Memoir writing workshop
As kids went back to school in September last year, I also went back to one, sort of. I’ve been meaning to take a writing workshop for a while and “back to school” seemed like a great time to embark on a new journey.
Memoir writing class for beginners from the Sackett Street Writers seemed friendly yet just scary enough to commit many Mondays.
I got lucky that 8 other students who joined the class were diverse in age and background. Most of all, everyone was kind and encouraging in each other’s writing pursuit.
Sarah, our teacher, was perfect to usher all of us in to dive into the craft of memoir writing. I’ve always enjoyed the genre and it was interesting to take it apart to see it up close what makes it work.
Many of us from the class continue to meet even the class is over, which has been such a gift. It has been a great motivation to keep showing up and challenge myself in safe and kind space.
More than anything, connecting through the writing has been great addition to being alive. I suppose that’s why we read (as much as we write).
Here are a few books we reference in the class and the group that I continue to use:
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr — She’s been teaching the class how to write one. With audible version, it almost felt like I was getting a personal lecture from her.
The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story by Edwidge Danticat — After my dad passed away and mom is slowly declining with dementia, I think about death all the time. This book has been such a gift to learn how to articulate.
The Art of Description: World into Word by Mark Doty — Describing instead of telling turned out harder than it seemed!