Memoir Writing I - Finding Your Voice

This memoir writing course meets on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ET) for six sessions and is designed to guide you through the process of discovering and developing your unique voice in the art of personal memoir. Through a combination of timed writing exercises, supportive feedback and targeted instruction on writing techniques, you will embark on a journey of creative discovery and self-expression.

By the end of this course, you will have begun to develop a unique and authentic voice in your personal storytelling. You will finish the course with a collection of personal vignettes.

This course is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to write or just tell their story. No prior writing experience required.

Your Instructor

Patti Murphy is a writer and educator with over thirty years experience in the classroom. She is the author of The Kitchen Sink Sutra, The Date Square Dharma and The Spaghetti Supper Sangha, but has been writing stories, plays and articles ever since she could lay her hands on a pad of paper. She has written extensively for community newspapers and has published essays in The Globe and Mail, but creative non-fiction and stories about hope hold a special place in her heart.

She believes that with the right guidance, everyone can access their own inner writer. The key to this is providing a supportive and nurturing environment to explore and experiment, where feedback focuses solely on the strengths of the writing.

The Classes

Each 2 hour weekly session will consist of a combination of the following activities:

• Lesson and Discussion: Brief lessons on relevant topics followed by group discussions and the chance to ask questions.
• Timed Free Writing Sessions: In-class writing exercises to stimulate creativity and exploration.
• Group and Individual Feedback: Sharing selected excerpts in a supportive and constructive environment. (Strictly voluntary)
• Homework: Writing assignments to be completed between sessions to help you to build a writing habit.