Find your story’s true core at an immersive workshop with Valerie Ihsan
A full-day workshop to empower you in your memoir writing journey
You have a story to tell, but where do you begin? How do you shape real-life experiences into something compelling?
Writing a memoir isn’t just about recounting events–it’s about uncovering the deeper truth within them.
In this day-long workshop, you’ll find the heart of your story and gain the confidence to tell it.
As a memoir writer, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with telling your story on the page.
You might struggle to find your unique voice, figure out the core message at the heart of your story, or even know where to start. It can feel daunting to share personal experiences in a way you hope resonates with your readers. How do you weave your experiences into a compelling narrative?
Writing a memoir can feel frustrating and isolating.
If you’ve been going it alone–writing what you can, reading books, searching online for writing tips, or struggling through drafts without guidance–you might end up confused and stuck.
A supportive community, engaging exercises, and expert guidance can transform your memoir writing experience into one of confidence and, dare we say it, even joy.
This full-day workshop offers a warm and supportive space to explore your memoir with practical exercises and guided reflections. You’ll break down the barriers that hold you back and discover the richness of your own story.
This workshop is for you if:
- You’ve started your memoir but feel stuck or unfocused
- You’ve got a draft you want to refine
- You have a personal story to tell but don’t know where to begin
- You crave community, guidance, and fresh inspiration
- You want to connect with other memoir writers
Before this workshop, you might feel:
- Lost in the details of your life story
- Unsure where to start or how to shape your experiences into a narrative
- Overwhelmed by the writing process and uncertain of your voice
After this workshop, you’ll leave with:
- A clear sense of your memoir’s core message
- A roadmap for structuring your story in a compelling way
- Renewed confidence in your ability to write and share your experiences
Here’s what you’ll take away from the workshop:
- Discover your memoir’s core message: Find the central themes that make your story compelling.
- The key elements of memoir writing: Learn how to create a narrative arc, develop characters, and tap into the emotional truth of your experiences.
- Break through memoir myths: Learn how to balance fact with storytelling, and understand the boundaries of personal narrative.
- Use tarot and oracle decks for character exploration: Experience a unique hands-on exercise to explore your characters’ motivations, desires, and growth.
- Memoir writing exercises: Get inspired by powerful, effective exercises to boost your writing clarity and speed.
- Group discussions: Share insights, receive constructive feedback, and build a supportive writing community with fellow memoirists.
- Practical takeaways: Leave with valuable tools, writing prompts, and a clearer vision for your memoir project.
Join a small, intimate group of memoir writers for this full-day experience.
This workshop will inspire, challenge, and support you in creating a memoir rich with authenticity and meaning.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
10 am to 5 pm
In-person at the Wordcrafters studio
436 Charnelton St. Ste 100
Eugene, OR 97401
Cost
Access: $149 – if you have limited access to funds
Sustainer: $199 – the actual cost of this program
Patron: $249 – if you have more access to wealth/resources and can support others who need to pay less
Choose the ticket price that best reflects your financial capacity. We trust you to discern your financial situation and your level of need or ability to give to others with less access to wealth.
Learn more about our Pay From Your Heart Pricing.
We want everyone to have access to our writing programs. If you need additional support, please complete our scholarship request form.
Wordcrafters members save 10% on this and other events and classes.
Click here to learn about becoming a Wordcrafter.
Take the next step in your memoir-writing journey!
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Masks are optional. Please stay home if you’re unwell with any upper respiratory illness.
Your instructor
Valerie Ihsan (she/her), Story Analyst and Book Coach, is the author of You Can’t Dance a Lie: A Memoir of Stepping Into My Truth; The Scent of Apple Tea; and Smell the Blue Sky: Young, Pregnant, and Widowed, winner of a B.R.A.G. Medallion for Top Indie-Published Books.
She co-chaired the Eugene Chapter of Willamette Writers for more than eight years, diagnoses manuscripts as a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and helps authors write memoirs.
She podcasts at the Writer Craft Podcast, loves dogs, and aims to live in Costa Rica and run writing retreats. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three dogs.
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