VIRTUAL

Publish Essays from Your Memoir: 2-Day Intensive

Are you looking to get your name out there and build platform for your memoir? Are you interested in turning chapters and scenes into standalone pieces, but don’t know where to start? Do you need guidance on how to revise and submit essays adapted from your memoir? This intensive is for you! Taking place over the course of a single weekend, this virtual intensive gives you the structure, inspiration, and craft tools you need to write and publish essays adapted from your memoir. Through a combination of in-class writing prompts and craft lessons, you will leave with a roadmap for writing, revising, and submitting essays inspired by your memoir.

THE DETAILS

2 live classes via Zoom, December 7-8, 11am - 2:30pm EST
All sessions will be recorded (so you can sign up even if you can’t join live!)

In this intensive, you will:

LEARN

how to build platform for your memoir through standalone essays.

GENERATE

essay ideas and new drafts based on your memoir.

EXPLORE

 the challenges of turning chapters and scenes into standalone essays & how to overcome them.

a roadmap for generating, revising, and submitting essays adapted from your memoir.

CREATE

BUILD

a virtual community of writers to help hold you accountable.

  • • Why to write standalone essays from your memoir (30 mins)
    • Choosing topics, chapters, scenes to turn into essays (1 hour)
    • Break & Writing Exercise on generating essay ideas (30 mins)

    • Challenges & pitfalls of generating essays from your memoir (1 hour)

    • Writing Exercise & Final thoughts / Q&A (30 mins)

  • • Choosing an angle, audience, and outlet for your essays; the pros & cons of different publication paths (1.5 hours)
    • Crafting pitches & cover letters for essays adapted from your memoir (30 mins)
    • Break & Publishing Exercise (30 mins)
    • Choosing a submission list to get agents’ / editors’ attention (30 mins)
    • Publishing Exercise & Final thoughts / Q&A (30 mins)

Meet the instructor:

Katie Bannon is a writer, editor, and educator whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Rumpus, ELLE, Newsweek, and more. A graduate of GrubStreet’s Memoir and Essay Incubators, she holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Emerson College. Her memoir manuscript was a finalist for the Permafrost Nonfiction Book Prize. She currently teaches writing at GrubStreet and lives in Central Massachusetts with her husband and two cats.

TESTIMONIALS

  • “Katie is the best writing instructor I have ever had. Her presentation was impeccable. She provided an abundance of ideas, details, examples, and information. In fact, the class was overflowing with information. I have nothing but praise for Katie and the class content.”

  • “Holy moly, this was a superb class. Instructor was well-prepared with lots of valuable and well-organized information and ideas. I have already begun applying some of the tools from class to revise—and what a difference it's making!”

  • “Katie was an amazing instructor- she explained core concepts with clarity and ease, provided excellent examples and writing samples, and created a very supportive learning environment. The class truly exceeded my expectations!”

Cost Details

Which includes:
• 7 hours of instruction.
• Writing & publishing-focused prompts specifically curated to help you hone your craft and publish essays based on your memoir. Please note that there will be no formal workshopping in the class.
• A workbook filled with craft takeaways, resources, and a curated list of places to submit essays adapted from your memoir.
• Unlimited access to the instructor via email.
• Recordings of all sessions in case you can’t join live or want to rewatch.

$225 for the intensive

  Optional add-ons:

Which includes:
• 1-hour Zoom coaching session (+$150) with the instructor to discuss essay ideas, craft challenges, and develop a personalized plan for your writing moving forward.

This intensive is for…

  • Writers who are in the process of drafting one or more essays based on their memoir, but hitting roadblocks

  • Writers who are interested in writing and publishing personal essays adapted from their memoir, but don’t know where to start

  • Memoirists looking to build their platform to help sell their book project

This intensive is not for…

  • Writers who are working on a fiction project

FAQs

  • Not to worry! All sessions will be recorded, so you can participate at a time that’s convenient for you. Those recordings will be available for you to watch for 90 days after the intensive ends.

  • No! Some writers will come in with essays drafted, while others may have only general ideas for personal essays based on their memoir.

  • All you need to participate is a computer and internet. I’ll be sending a Zoom link ahead of our first class. We’ll be discussing the basics of Zoom and how to use it at the beginning of class.

  • Please feel free to let me know about any accessibility needs you have (you’ll be prompted to answer this question as part of the checkout process). I am committed to making this an excellent and accessible experience for all!

  • • 7 hours of instruction.
    • Writing & publishing-focused prompts specifically curated to help you hone your craft and publish essays based on your memoir.
    • A workbook filled with craft takeaways, resources, and a curated list of places to submit essays adapted from your memoir.
    • Unlimited access to the instructor via email.
    • Recordings of all sessions in case you can’t join live or want to rewatch.

  • • Editing and/or meetings with the instructor outside of the bootcamp sessions.
    • If you’re interested in adding on a one-on-one coaching session, click here.

  • No portion of your class fee is refundable within 10 days of the class start date. Refunds will be sent within 30 days of receipt of notice of cancellation.

    If the class needs to be cancelled for any reason (for instance due to low-enrollment, with fewer than 8 participants), you are entitled to a full refund.

    Publish Essays from Your Memoir reserves the right to cancel the intensive in the event of civil unrest, natural disaster or Act of God. In the event of cancellation of the intensive in its entirety, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid. You agree to release Publish Essays from Your Memoir and its agents and/or representatives from any liability, including consequential expenses you may have incurred in planning to attend.

Space is limited, so be sure to snag a spot while you still can.

Ready to build platform for your memoir?