Class

Find the Meaning in Your Memoir

Memoir is more than writing down a sequence of events. You know what happened, but what is your story about? And how do you get the perspective to answer this question? Discussions and writing exercises as well as peer and instructor feedback will help you explore the question: what is my memoir really about?

We'll borrow fiction writing techniques to audit the secret motivations of your memoir’s main “character” and explore that character’s ultimate change. We will read excerpts from National Book Award winning memoirs and finalists, including The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O’Rourke, and How to Make a Slave and Other Essays by Jerald Walker. We'll discuss writers's craft choices and how to make these choices in our work.

Writing exercises as well as feedback (on up to 10 pages) will help guide you to a deeper understanding of the meaning of your story. Class time will be split between reading discussions, writing exercises, and workshopping. This class is designed to help you uncover truths latent in your own story. Class participants need not have a completed manuscript, but should have an idea in mind.

There is no class July 4.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at edu@loft.org or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.