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Memoir Workshop

The Writers Studio @ Instructor-led Online Learning, New York, NY

Unlock the power of your personal story in the Memoir Workshop at The Writers Studio. Discover the techniques used by successful memoir writers to shape their charged experiences into captivating narratives. Emulate the voices of acclaimed authors and find your unique storytelling style in this immersive eight-week course.

(7) All levels 18 and older
$435

8 sessions

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Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

Unleash your creativity and capture your life story with expert guidance from seasoned writers at Gotham Writers Workshop. Learn essential techniques to craft compelling memoirs that resonate with readers, explore your unique experiences, and transform ordinary moments into extraordinary narratives. Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery through the power of storytelling.

  • Beginner
  • 18 and older
  • $490
  • 555 8th Ave, New York, NY
  • 30 hours over 10 sessions

Start Dates (0)

  • $490
  • 555 8th Ave. @ 555 8th Ave 14th Flr. Ste 1402, New York, NY 10018
  • 30 hours over 10 sessions
  • Price includes Registration fee of $25, paid once per term
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Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this memoir writing class:

Every life holds many tales. Whether your life is wildly unconventional or relatively normal, there’s bound to be something fascinating about it. That’s why the contemporary memoir—everyday people telling their stories—has become such a popular phenomenon. A memoir covers an aspect of a life, whether it’s a short piece about, say, a bicycle ride with a friend, or a book about, say, your entire childhood.

To make readers care, your memoir must be told with the finesse of fiction. Here you will learn techniques for focusing your life stories, as well as well as writing craft and how to market your work.

Whether you seek to write essay-length pieces or a book, we’ll show you how to best tell the stories from your life.

This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of memoir craft and gets you writing a short memoir (or two) or a book. 

Course components:

  • Lectures
  • Writing exercises
  • Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)

Memoir I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals.

Each week a new topic is explored through lecture and writing exercise. The topics covered in this course include:

  • Introduction to Memoir – The contemporary memoir defined. Short and long memoirs. Finding the “who cares?” in your story. Focusing on an aspect of your life. Types of memoirs—coming of age, adversity, relationship, career, travel.
  • Mining Your Memory – How “true” must it be? Researching your past. The balance of being “actor” and “observer.” Not using memoir as therapy. Facing the truth.
  • Character – Thinking of real people as characters. Making characters dimensional through desire and contrasts. Creating character profiles. Showing vs. Telling. Methods for showing characters.
  • Plot – Finding a major dramatic question. Shaping a beginning, middle, and end. The difference between short and long plots. Pros and cons of outlining.
  • Description – Using the senses. Specificity. Techniques for creativity. Finding the right words. Merging description with point of view.
  • Dialogue – The importance of scene. Turning real life conversations into dialogue. Quotation marks and tags. Stage directions. Summarized dialogue. Characterization through dialogue. Subtext.
  • Point of View/Voice – Point of view defined. First person and other memoir alternatives. Voice defined. Exploration of the various types of voice. Tips for finding your voice.
  • Setting/Pacing – Creating setting through time, place, and weather. Description of setting. Mood and emotion of setting. How to manipulate time through pacing. Flashbacks.
  • Theme – Theme defined. Types of theme. Weaving theme into a story.
  • Revision – Exploration of the various stages of revision.
  • The Business – Proper format for manuscripts. How to target publishing houses, literary magazines, and agents. How to send your work out. Query letters.

Note: Content may vary slightly among individual classes.

Refund Policy

All Classes (except One-day and Zoom Intensives and Write-Ins):

  • For a refund or credit, contact us three business days or more before your class starts. You can either choose to hold a full credit with us good for one year on other Gotham classes OR you can opt for a refund less a $25 administrative fee and your $25 registration fee ($50 total).
  • If you need to withdraw after your class has started (or two business days before it starts), you won’t receive a refund, but you’re welcome to a Gotham credit less the price of Week 1 and your $25 registration fee, but we need to hear from you three business days or more before Week 2 meets for that to happen. After that point, no credits are available.

One-day and Zoom Intensives:

  • You may reschedule a One-day or Zoom Intensive one time, if you notify us two business days before the class begins. After that first reschedule, there is a $25 rescheduling fee.
  • If you notify us three business days or more before your class begins, rescheduling is free. If you notify us less than three business days before your class begins, there is a $25 rescheduling fee. If you don’t notify us until after your class begins, we cannot reschedule you.
  • You may get a refund (minus a $50 fee) if you notify us three business days or more before your class begins.

Write-Ins:

  • If you withdraw 1 business day or more before it begins, you’re welcome to a full credit good for one year toward another Write-In. No refunds are available.
  • If you simply don’t show up and don’t notify us in advance, you forfeit your money.

A few more things:

  • Credits are valid for one year and cannot be changed into refunds down the road.
  • Simply not attending class or notifying the instructor does not mean you've officially withdrawn.
  • Some exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for medical emergencies with a doctor's note.
  • Refunds take up to six weeks to process.

Please understand, we can't issue a refund after classes have started, even if you miss your first class. Similarly, we can't offer you a credit one day before your second class or after that. We understand that other obligations get in the way of attending class, but these policies allow us to get other interested writers into class early enough to have a good experience, and this allows us to offer our classes at a reasonable price.

Important Notes:

  • Students are allowed to join a class in the second week.
  • Only those who pay the tuition in full can be guaranteed a place in class.
  • Class dates and times may be subject to change. A substitute may be assigned or make-up classes added to the end of the term.
  • Auditing and the recording of classes are not allowed.
  • For all classes, students receive a record of payment and registration.
  • Gotham reserves the right to remove any student at our discretion.
  • Gotham does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or marital status.
  • Our courses are not intended to provide instruction that will result in the student's acquisition of occupational skills.

In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Reviews of Classes at Gotham Writers Workshop (745)

(4.4-star rating across 745 reviews)
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Anonymous review on 9/8/2021
    Was a good group of students but aside from critiquing each other’s work there was no syllabus, no teaching, no exercises. I stopped attending. Did not deliver what I expected. I did appreciate the feedback I received from the other students.
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Anonymous review on 12/26/2019
    Carmen Bugan is a generous teacher who knows how to help us unlock what we need to get started on writing a memoir. Her extensive knowledge and experience broadened the form of memoir and what it can become. I feel so lucky to have taken her class. The exercises in class were designed to illustrate each class's focus, and while they were not always easy to carry out, they were all good learning experiences. The workshop aspect was also helpful for our group, and Dr. Bugan's feedback, both spoken and in written comments on submissions, helped me move forward in form, and her high standards helped me to write better. A great deal of enthusiasm was generated in this class by Dr. Bugan, which made it a wonderful exploration for us all.
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Cheryl Dolinger Brown on 12/21/2019
    This is one of the best courses I have taken as an adult. Carmen Bugan is an excellent instructor. Memoir one with Carmen is a course for beginning writers as well as those with experience. Through reading, short lectures, in-class exercises, weekly 500 word essays using the techniques studied in class, and two longer workshopped memoir pieces we begin to explore our spine and theme, use of description, dialogue, point of view, time, and other techniques. The students all do their homework and learn from each other as well. Carmen is caring, respectful, direct and encouraging to everyone. She reads everything we write and gets to know our individual voices. She organizes each class with clear instruction, in-class written exercises and homework assignments that teach the various techniques. Her assignments are always thought provoking. She creates a safe environment for all of the students to express themselves and grow. To repeat, Carmen is full of passion and is an outstanding teacher. It was a tremendous amount of work, but I signed up for it and learned so much. My daughter asked why I voluntarily agreed to do so much homework and it was easy to answer: I was ready to learn to write and I found the right teacher.
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Peter B. on 3/21/2018
    Carmen is AMAZING
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Anonymous review on 12/18/2017
    lectures were incredibly simplistic and the critiques were superficial. i enjoyed the group but learned very little.
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Latesha S. on 9/25/2017
    I love love loved this class. Nil,the instructor was a wonderful teacher. It was constructive and therapeutic. I creative think tank. I wish it were longer!
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Anonymous review on 9/20/2017
    Workshop style. Essential topics presented in an organized fashion with appropriate homework to reinforce and practice concepts.
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by may l. on 7/4/2017
    I wish I could have completed the class but due to unfortunate personal circumstances I was unable to attend after the 2nd class. I was disappointed that a credit was not offered as I would have like to retake the class at a later time. Thank you
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Lydia G. on 4/4/2023
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Anonymous review on 9/15/2020
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Ellis A. on 3/25/2020
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Gabriela P. on 3/25/2019
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Victoria Y. on 3/22/2019
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Anne S. on 12/20/2018
  • Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop

    Reviewed by Mark C. on 9/20/2018
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

The Memoir Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop offers students valuable skills in writing a memoir, including understanding its form, the use of description, dialogue, and point of view. It is clear from the reviews that the course instructor, Carmen Bugan, is well-respected for her detailed feedback, clear instructions, and the constructs of a safe environment for self-expression. Students felt encouraged and respected under her attentive and direct approach. The elements of the course, such as reading, short lectures, in-class exercises, and homework assignments were highly appreciated. Student largely benefited from the workshop style of the class and their peer learning, and the overall curriculum provided ample practice concepts that fostered enthusiasm and growth among the students. Quotes: 1. "The exercises in class were designed to illustrate each class's focus, and while they were not always easy to carry out, they were all good learning experiences." 2. “Carmen is caring, respectful, direct and encouraging to everyone. She reads everything we write and gets to know our individual voices.” 3. "Memoir one with Carmen is a course for beginning writers as well as those with experience. Through reading, short lectures, in-class exercises, weekly 500 word essays using the techniques studied in class, and two longer workshopped memoir pieces we begin to explore our spine and theme, use of description, dialogue, point of view, time, and other techniques."

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Questions & Answers (2)

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Question from Theresa L.
Since it's still Summer and vacations/family reunions/conferences are scheduled, how many absences are allowed in the ten week period?
Answer from Brenda L. CourseHorse StaffCourseHorse Staff
Hi Theresa! The school recommends that if you're going to miss more than two, to consider looking at a different class or date. Thanks!
Answer from Theresa L.
Thank you for replying!
Answer Show all 2 answers
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Question from Anonymous
Who is teaching this particular course?
Answer from Brenda L. CourseHorse StaffCourseHorse Staff
Hi there! There are different instructors for each class schedule, but for July 17 class, the instructor is Kim Liao. Hope this helps!
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Gotham Writers Workshop

Gotham Writers Workshop is a creative home in New
York City and Online where writers develop their craft and come together in the
spirit of discovery and fellowship. We’ve been teaching creative writing to
students since 1993.




We believe that everyone has a story to tell.
Indeed, many stories. Keep your...

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Gotham Writers Workshop

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