Five-Month Memoir / Narrative Nonfiction Incubator

We’ll meet every two weeks on Thursdays, alternating between morning and evening.

MEETS: Thursday, January 23–Thursday, May 29

January 23, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15          

10 a.m.–12 p.m. PST / 12–2 p.m. CST

February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, May 29

5:30–7:30 p.m. PST / 7:30–9:30 p.m. CST     

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: $495 before 1/1/25; $750 after 1/1/25

SIZE: 4–8 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 self-published book. 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.

This deep-dive biweekly workshop will offer 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 will enable each writer to receive feedback on a significant portion of their book, as well as to learn from the critique 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.