Introduction to Memoir Writing: The Caterpillar Workshop
The Caterpillar Intro to Memoir Writing Workshop is a beginning creative writing workshop focused on writing memoir and personal essays. It is designed for those who are drawn to memoir writing but found the task daunting, and writers who have been beat down by negative-centered feedback in previous writers workshop experiences. All levels are welcome to join!
Use Promo Code CATERPILLAR to take $50 off your first writing workshop with us!
Let yourself be gutted. Let it open to you. Start here.
From Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
This introductory memoir class will focus on creative nonfiction, personal essay, and short memoir writing. As it can be painful to commit our own experiences to paper, this writers workshop is intended to guide students gently, but productively. The instructor, Natassja, has been teaching creative nonfiction writing for four years. She writes about her own difficult past as well. As a result, she understands how to guide new and seasoned writers alike through their personal writing journey with care.
The workshop will meet via video conference in 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks. The first two weeks of the course are generative and informative. Reading homework will include published works of short memoir and personal essay. The class will discuss why and how published pieces work, and the craft of memoir writing. The students will also begin the creative writing process by generating work in during the first two class sessions. During the last four weeks, along with continued craft discussion, each student will submit one piece to be critiqued by their peers and instructor using positive and action-based methods — what’s working and what can the writer do to improve? Students will leave sessions feeling motivated to do the difficult task of making their work stronger.
At end of this memoir writing class, you may feel like goo. That’s okay! That’s normal. It means you’re ready for your metamorphosis into a Chrysalis. Sometimes becoming goo is the best thing you can do for a piece of writing!
Each Introduction to Memoir Writing Workshop includes a one-on-one session with your writing workshop instructor, Natassja, that will be scheduled at a later date.
The workshop will meet in 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks.
Available online via video conference or in new york city.
[max capacity: 8 students]
Take $50 off your first memoir writing class with us! Use Promo Code CATERPILLAR at checkout.
enroll now!
Upcoming!
The Caterpillar Workshop: Intro to Memoir Writing
online:
Tuesdays, April 7 thru may 12 7-8:30pm
tuesdays, may 19 thru june 23 7-8:30pm
New york city:
Thursdays, April 9 thru may 14 7-8:30pm
thursdays, may 21 thru june 25 7-8:30pm
“When I was inspired to write an essay analyzing the representation of femme fatales in murder mysteries, I reached out to Natassja for help. She graciously assisted me, an inexperienced fiction writer, edit my first draft and figure out a structure that enticed readers. She followed up by sending essays she thought were similar and would inspire me. Soon after, I published that piece on The Rumpus!”
“Writing requires courage, audacity. I’m not suggesting that there is something heroic about writing, but I do believe that to commit words and ideas to the page demands something of the writer”
From Light the Dark by Roxane Gay
““Natassja established a supportive, intimate environment in the classroom from the beginning. This combination provided a truly unique experience in which we all felt safe enough to take risks with our stories, and stretch ourselves as writers. I think her gift is in seeing and making emotional connections in the writing, which is where I sometimes struggle as a more objective writer, so I feel I benefited greatly from her instruction and was extremely fortunate to have had her as an instructor. ”
Intermediate Chrysalis Memoir Writing Workshop
This intermediate writing workshop is for those that have a developed writing practice, and are in a place that deeper critique on their work will be beneficial. Each student will come in with a draft, then workshop it twice. The goal is that at the end of this six-week course it will be ready for submission. Students meet in 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks. At the end, students emerge from the Chrysalis, preparing for flight!
intermediate chrysalis memoir writing workshop [dates TBD]
““Wonderful instructor! This was my second writing workshop with her. She does above and beyond with is expected. After helping me refine my latest draft of my personal essay, she sent me more material to work with, and more commentary. I would take a third creative writing class with her!
”
“I think new writers are too worried that it has all been said before. Sure it has, but not by you.”
-Asha Dornfest
““Natassja is an excellent instructor. Her advice helped me become a better writer, student, and person. She is easily approachable, helpful, and an overall great person. I will gladly take another one of her creative writing classes. ”
Advanced Monarch Memoir Writing Workshop
The Monarch Memoir Writing Workshop is an advanced memoir writing class for those with an established writing practice that would benefit from not only critique, but also guidance on sending their work out into the world. This class is for those who have emerged as butterflies with drafts that need shaping so the pieces can soar in publishing. This class includes information on where and how to pitch and submit work. It also covers how tricks for finding publications that will be a good fit for your work.
Advanced monarch memoir writing workshop [Dates tDB]
Spread Your Wings: One-on-one Services
Reading to spread your wings? Monarch Writers Workshop offers query (including development of pitch tweets for #pitmad and other Twitter pitch events) help, one-on-one developmental coaching, editing, and manuscript/proposal consultation services. For more information and a quote, please inquire at info@monarchwriters.com.