WORKSHOPS

Memoir Writing Book by Thomas Larson

Forthcoming:

"Keep the Memoir Going"

Ghost Ranch, Santa Fe

May 30 - June 5, 2010

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"Keep the Memoir Going"

The Loft, Minneapolis, MN

August 16 - 20, 2010

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"Writing the Memoir"

Ghost Ranch, Abiququ, NM

October 10 - 16, 2010

Memoir Writing Workshops:

Thomas Larson has given two-hour, half-day, all-day, and weeklong workshops at bookstores, writing centers, libraries, writers' guilds, and private clubs for beginning and advanced memoirists throughout the United States

From 2007 to 2010, venues include Warwick’s Bookstore (La Jolla, CA); Ghost Ranch (Santa Fe, NM); St. Louis Writer’s Guild; Lancaster (PA) Literary Guild; Writers’ Center of Indiana (Indianapolis, IN); Mobile Writers Guild (Mobile, AL); Bookpeople (Austin, TX); Houston (TX) Public Library; Palm Springs (CA) Public Library; Book Passage (Corte Madera, CA); Margaret Mitchell House (Atlanta, GA); OLLI Memoir Writers (Auburn, AL); Clemente Program (Port Hadlock, WA); Wordstock (Portland, OR); Kansas City (MO) Public Library; Columbia (MO) Public Library; The Loft (Minneapolis, MN); and Worthington Library (Columbus, OH).

Prior Appearances:

Lancaster Literary Guild

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writing the Memoir: An Extended Workshop Print E-mail
Memoir Writing Workshops

Many of us have lived fascinating lives whether inwardly or outwardly, during childhood long ago or as adults 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 relationship? 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 discuss how to plan, focus, and begin a memoir. What makes for good subjects in memoirs? Examples include a relational memoir, one focused on mother and daughter or father and son; a memoir of passionate interest, a love of reading or mountaineering; a memoir of a phase or era, time spent in Mexico, a divorce, the death of a favorite uncle. We also explore the differences between autobiography and memoir and address the idea of self-disclosure. There is time for multiple writing exercises, readings from published memoirs, discussion of the tension between emotional and factual truth, ideas about truth-telling for memoirists, and one-on-one sharing and critique. The goal will be to draft the material for the first chapter of a memoir.

Longer workshops feature more in-depth exercises in recalling people, places, and events; the use of essay and reflective writing in the memoir; private critique sessions with the instructor; more detailed readings; and advice on publishing.

  • These descriptions can be used for advertising or promotion.
  • Author photo, book cover, posters, and postcards are available upon request.
  • Venues must include desks or tables that accommodate a minimum of 20 participants.

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price: $100 per hour
typically I sell my book (PB: $15)


REFERENCES:

Terry Ley, director, OLLI Memoir Group, Auburn, AL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Heather Goodwillie, assist. editor, San Diego Reader, 619-235-3000, x283 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Judy Reeves, writer and writing instructor, 619-284-1343, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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