Making Moments into Memoir

“Learning stamps you with its moments. Childhood’s learning is made up of moments. It isn’t steady. It’s a pulse.” — Eudora Welty, from One Writer’s Beginnings

Eudora Welty was right. But it’s not only children whose memories are fragmentary, like snapshots. For many or most of us, the significant times of our lives appear as crystallized visions, waiting to be revisited and savored.

In this workshop, we’ll call up some of these times, explore them with all of our senses, and retell them in language that can surprise, inform, or entertain a reader – whether it’s a beloved grandchild or the person who just bought your book.

Look around your home. Notice your keepsakes. Why do you keep them? Where – and who – were you when that particular coffee cup, necklace, or carpentry tool came into your life? What and whom does it bring to mind?

Browse through a photo album and pause at a picture that reminds you of a happy event, an adventure, or a time of deep emotion.

Bring your “moments” to Ghost Ranch. In this workshop, you’ll find a safe, supportive place to examine and develop your stories. You’ll read and hear examples of different ways to approach a memoir, and get gentle guidance from your workshop leader and your peers.

This workshop is open to both beginning and experienced writers, as well as poets and songwriters. There are many ways to tell your story!

Please click here for a brief overview & introduction from the Instructor, Supply List and Workshop Schedule.