On Writing Memoir: Craft The Essential Moments

Oct 16 – 20, 2023, Maine Media Workshops + College 

Writers will spend a week in beautiful Rockport, Maine learning how to excavate and show pivotal moments in your memoir; diving deep into the personal themes and memories of your life story.

Levels: All
Retreat Fee: $1350
Class Size: 10

Do you want to go on a writing retreat and grow your writing life?

Do you wish to dive deep into personal themes, and memories to write memoir?

Do you want to learn how to excavate and show pivotal moments of your life story?

Description

In the season of Maine’s magical autumn be inspired, and educated to infuse courage, intimacy and joy into your writing. This week is designed for all stages of writers to enjoy in-class writing, constructive feedback and one-on-one consultations.

Jennifer Schelter intends to demystify memoir writer’s essential tools and practices to help reveal the vulnerability and beauty of your story with ease.

 

Painting of a bay by Fairfield PorterEach morning we will start with mindful meditation and writing practice to establish the daily ritual of bearing witness to our inner and outer life.

We will share the theme of the day – a topic of craft. For example: Character. How do you show yourself as a character on the page?

You will be given a reading and writing prompt to practice implementing the craft and see your work reflect unforgettable idiosyncrasies of you and your story.

Ample time will be given to voluntarily read your writing out loud. You can receive constructive feedback on work either generated in the class, or from a memoir-in-progress. You need not have started writing a memoir to be in this course.

By the end of the workshop, you will uncover key details for crafting your story, have several new pieces, writing tools, and affirming practices to bring home.

We will explore topics such as:

  • Where to begin and end a story?
  • How to identify the acute hope or wish of the protagonist.
  • How to identify and show pivotal moments on the page.

Our goal: To thrive as writers with sage practices and tools, craft art from life, while surrounded by a safe, kind, gracious community.

To register & read more about the Maine Media Workshops + College

Painting of a bay by Fairfield Porter

All images by Fairfield Porter.