Writing Your Memoir

A man is sitting and writing at a library table.

Are you hoping to share your life and experiences with others by writing a book? This four-week course is designed to introduce you to the four fundamentals of memoir writing—framing, content, voice, and structure—and provide you with the skills and confidence to begin writing your story.

The course begins by exploring different starting points and framing techniques for memoirs, so you can have a powerful beginning while controlling time and pacing to engage your readers. You'll then learn how to tap into your lived experiences, conduct research and interviews to support your narrative, and use rich sensory details to write vivid descriptions.

You'll explore the nuances of narrative tone and experiment with different voices to define and refine your unique voice. You'll also learn how to shape your memoir into a cohesive and compelling narrative by working with traditional and experimental structures that employ collage and hybrid techniques.

Throughout the course, you'll engage in lessons, readings and analyses, lively discussions, and writing prompts. You'll compose short memoir pieces each week and receive detailed, constructive feedback from your instructor. By the end of this course, you'll emerge with the confidence and skills to advance your memoir and share it with others.

What you will learn:

✔ Evaluate potential starting points for your memoir and use various framing techniques to control the pacing of your story
✔ Write with sensory details to enrich your narrative with vivid descriptions
✔ Use your personal archive and conduct research to gather content and write about authentic experiences
✔ Develop a distinct narrative voice that reflects your personality and experiences
✔ Experiment with various tones, perspectives, and structures in support of developing a cohesive and engaging narrative

What you need to participate:

Computer or mobile device with Internet. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
Word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word, that can create PDF files
Post-it notes
Pair of scissors, pens, and blank paper
A notebook is recommended, but not required

How the course works:

Interlochen Online courses are designed to be inspiring and flexible, with weekly learning units that combine video segments and guided instruction that you can complete on your own schedule during the week. You will interact regularly with your teacher and peers inside the learning environment.

You can also participate in an optional weekly hour-long video class meeting where you can learn from the teacher and interact with your classmates in real-time. At the beginning of the course, you will complete a survey indicating your preferred times for the class meeting. The teacher will make every effort to identify a meeting time that works for everyone. The teacher will also post recordings of the meetings and you can view them when it is convenient.

The goal is that you walk away not only with practical skills and friendships, but with the inspiration and motivation to pursue your art and realize your potential.