THIS WORKSHOP IS FILLED.
Writing a memoir means writing from love —exploring treasured memories, putting people in the story who’ve meant a lot to the writer, and examining moments of meaning that capture the significant themes of our lives. It also means finding ways to present personal truths in story form— and wrestling with what these truths are. And then there’s “craft” which guides us down the river of our memories. When we are in this craft, we have a structure, a focus, and a direction which keeps us afloat. In this workshop, we will learn about these three important elements in writing memoir.
Writing a memoir means writing from love —exploring treasured memories, putting people in the story who’ve meant a lot to the writer, and examining moments of meaning that capture the significant themes of our lives. It also means finding ways to present personal truths in story form— and wrestling with what these truths are. And then there’s “craft” which guides us down the river of our memories. When we are in this craft, we have a structure, a focus, and a direction which keeps us afloat. In this workshop, we will learn about these three important elements in writing memoir.
Writing a Memoir: Love, Truth and Craft
Saturday, October 19, 2013
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fairfield Inn 5 N. Pottstown Pike
Exton, PA
Exton, PA
1.
Learn about finding your turning points as an element
of structure.
2.
The timeline exercise: a way to find your narrative
arc.
3.
Character development: how to make your reader love
your family.
4.
Weaving dark and light stories—how to create
balance in your story—and in yourself as you write.
5.
Elements of writing the truth in memoir.
6.
Writing as healing.
7.
Quilting your memoir.
8.
Privacy and sacred space.
9.
Publishing dreams—and how to connect with your
audience.
Writing time will be provided along with reading our work in small
groups and the larger group.
This workshop is co-created by Linda Joy Myers and Susan G. Weidener
Linda Joy Myers is, president and founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers, and the author of four books: Don't Call Me Mother—A Daughter's Journey from Abandonment to Forgiveness, The Power of Memoir—How to Write Your Healing Story, and a workbook The Journey of Memoir: The Three Stages of Memoir Writing. A speaker and award winning author, she co-teaches the program Write Your Memoir in Six Months, and offers editing, coaching, and mentoring for memoir, nonfiction, and fiction. www.namw.org. She has an MFA from Mills College and received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Integrative Learning and her M.S. from San Francisco State University. Linda is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She has presented workshops on memoir-as-healing at the National Association for Poetry Therapy Conference 2004; her workshops at the Story Circle Conference in Austin, Texas in 2003, and 2004 were: "Spiritual Autobiography" and "Memoir as Healing."
Linda Joy Myers is, president and founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers, and the author of four books: Don't Call Me Mother—A Daughter's Journey from Abandonment to Forgiveness, The Power of Memoir—How to Write Your Healing Story, and a workbook The Journey of Memoir: The Three Stages of Memoir Writing. A speaker and award winning author, she co-teaches the program Write Your Memoir in Six Months, and offers editing, coaching, and mentoring for memoir, nonfiction, and fiction. www.namw.org. She has an MFA from Mills College and received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Integrative Learning and her M.S. from San Francisco State University. Linda is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She has presented workshops on memoir-as-healing at the National Association for Poetry Therapy Conference 2004; her workshops at the Story Circle Conference in Austin, Texas in 2003, and 2004 were: "Spiritual Autobiography" and "Memoir as Healing."
Susan G. Weidener is a former journalist with The Philadelphia Inquirer and the author of two critically-acclaimed
memoirs, Again in a Heartbeat, a memoir
of love, loss and dating again and Morning
at Wellington Square. Susan has a BA in Literature from American University and a master's in education from the University of Pennsylvania. A writing coach and book editor, she started the Women’s Writing Circle, a support and
critique group for writers in suburban Philadelphia. www.susanweidener.com
Who Should Take This Workshop: Suitable for writers of all levels and
experience. Open to men and women. Women’s Writing Circle workshops are designed
to be intimate and there are a limited number of slots.
What To Bring: Writing tools: pens, paper, and/or
laptop.
Where: Fairfield Inn 5 N. Pottstown Pike Exton, PA
19341. The Fairfield Inn, located in the
heart of the beautiful Brandywine Valley in Chester County, Pennsylvania, provides easy access to the
Downingtown exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and has ample free parking.
Cost: Early bird special $110 if paid
by Sept. 1, 2013. After that, cost is
$135. Includes light refreshments,
coffee, tea and lunch. Checks should
be made payable to: Women’s Writing Circle and sent to 75 Jennifer Drive,
Chester Springs, PA 19425 Include email address with check.
NO refunds after Sept. 1.
For more information about Women's Writing Circle Workshops: http://www.susanweidener.com/p/susans-workshops-and-retreats.html
NO refunds after Sept. 1.
For more information about Women's Writing Circle Workshops: http://www.susanweidener.com/p/susans-workshops-and-retreats.html
