This is an upper level craft-focused workshop in writing one’s stories from life. Participants will be guided in creating and revising compelling, well-crafted personal essays and full-length memoirs. Beyond craft and technique, we’ll challenge ourselves to dig deep into our personal histories and to commit to the page the powerful emotions that galvanize our stories. In the workshop, we aim to create a community of writers who support one another by practicing deep listening, compassionate responses, and thoughtful feedback. We recognize that writing is a risky endeavor and that sharing what we write in a workshop setting requires courage. As a community, we support one another in that endeavor by offering rigorous support and a gentle critique.
This workshop is geared toward those who have already studied essay and memoir writing for at least two years; writers who have previously acquired the basics of narrative craft in previous WWW Writing About Your Life workshops or similar classes elsewhere. It is for writers who are interested in learning upper level concepts and techniques to make their work more engaging, interesting, and effective.
Each participant’s material (between 3 to 5 double-spaced, typed pages) will be shared each week in a constructive and supportive atmosphere designed to develop one’s own editing skills while elevating the quality of the writing. Memoir and essay publishing strategies will occasionally be discussed as they are appropriate to the group members.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 203.227.3250 OR EMAIL INFO@WESTPORTWRITERS.ORG
LIMITED TO 7 STUDENTS
WHERE:
Westport Writers’ Workshop, 3 Sylvan Road South, Westport
TIME:
8 Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
DATE:
Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
PRICE:
$450