There are as many different ways to approach memoir as there are memories, so this class will not assume any priority of form, but is designed to give writers looking to imagine, draft, and / or revise a book-length memoir the inspiration and tools to give a book its own life.
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In this class, we will study how writers arrive at these uncanny moments, paying special attention to how their experiments with structure and syntax subvert reader expectation.
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In this single-session workshop, we’ll look at sections of two of Joan Didion's essays and two memoirs to unpack what made her cool, unsentimental voice on the page so impactful.
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We will generate story ideas from “raw” lists found online—extrapolating characters, settings, and plots.
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This class will look at ways to conceive substantive, fresh environmental pieces that get beyond the expected.
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In this class we will discuss the how the very first lines of your novel raise questions, set expectations, and make promises your novel should fulfill.
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Covering five lessons I’ve learned over the course of my 18+ year career as a performance artist and writer, I’ll give you some insight into what panelists are looking for and drop hints on how to make your submission stand out.
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$65.00
In this single-session workshop, we’ll look at sections of two of Joan Didion’s essays and two memoirs to unpack what made her cool, unsentimental voice on the page so impactful.
| Start Date | June 29 |
|---|---|
| Class Times | 6:30pm – 8:30pm CT |
| Day(s) of the Week | Wednesday |
| Location | Zoom (online) |
| Sessions | 1 |
| Price | $65 |
| Instructor |
In stock
Joan Didion famously said that she didn’t know what she was thinking until she wrote it down.
In this single-session workshop, we’ll look at sections of two of her essays and two memoirs to unpack what made her cool, unsentimental voice on the page so impactful. What craft elements did she employ? We’ll look at her language choices, pacing and structure and discuss how these helped leave her distinctive imprint in words.
Ellen Blum Barish is author of the essay collection, Views from the Home Office Window, and just completed a memoir now being represented by an agent. She is the editor of Thread: A Literary Publication, which earned two notables in Best American Essays and Stitch, a monthly publication of 100-word essays. Her essays and personal stories have been published in The Chicago Tribune, Tablet, Brevity’s Blog, Full Grown People, Literary Mama, aired on WBEZ Public Radio and have been told at numerous Chicago storytelling events. She teaches writing at Northwestern University where she received a master’s in journalism. Ellen works privately with individuals on a variety of writing projects through her workshops and coaching and was awarded the 2018 Award for Individual Artistic Excellence by the Skokie Arts Commission. For more about Ellen, go to www.ellenblumbarish.com.
In this class we will discuss the how the very first lines of your novel raise questions, set expectations, and make promises your novel should fulfill.
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This workshop is a space to explore together and take flight whether that flight is above the clouds, or centimeters off the ground where we can still touch our reassuring shadow, or somewhere in between.
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Students will explore how to engage an audience with honesty and authenticity as they construct a personal statement that is memorable and readable.
Add to cartThis class will look at ways to conceive substantive, fresh environmental pieces that get beyond the expected.
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