Intro to Memoir - 4 weeks (with Celia Jeffries) - ONLINE
We all have memories that stay with us. Somewhere inside them is usually a story. It may be highly subjective, but more often than not, it holds a universal truth. How do you get to that truth? How do you create a story that has energy and depth and speaks to the reader? This workshop will focus not only on WHAT is being written but also on HOW it is written. Through writing exercises, readings, and discussions of both nonfiction and fiction, we will explore techniques to awaken the personal story on the page. While writers will not be submitting work to the group for feedback, there will be lots of opportunities after in-class writing to share with the group for brief, supportive, on-the-spot feedback. Limited to 10 writers.
Workload: There are no outside requirements. Participants will be given suggested readings and prompts if they'd like to do more outside of class, but it is not required.
WHEN: 4 Weeks: Tuesdays, February 7 - 28 (1 - 3pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference (live)
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
CELIA JEFFRIES is the author of the award-winning novel Blue Desert, and her work has appeared in numerous newspapers and literary magazines including Westview, Solstice, and Puerto del Sol, as well as the anthology Beyond the Yellow Wallpaper. She has received grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Turkey Land Cove Foundation, and La Muse. She holds an MA from Brandeis and an MFA from Lesley University. She is currently at work on a memoir.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK ONE: What is memoir?
WEEK TWO: How we write what we remember
WEEK THREE: Structuring a memoir
WEEK FOUR: Putting the puzzle pieces together (research, revision, publishing, etc)
RECEIVING THE ZOOM LINK: For one-day workshops, we send out the link to attend the Zoom session 1 - 2 days before the event, via email. For multi-week workshops, you should receive info and the link about 3 - 5 days before. Please mark your calendars when you first register and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the class, please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org before contacting us. We have found that very often our emails end up in those folders. This is based on your own email settings, and you can prevent this by adding our email as a contact.
ONLINE SESSIONS happen remotely, via Zoom video conference. All you need is a laptop, computer, or phone with functioning audio and a webcam. Those who RSVP receive directions and a link to "join" the session via email (please see above note about receiving the Zoom link). All online instructors will log on to the video conference a few minutes before the start of the session, so please plan to log on early if you'd like assistance! We'll do everything in our power to help you get comfortable with the Zoom format, though we are not able to offer technical assistance beyond basic Zoom orientation.
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES AT PVWW
Because of non-refundable fees that we, PVWW, must pay for every transaction that happens, we are not able to give full refunds to those who register then withdraw from a workshop or class. If you withdraw from a workshop ten days or more before the start of the class: You'll receive full credit toward another workshop or class of equal value OR a refund minus 10%. If you withdraw from a workshop nine days before the start of the class up until 48 hours before: You'll receive full credit toward another class OR a refund minus 30%. If you withdraw from a workshop less than 48 hours before the start of a class or after the class has begun: We are not able to offer you credit toward another class or a partial refund, unless in the case of a medical emergency. If we have to cancel a class for any reason, you will receive a full refund, or if you choose, a credit in the amount of your payment, to be used for any future PVWW class. Anyone who does not specify whether they would like a refund or a credit for a cancelled class within 3 months will automatically be refunded. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.