The Memoir Builder (10 weeks): Payment #3
10 classes, Mondays 2-5:30pm EDT / 11am-2:30pm PDT
March 18 - June 3 (No Class on April 15 and May 27)
Note: Classes will be recorded for those who have to miss sessions.
Taking place over 10 weeks, this course – taught like a condensed MFA program – will give you the craft tools, personalized feedback, and one-on-one coaching you need to finish your memoir. Each class will begin with an in-depth exploration of one major craft topic (see the tentative schedule below), including discussion of published memoirs that utilize these techniques. You will then apply these strategies to your own manuscript through craft-focused writing exercises, refining your pages across three major craft areas: 1) structure and theme, 2) character and setting, and 3) narration and voice.
The last part of each class will be dedicated to workshopping pages from your manuscript. Every writer will have the chance to submit two 10-page samples of their manuscript (possibly more, depending on the class size) for the class’s feedback. This will include both oral feedback in an in-class workshop, along with written feedback from the instructor (and possibly your classmates, depending on what the group decides).
The course includes two one-on-one consulting sessions with the instructor (1 hour each) to discuss craft challenges, feedback on your pages, and plans for revising and pitching your manuscript. This may also include discussing ideas for standalone essays, writing the query letter, researching agents, and building your platform in support of your memoir. Additionally, the instructor will provide weekly “accountability checks” by email to help keep you on track with your writing goals, along with a personalized “Memoir Builder Roadmap” with suggested next steps for revising your manuscript.
You will come out of this course with detailed feedback on your manuscript, an in-depth understanding of craft, and a roadmap for finishing your memoir.
10 classes, Mondays 2-5:30pm EDT / 11am-2:30pm PDT
March 18 - June 3 (No Class on April 15 and May 27)
Note: Classes will be recorded for those who have to miss sessions.
Taking place over 10 weeks, this course – taught like a condensed MFA program – will give you the craft tools, personalized feedback, and one-on-one coaching you need to finish your memoir. Each class will begin with an in-depth exploration of one major craft topic (see the tentative schedule below), including discussion of published memoirs that utilize these techniques. You will then apply these strategies to your own manuscript through craft-focused writing exercises, refining your pages across three major craft areas: 1) structure and theme, 2) character and setting, and 3) narration and voice.
The last part of each class will be dedicated to workshopping pages from your manuscript. Every writer will have the chance to submit two 10-page samples of their manuscript (possibly more, depending on the class size) for the class’s feedback. This will include both oral feedback in an in-class workshop, along with written feedback from the instructor (and possibly your classmates, depending on what the group decides).
The course includes two one-on-one consulting sessions with the instructor (1 hour each) to discuss craft challenges, feedback on your pages, and plans for revising and pitching your manuscript. This may also include discussing ideas for standalone essays, writing the query letter, researching agents, and building your platform in support of your memoir. Additionally, the instructor will provide weekly “accountability checks” by email to help keep you on track with your writing goals, along with a personalized “Memoir Builder Roadmap” with suggested next steps for revising your manuscript.
You will come out of this course with detailed feedback on your manuscript, an in-depth understanding of craft, and a roadmap for finishing your memoir.
10 classes, Mondays 2-5:30pm EDT / 11am-2:30pm PDT
March 18 - June 3 (No Class on April 15 and May 27)
Note: Classes will be recorded for those who have to miss sessions.
Taking place over 10 weeks, this course – taught like a condensed MFA program – will give you the craft tools, personalized feedback, and one-on-one coaching you need to finish your memoir. Each class will begin with an in-depth exploration of one major craft topic (see the tentative schedule below), including discussion of published memoirs that utilize these techniques. You will then apply these strategies to your own manuscript through craft-focused writing exercises, refining your pages across three major craft areas: 1) structure and theme, 2) character and setting, and 3) narration and voice.
The last part of each class will be dedicated to workshopping pages from your manuscript. Every writer will have the chance to submit two 10-page samples of their manuscript (possibly more, depending on the class size) for the class’s feedback. This will include both oral feedback in an in-class workshop, along with written feedback from the instructor (and possibly your classmates, depending on what the group decides).
The course includes two one-on-one consulting sessions with the instructor (1 hour each) to discuss craft challenges, feedback on your pages, and plans for revising and pitching your manuscript. This may also include discussing ideas for standalone essays, writing the query letter, researching agents, and building your platform in support of your memoir. Additionally, the instructor will provide weekly “accountability checks” by email to help keep you on track with your writing goals, along with a personalized “Memoir Builder Roadmap” with suggested next steps for revising your manuscript.
You will come out of this course with detailed feedback on your manuscript, an in-depth understanding of craft, and a roadmap for finishing your memoir.
The first 25 pages can make or break a manuscript. I’ll evaluate your first 25 (double-spaced, standard format) pages to assess how well they “hook” the reader and showcase your writing chops through craft techniques (structure, character, voice, narration, etc.). This includes margin comments, as well as a one-page editorial letter summarizing my feedback and laying out a revision plan. Please note that this offering does not include line editing.
Scheduled in hour-long slots, these Zoom sessions are designed to discuss whatever needs or questions you have in your writing life. Maybe you’re encountering a challenge related to an essay and want to discuss ways to address it. Perhaps you need help brainstorming what lit mags to submit your piece to. Whatever your writing life needs may be, I’m here to help!