Five-Month Memoir / Narrative Nonfiction Incubator
The information on this page is regarding the Spring 2026 class. Email me if you’d like to discuss whether the class is the right fit for you and your book.
MEETS: Thursday, January 22 – Thursday, May 28
We’ll meet every two weeks, on Thursdays, alternating between morning and evening.
Mornings 10 a.m.–12 p.m. PST / 12–2 p.m. CST
January 22, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 14
Evenings 5:30–7:30 p.m. PST / 7:30–9:30 p.m. CST
February 5, March 5, April 2, April 30, May 28
We’ll schedule an intro meeting for a time in January that works for everyone.
(If you’re interested in this class but the times don’t work for you, please reach out. We may be able to make something work.)
LOCATION: Virtual
COST: $550 before December 15; $750 after December 15
SIZE: 6–8 students
WHO IT’S FOR: Writers who have completed 125 pages of a memoir or nonfiction narrative book, or writers who are currently working in earnest on such a book and are ready for a big leap forward.
MY CREDENTIALS: In 2008, I published a memoir with a traditional publishing house, Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table. Since 2017, I’ve been teaching memoir and life story writing to adults through my local community college. In 2024, I self-published How to Begin Writing Your Life Stories: Putting Memories on the Page, and I’m at work on my next book, a year of tips and prompts for memoir and life story writers. I’ve additionally helped many authors to the finish line with their own book projects. Finally, I’m a certified book publishing professional through the Nonfiction Authors Association and Carla King’s Publishing Compass.
Class Description
This deep-dive biweekly workshop offers accountability, encouragement, craft-based guidance, and concrete feedback as you draft your memoir or nonfiction narrative book. The goal of this class is to help writers discover what further efforts would benefit their books, whether that’s working on tone, dialogue, scene, setting, structure, voice, context, reflection, flashbacks, or other elements of the writing craft. While kindness will guide the spirit in which we deliver and receive feedback, writers should come prepared to give and receive critique.
Class time will be spent in instruction and discussion. Prior to each meeting, half the class will submit a portion of their work for analysis and commentary. In written feedback from Sara and verbal feedback during class discussion, we’ll focus on what’s working (and why), what isn’t working (and why), and any specific questions the writer has about their own work. The small size of this group enables each writer to receive feedback on a significant portion of their book, as well as to learn from the critiques other writers receive.
By the end of our time together, you’ll have a strong foundation for your book and a plan for how to proceed. Each student will have the opportunity to schedule a thirty-minute one-on-one Zoom meeting with Sara at the end of the course.
I would be happy to schedule a Zoom or phone call to discuss whether your book project and goals are a good fit for this class. Click the button below to email me.
Testimonials
“Sara’s feedback was stellar. I really appreciated it, and it was very helpful in helping me rearrange and add to my book.”
— Julene Weaver, author of several Books of poetry, including Slow Now with Clear Skies
“I appreciated the nature of the feedback I received. I believe it’s always a good thing to have as many eyes on your writing-in-progress as possible.”
— Scott Taylor, author of Dead Body Guy (a memoir in progress)
“Consistency is key, and the deadlines helped me get a lot accomplished on my book.”