“Memory Bones: Structuring the Literary Memoir” with M.M. Adjarian
May 29, 2021 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
$49.00 – $109.00
- This event has passed.
This Event is for Members only.
Click here to learn more about benefits of membership
$49 for Members
$109 for Non-Members
All registrants will have access to the class recording for one week.
Every memoir offers glimpses into the complex world and consciousness of another human being. But how can you take those husks of experience we call memory and transform them into a compelling narrative?
- Why A to Z chronology doesn’t suit all narratives
- How form is like “skin” and how to choose/create the best one for your “bones”
- The does and don’ts of backstory and flashback
- The importance of scene-craft and sectioning
- Structuring strategies (such as storyboarding and “plotting the big W”)
- Why tense matters
TAKE THIS CLASS IF
- You’re ready to write your memoir, but you don’t know where to start.
- You want to understand the basic elements of narrative structure.
- You want to better understand your own structuring style.
- You want to learn methods for developing good narrative “bones.”
The deadline to register for this class is Friday, May 28 at 5 p.m. CDT.
Instructor
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M. M. (Maude) Adjarian has published her essays, short fiction and poetry in such journals as the Baltimore Review, Grub Street, Verdad, South 85, The Serving House Journal, Pif, Gravel, Glint and Crack the Spine, among others. A senior non-fiction book reviewer at Kirkus, her articles have also appeared in Arts+Culture Texas, Bitch Magazine, Tribeza-Austin and the Dallas Voice. Currently, she is at work on a family memoir provisionally titled This Life That Binds.
Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Classes page.
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Class & Event Registration Policy
Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.
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HOW WLT CLASSES WORK:
Our classes offer a combination of lecture and practical exercises, determined by the individual instructor, on focused aspects of the craft and business of writing. Your fellow participants will come from a range of writing experience, from beginners to people with MFA degrees and published books. WLT instructors, participants, and administrators all work together to create a welcoming, supportive environment.If you haven’t taken a class with us in recent years, feel free to email WLT Program Director Sam Babiak at sam@writersleague.org if you’d like to discuss whether our programming is the right fit for your needs.
HOW ONLINE CLASSES WORK:
Once you register for the class, you’ll receive an email with detailed instructions no later than 48 hours before the class date. You should expect 2-2.5 hours of direct teaching and 30 minutes of Q&A (for three hours total). If you need to leave the class early or can’t attend the class on that date, all registrants will have access to the recording for one month after the class date. No microphone or camera required, just an Internet connection capable of streaming video. All online classes are hosted on Zoom. To learn more about how Zoom works, click HERE.
Plan to log in to the online platform several hours before the class so that you can update your software or any other settings required to access the platform. (Updates usually only take a few minutes, but you don’t want to wait until the beginning of class.) Questions? Email us at wlt@writersleague.org.
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.
This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
This project is supported in part by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. For more information, go to www.maaa.org.
