Many of us have had fascinating lives, whether lived inwardly or outwardly, during childhood long ago or in the last decade. But when it comes to writing a memoir, where do we begin? The day of our birth? The day we left home? The beginning or end of a marriage? Memoir is most successful when it is not the "story" of a life, but a focused part of that life -- a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather's farm; a long relationship with a dying relative; the first year of law school.

In "Writing the Memoir" we explore methods for planning and focusing on what your memoir should be. We discuss the differences between autobiography and memoir as well as between factual and emotional truth. Writers develop memoir material in class through exercises by naming, detailing and exploring important relationships, phases, passions, emotional and spiritual challenges in their lives. Writers share their work through read-and-critique sessions. We also review the elements of narration, description and characterization as they apply to memoir. The goal of the course is for each participant to work toward creating the first 20-30 pages of a book-length memoir.

Please note: this course is intended for those who've had some experience in writing personal narrative.

October 10 - 16, 2010     Ghost Ranch Abiquiu

Registration fee: $350 + housing & meals
Before August 15: Save $100

Thomas Larson, San Diego, CA Thomas is a contributing writer for the weekly San Diego Reader and facilitator of private memoir-writing groups. He is the author of The Memoir and the Memoirist: Reading and Writing Personal Narrative (Swallow Press, 2007). His work has appeared in the Anchor Essay Annual: The Best of 1997 as well as the Chicago Reader, Boulevard, Southwest Review, Antioch Review, Gettysburg Review, Free Inquiry and many other publications.

Online Registration Form - payment required.

 Abiquiu 2010 Registration Form 128.55 Kb - fill in and submit by regular mail.