Memoir Writing | Creative Writing Classes in NYC and Online with Professional Writing Instructors

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"This class was a wonderful mix of lecture, assignments, exchanges, and critiques. I've learned so much. My technique has improved, and I will continue to refer to the lectures as I write my memoir."

- Deborah Lehman
Freelance Journalist

"This is by far the best writing course that I have ever taken."

- Linda Gask
Doctor

"I am a professional writer by trade, but I learned so such about character development, the elements and structure of writing memoir, and the more nuanced, subtle ingredients of story writing."

- Janet Davenport
Communications VP

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Everyone has a story to tell. Whether a life is unconventional or relatively normal, there’s bound to be something fascinating about it. That’s why the contemporary memoir – everyday people telling their tales – has become such a popular phenomenon. Memoirs appear throughout magazines and bookstores and a lucky few, such as Angela’s Ashes and The Liar’s Club, even make the bestseller list.

To make readers care, your memoir must be told with the finesse of fiction. In our courses, you will learn how to focus your life stories, give them literary purpose, and apply such craft elements as character, plot, description, dialogue, setting, pacing, and theme. You will also learn how and where to market your work.

Whether you seek to write essay-length pieces or a book, we’ll show you how to best tell the stories from your life.

Select a class: Level I, Advanced

Level I
Memoir Writing | 10-week Workshop

Using a balance of lecture, exercise, and feedback on work from the instructor and classmates, this course gives students a firm grounding in all the basics of memoir writing. Everything is presented in a clear, accessible manner.

Write one or two short memoirs or begin a book
Lectures on basics of memoir craft
Writing exercises
Present work for critique (two times)

Memoir I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals.

View a course syllabus.

(3.0 CEU)

New York City Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365 . Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	Meeting Day	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jan 28	Thursdays	555 8th Ave.	2:00PM - 5:00PM		CLASS FULL Call for waitlist

= Daytime Class

Online Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365 . Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 16 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Feb 17	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day		CLASS FULL Call for waitlist
Feb 24	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Mar 16	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Apr 6	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Apr 20	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
May 18	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day

= Daytime Class

Advanced - New York City
Memoir Writing | 10-week Workshop

Focusing on developing projects and receiving feedback from the instructor and classmates, this course helps students sharpen their skills and work toward completion of publishable work. Writers often repeat Memoir II to continue their projects.

Write or refine one/two short memoirs or begin or work toward completion of a book
Lectures that expand on basics of memoir craft
Writing exercises
Present work for in-depth critique (two times)

Prerequisite: Memoir Writing I or the equivalent.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

New York City Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365 . Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	Meeting Day	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jan 28	Thursdays	555 8th Ave.	10:00AM - 1:00PM		CLASS FULL Call for waitlist

= Daytime Class

Advanced - Online
Memoir Writing | 10-week Workshop

Focusing on developing projects and receiving feedback from the instructor and classmates, these courses helps students sharpen their skills and work toward completion of publishable work. Writers often repeat Memoir II to continue their projects.

Gotham has two separate programs for Memoir II online:

Memoir II-a – For writers working on either essay-length (short) or book-length memoirs.

Memoir II-b – For writers working on book-length memoirs.

All advanced students should start with Memoir II-a. Then, if you are writing a book and wish to continue with your study, you would follow it with Memoir II-b.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes - Memoir Writing II-A

Write or refine one/two short memoirs, or begin or work toward completion of a book-length memoir
Lectures that expand on basics of memoir craft
Writing exercises
Present work for in-depth critique (two times)

Prerequisite: Memoir I or the equivalent

View a course syllabus

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365 . Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jan 28*	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Jan 28*	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Feb 18	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
Apr 8	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day
May 13	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day

* You can still enroll in this class!

Advanced - Online
Memoir Book | 10-week Workshop

Online Classes - Memoir Book II-B

Begin or work toward the completion of a book-length memoir
Lectures that expand on basics of memoir craft and the book form
Present work for in-depth critique (three times)

Prerequisite: Memoir II-a

View a course syllabus

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365 . Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Apr 16	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day