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One of the toughest challenges memoirists face is determining how much of their past belongs in their book. While every aspect of your history shapes your understanding of your own story, only select moments from your past will drive it forward. The key to choosing wisely is to discern which backstory scenes provide critical context while allowing the rest to influence your character’s behavior in the present.

In this 90-minute class with Lisa Cooper Ellison, we’ll delve into the psychological reasons memoirists are drawn to their past, explore the challenges of deciding what to include, and discuss how to insert the right moments into your book. We’ll also examine the most common backstory traps writers fall into and how to escape them. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what truly belongs, a litmus test for determining which scenes make the cut, strategies for repurposing material, and tools for artfully weaving backstory into your manuscript.

We’ll cover:

• Our motivations for writing about the past
• 3 reasons writers struggle to identify scenes from the past that drive their story forward
• A litmus test that will help you decide what to include, what to repurpose, and what was just for you
• Strategies for artfully inserting backstory into your manuscript
• Examples from writers who have executed this well

Who should take this class

• Memoirists who feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of their projects
• Memoirists with manuscripts that are too long
• Memoirists who have been told they’re starting in the wrong place or too far from their story’s main action
• Memoirists who struggle to write and insert flashbacks effectively into their books
• Memoirists who have completed several drafts but can’t let go of certain scenes despite knowing they should
• Memoirists who want to deepen their understanding of the craft of memoir

This class is not suited for

• Personal essayists (unless you’re writing a memoir-in-essays)
• Novelists
• Children’s writers
• Poets

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, March 5, 2025
• 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 and recorded class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service, which is about 80%+ accurate. We use Adobe Premiere to generate a lightly edited 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 AI to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which is lightly edited for you.
• Supplementary material. After this webinar, you’ll receive a workbook with examples and exercises to help you navigate the most common backstory traps writers encounter and seamlessly insert flashbacks into your memoir

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.