To Catharsis and Beyond; A Micro Memoir Generative Workshop

One doesn't have to live a long life to write a memoir; a memoir is not an autobiography. It is a snapshot of your life, a polaroid from a moment when everything changed. In this class, you will learn how to take experiences from your life--from wild and poignant experiences to ordinary and typical--and create short memoirs that work as a well-crafted complete piece. The top tier objective for this class is to WRITE YOUR STORIES. The pieces you write will be short but potent, and each will be a thread of the tapestry that will be the final tapestry—a full micro memoir made up of many parts, all written by you. Through weekly Flash Nonfiction prompts, our class will be excavating your memory and pushing you to get it all on the page. Each week, class will begin with a brief lecture by the instructor, followed by writing prompts, and instructor-led group critiques. The writing prompts and exercises will be intended to liberate attendees’ creativity, provide literary distance and perspective, and open their eyes to possibilities that may not seem immediately obvious.