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An Inside Look
at a
Turning Memories Into Memoirs® Workshop
No. Not at all. This isn't a high school classroom. It's not even a college classroom. It is a workshop designed to show you how to make your lifestories come alive.
At a recent workshop led by Soleil Lifestory Network founder Denis Ledoux in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, 12 eager writers clustered around a table covered with lifestories, notepads, and books, listening to each other read their work. Without exception, each story was treated with respect and sympathy.
The biggest challenge of the week was to concentrate our comments on the writing technique rather than the emotional content of the writing. Lifestories are by definition personal, and it is hard to listen to another writer talk about a painful divorce or the death of a child without offering emotional support. But we soon learned to set aside those reactions until later and use the time at hand to help the writer figure out how to better craft the story.
We concentrated on discovering opportunities to "crack open the story," as Denis said. We looked for ways to tell a story in scenes, like a movie, rather than in essay form. This shift in focus probably is the most important theme of the week.
Every day started with a brief talk by Denis on an aspect of writing, and then moved into sharing our writing. Each writer is given the same length of time to read a story and then to listen to comments about it. After the writer has read the story, he or she describes what it was like to write and read the story. Then everyone is invited to tell the author what "worked" in the writing. Finally, everyone offers ideas on rewriting the story. All comments relate to the craft of writing and not to the emotional content.
Often the writing grew out of an assignment Denis had given. The different directions people went in with the same assignment were fascinating. It was exciting to hear someone read for a second or third time, incorporating new techniques. We all became better writers.
And then there were the walks on the beach! Old Orchard Beach is unusual in Maine, one of the few sand beaches in the state. Although packed tight with people during the summer, it is uncrowded the rest of the year. We practically had it to ourselves. The walks motivated some, inspired others, and invigorated everyone.
The next Introductory Turning Memories Into Memoirs® workshop is scheduled for April 4, 2004.
Reserve your space soon--the last workshop had a waiting list. $250 holds your place.
For details please see Turning Memories® Workshops.
"The presentation of the curriculum was excellent. Denis is very interested in his subject matter and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is well versed and a real pro in his field. The content was a blend of writing techniques and a deep understanding of human psychology. The workshop more than met my expectations."
--Sally Blumenfeld, Boxford, MA
"Very good content. Schedule is well done. Excellent feedback (constructive and very informative and helpful). I am highly inspired and motivated."
--Sharon Snover, Brewerton, NY
"The workshop was well structured and no down time. Very full and appropriate."
--Workshop participant
"It went far, far beyond my expectations."
--Workshop participant
"I've been to more expensive workshops and received much less."
--Edith Fenton, Boxford, MA
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