Post #55 – Women’s Memoirs, Book Business – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Each Fall I get that old familiar feeling…I should be getting ready to go back to school. School supplies and new books to buy, clothes to pack, old friends to catch up with and trade stories of summer activities. Just being back on campus was always such an electric and stimulating feeling for me. With the beginning of each school year, I had a sense of starting over. Setting goals. It was the opportunity to master new skills.
I’ve been out of school now for more years than I care to admit, but each Fall I still get that urge to set goals and master new skills. I am not going to quickly enroll in any online masters degree programs in English, but I do like to polish up on my writing skills. Maybe you do too. If so, and if you have an urge to finally start writing your memoir or if you’ve had that rough draft collecting dust in your desk drawer for far too long, then make this the year. Commit yourself to writing (and finishing) your memoir.
To help you get started, I’ve made a list of 10 resources ranging from free classes to comprehensive, multi-week workshops that may give you the discipline, encouragement and training you need to get the job done.
Story Circle Network…Lifewriting Classes for Women Taught by Women. Story Circle is so much more than online classes. The organization has newsletters, journals, book reviews, many opportunities for members to be published, a bi-annual conference, an editorial service and online classes. Matilda and I have taught in the past (and probably will again, once we finish writing our book) and Amber Starfire is currently teaching a journaling class. The Fall semester, with 14 classes from which to choose, begins September 20th. Membership is just $45 and entitles members to discounts on classes and editing services. From my own experience, I can assure you that you’ll meet a great group of women and have fun while you learn. Author Susan Wittig Albert founded the nonprofit organization in 1997.
Universal Class…Offers Classes in Many Subjects, including Journaling and Memoir Writing 101. This 11-lesson, self-paced program is “a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will demystify the process of finally putting your story on paper.” Students receive lesson assignments and review exams. Topics include:
- Finding Your Voice
- How to Deal with the Main Character (You)
- Memory Mining and Truth
- How to Overcome Difficulties
The basic class (which you have six months to finish) is just $35; $60 if you want the 1.1 CEUs. At this price, you could use this course to give structure and discipline to your writing routine.
Education-Portal.com…10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses. While I didn’t find any memoir classes offered, there are several courses that almost any writer would find useful. University of Utah teaches “Introduction to Creative Writing,” Western Governors University offers “Rhetorical and Creative Writing,” and to my delight MIT teaches “Introduction to Fiction.” In all there are 27 classes from which to choose. The MIT class was a delight for me personally because it’s taught by Wyn Kelley who is the daughter of my high school (and favorite) English teacher of all time, Bayne Kelley. Wyn and I were classmates as well. I downloaded Wyn’s class. It’s a self-paced, self-study program designed to help writers investigate “the uses and boundaries of fiction in a range of novels and narrative styles.” Among the authors she uses are Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Herman Melville (Wyn is a Melville scholar), Nora Okja Keller, Kate Chopin and Virgina Woolf. I hope you’ll check out this and other Education-Portal programs. The price is right, and if they’re all laid out as carefully as Wyn’s you’ll be the winner.
Gotham Writers’ Workshop…A Comprehensive Set of Memoir Writing Programs from Basics to Advanced Mentoring. Gotham has been around since 1993 and offering online classes since 1997. I’ve taken several of their classes and found them all well structured, filled with good information and taught by experienced writers. In short, I learned a lot from Gotham. Writers can start with the 10-week Level I Memoir Writing workshop ($395+$25 registration fee/discounts for returning students), and there are several start dates you can still make. The 10-week Advanced Memoir Writing workshop focuses more on sharpening skills, moving the memoir forward and providing feedback. Finally, the 10-week Master Class Memoir Writing workshop will immerse students in writing, reading, critiquing and discussion. If you are determined to finish your book, want to work with like-minded writers and have the time and money, give this program serious consideration. Students earn 3 CEUs for each workshop.
Writers’ Village University…Become a Member and Gain Access to 250 Free Writing Courses. Writers’ Village (WVU) takes a different approach. For a flat-rate membership of $69 annually plus a one-time $30 registration fee, you have access to all that this writers’ community offers: courses in short story and creative writing; novel, comedy, romance and poetry writing…even songwriting. Oh, and yes, memoir writing and journaling. Now here’s where it gets a little confusing. There appears to be a two-part, eight-week memoir class (or maybe it’s six weeks; there’s conflicting information) and the same is true for the journaling course. But WVU has been around since 1995, they have $30 trial memberships so you probably can’t get into much trouble. Part 1 of Memoir Writing begins October 6th. Check it out.
Storylines…Canadian Lifewriters Will Like This. Nora Zylstra-Savage is a hands-on writing instructor. And for several years now, she has guided individuals and groups in the process of “listening, sharing and documenting their personal life stories.” She also offers an interesting program designed to bring students and seniors together in what she calls “Bridging the Gap Intergenerational Memoir.” Nora has an Introduction to Life-Story Writing class starting in January 2011. It’s online, and students will need access to high-speed Internet, a headset (headphone/microphone) and word processing software. The four sessions are limited to 10 students who learn via self-paced videos. Students read their writing assignments in class, presumably over the phone or voice-over IP (VOIP) connection, and receive feedback. The cost: $99.44.
Writer’s Digest University…Offers Several Courses for Memoir and Life Writers. You certainly didn’t think I was going to omit Writer’s Digest, did you? Although I’ve never taken one of their courses, from what I know of their reputation and what I can read about their courses, I’d have to compare their programs with those of Gotham–in price as well as depth and length of the courses. Focus on the Personal/Family Memoir is a 14-week introductory class ($425/2.8 CEUs) designed to get the aspiring memoir writer started on the right food. Topics include:
- Types of personal and family memoirs
- How to define the scope and theme of the memoir
- What to put in and what to leave out of the memoir
- Creating an outline
- How to keep on track and not “sagging in the middle”
The course is divided into seven, two-week sessions, and the next class begins October 7th.
Also starting on October 7th is Advanced Memoir and Nonfiction Book Writing (15 weeks/$450/3.0 CEUs). This is not a lecture course; it’s a writing intensive. The program is divided into five, three-week sessions. Students write and submit five 7,000-word sections of their memoirs. Class sessions are used for peer/instructor discussion and critique. If you’re ready for a program of intensive coaching/critique, this may be the one for you.
Mediabistro.com…Travel Memoir Writing for the Intermediate Student. You’ll have to hurry for this one as class starts September 13th. The instructor, Franz Wisner, is the author of Honeymoon with My Brother. His is a 10-week program conducted online each Monday from 8-9 PM EST. The price is $599, but if you’re interested in travel-memoir writing, it sounds as though you’ll be learning from someone who knows what he’s talking about. You’ll learn how to:
- Create an “eye-catching” book proposal
- Write something that will interest both travelers and non-travelers
- Approach agents and publishers
- Grab media attention
- Build a platform for your writing
I don’t know anything about Mediabistro.com, but the About page says it is a platform “dedicated to anyone who creates or works with content, or who is a non-creative professional working in a content/creative industry.” Hmmm…pricy but interesting. If anyone decides to take this, I’d love to know what you think.
Lisa Romeo Writes…Memoir and Personal Essay: Four by Four. Here’s another online memoir writing class that’s just about to start. Lisa’s classes begin on September 13 and run through October 10…that’s four sessions (for $165) in which she’ll focus on some key elements of strong memoir writing:
- Beginnings and endings
- A strong “I” narrator
- Powerful details
- Dynamic dialogue
I’m not sure, but I get the impression that all interaction is via the computer…no weekly class phone calls. Each week, you’ll receive a lesson, study examples and a list of additional suggested readings. You’ll complete writing assignments, which you’ll turn in for Lisa’s review and feedback. One nice touch, she offers students an online forum where classmates can create a sense of community and share experiences and ideas. I will say, I like the four topics around which Lisa has chosen to build the course.
And that concludes my list of online memoir writing classes and resources. But that’s only nine! No, 10 because I want to leave you with this short video in which author and teacher Natalie Goldberg talks about her writing life and divulges a couple of her writing techniques. Happy learning!
memoir
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