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In a big life, where is the story? Everyone has not just one story but thousands. Somewhere in your many years, encounters, lessons and relationships is the tale you need to tell. It may be sad, it may be joyful, complicated or simple, it might be just for you or it might be a story lots of people can share.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

How do you condense a whole person into a memorable character on the page? What about the legal and ethical issues—how do you respect someone’s privacy while speaking the truth? And what are the ingredients that make a memoir something not only you will want to read, but people you’ve never met will want to read?

It’s one thing to live it; another to write it. Kate Holden takes you through discussion, exercises and the sharing of stories to help you shake off the cobwebs and tumbleweeds and find the story inside you – and how best to make it sing.

This online writing memoir course will include practical components and writing exercises as well discussions focused on theoretical issues.

This workshop will cover:

• motives to write
• motives to publish
• memory and verification, clearances and permissions
• legal and ethical issues
• stylistic and voice issues
• refining a story arc
• boring and gripping memoirs

This interactive online course has limited places. Book early to avoid missing out. 

Expected Learning outcomes: 

1. At the end of the course the participants should feel like we have run through major logistical and stylistic issues of contemporary memoir.

2. We will have talked about and shared impressions of successful (and unsuccessful) published works, described our own projects and challenges, practiced short passages of character-portrayal.

3. We will have discussed the legal implications of publication, and fired up enthusiasm for the work ahead.

Participant Requirements

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program. Please read our FAQ before enrolling.

There are no specific times you need to be available for this course. On the day this course starts by 10am, you will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom.

• Participants will work through several lessons, which will open sequentially over the first few days of the course (see course dates in the blue box above).
• You can complete the lesson material in your own time.
• This course includes short writing assignments and the opportunity to give and receive peer feedback. Some assignments will receive tutor feedback if completed by the deadlines provided.

Please expect to spend a minimum of six hours on the course, noting that the amount of time needed to read, respond to discussions, write, revise and critique will vary from person to person. We recommend allocating an hour a day to the course while it is running. By setting aside this time, you will get the most out of the course, and be able to engage with other participants and the tutor.

You can find out more about the course by reading our frequently asked questions. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Get to know the tutor

If you would like to find out more about Kate Holden, check out our interview with her, Memoir invites you into someone else’s reality.

More from Writing NSW

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