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Have you:

• started a memoir only to get lost in a sea of stories that never seem to end?
• completed a few drafts and now wonder if the structure you’ve chosen for your memoir is really the best one for your book? 
• queried a few agents only to hear, “Sorry, it’s not for me,” or worse, radio silence?

While there could be several reasons why you’re struggling with this story, structure, and its sidekick narrative arc, are the two concepts writers grapple with most.

Nailing them can help you craft a satisfying book with the best chance for publication. But how do you know whether you’ve chosen a structure that’s so bland it’s a yawnfest or picked something so complicated the story doesn’t just lose readers, it’s trapped you in a cycle of endless revisions?

This webinar will introduce you to the most common memoir structures, help you better understand your story, and give you the tools needed to choose a structure that marries your talents with the form that best suits your narrative arc.

During this 90-minute webinar, you’ll:

• Learn why writers crave structure
• Assess your skills and vision for this project
• Examine the relationship between structure and your story’s narrative arc
• Explore the most common memoir structures, including the linear story, the quest, the braid, the essay collection, and the letter, as well as a few nonstandard forms
• Learn the skills required to capitalize on each structure
• Find out how to get started and stay focused while drafting and revising your manuscript
• Discover what authors of the fanciest structures have to say about how they crafted their books

Who should take this class

This class is for beginning to intermediate memoirists, including:

• New memoirists looking for a way to start or structure their project
• Memoirists looking for the structure that best matches their story
• Anyone wrestling with a memoir revision
• Memoirists who want to understand not just structure, but the skills required to nail specific structures

This class might not be suited for

• Essayists who are not compiling a book-length work.
• Fiction writers and possibly autofiction writers. This class will not specifically discuss autofiction or offer autofiction examples, so you’ll be on your own to determine what advice applies to your situation and what does not.
• Advanced memoirists who’ve published one or more books
• If you took this class in 2021 when it was first offered, we do not necessarily recommend registering again. Lisa will share a few new tricks, strategies, and resources, but much of the presentation will reiterate what you heard last time.

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024
• Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
• Registration fee: $25

The webinar is broadcast via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate. We also use Otter AI to generate an unedited transcript, provided with the recording.

Testimonials

All students receive the following

• Access to live class. After roughly 75 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We use Otter to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.
• Supplementary workbook. You’ll receive a workbook along with the recording and follow-up materials.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.