Memoir writing
MEMOIR WRITING
Dianne Stewart, author, journalist and creative writing facilitator
Tara Westover, author of Educated, said: ‘I think that where memoir goes wrong, it goes wrong from too much memory, too much detail. It’s about clearing all that away and just getting to the story’.
Through this course, a combination of theory and practical writing, participants will explore different ways of sifting through life experiences to choose an angle from which to write their story.
WORKSHOP TITLES
- Definition of terms. Exploring different types of memoir writing.
- Identifying one’s story
- Structuring one’s story
- The importance of writing one’s story
- Marketing opportunities for memoir writing
Participants will receive course material related to each session of the course by email. They should work through this material, which will include writing exercises, before the session. During the Zoom meeting, there will be opportunities for feedback, discussion and questions and answers. There will be a refreshment break in each session.
This course will be delivered via Zoom meetings. Participants will be sent a link.
Recommended reading
De Waal, E. 2011. The Hare with the Amber Eyes: a biography. London: Vintage.
Fuller, A. 2019. Travel Light, Move Fast. New York: Penguin Random House.
Macdonald, H. 2015. H is for Hawk. New York: Vintage.
Msimang, S. 2017. Always Another Country. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers.