loom. I should like to say, ‘This is the place to start; there can be no other.’”
—Beryl Markham
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”
—Anne Lamott
“I believe that the memoir is the novel of the 21st century; it’s an amazing form that we haven’t even begun to tap…we’re just getting started figuring out what the rules are.”
—Susan Cheever
Memoir is sometimes known as the ugly step-sister of fiction. It is a genre that confuses literary critics and has its practitioners swearing that they will never write another memoir as long as they live. Why is this genre so daunting to writers and so popular with readers?
This is a workshop for anyone who is thinking of starting a memoir project but doesn’t know exactly where or how to begin. The first half of the session will be a presentation, and it will include a brief historical overview of the genre. We will explore the ethics of memoir writing, the challenges and limitations of the form, including self-care while drafting and the responsibility of telling our versions of the truth. We will also discuss various examples of excellent memoir openings, and students will learn to write a compelling opening for their own memoir.
You will have the opportunity to work through writing exercises, discuss/share your work in smaller breakout Zoom groups, and ask questions at the end of the workshop.
