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October 1–3, 2010 Friday–Sunday 2 nights

So You Want to Write: How to Master the Craft of Writing Memoir

Creative Expression > Writing Do Something Different
Presenter(s)
Marge Piercy and Ira Wood
Marge Piercy

Marge Piercy “is not just an author, she’s a cultural touchstone,” according to The Boston Globe, “Few writers in modern memory have sustained her passion and skill for creating stories of consequence.” Marge is the…
Full Bio & Programs

Ira Wood

Ira Wood is the author of three autobiographical novels: The Kitchen Man, Going Public, and Storm Tide, with Marge Piercy, with whom he has also written So You Want to Write, an award-winning text about…
Full Bio & Programs

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Program Details

For writers at any level of experience.

The memoir has become one of today’s most popular reads. So why is it so hard to write one? This hands-on intensive is dedicated to teaching the elements of the writer’s craft and putting those techniques to use so you can leave with great ideas to work on at home and the inspiration to keep writing.

Marge Piercy and Ira Wood will show you how to

  • Overcome inner censors
  • Determine when you can embellish and when you need to stick to the truth
  • Begin to tell a story that took years in the living
  • Hone your skills and get your work in print and online.

Through short lectures and exercises, you will concentrate on creating gripping beginnings, mastering dialogue, dealing with painful material while not coming off as a victim, recovering childhood memories, and using narrative strategies for organizing your experiences. After the workshop, you will be invited to join the Memoir Lab, the online home for feedback and community.

Recommended reading Marge Piercy and Ira Wood, So You Want to Write: How to Master the Craft of Writing Fiction and Memoir (Leapfrog Press).