I hope you’re well and navigating these challenging times with kindness and compassion. I’m so thankful for you and our community!
Today, I’m excited to share my upcoming offerings. If you’re reading to get cracking on your memoir, here’s how you can work with me this fall:
Memoir Mastery
My 8-week signature online course, Memoir Mastery: How to Write a Compelling Memoir, starts Wednesday, September 9.
Registration is now officially open.
In this comprehensive 8-week course, you’ll go from feeling alone, confused and overwhelmed to feeling excited and supported in the power of your story, clear in its scope, and confident in the craft and technique of creating a compelling memoir.
With 6 online modules, 4 live coaching calls and a private group forum, you’ll get plenty of support and accountability as well as laser-focused coaching within a wonderfully supportive community. You’ll leave this course with a strong foundation for your memoir as well as a clear set of next steps.
Everything is online, to be taken at your own pace, with lifetime access to the materials. There’s a DIY option as well as live/supported option with a private group forum and 4 Zoom calls for those of you looking for community, support and accountability.
For a full description and to register, please click here.
Writing the Memoir
I’m also teaching an 8-week Writing the Memoir workshop for Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop that starts this Thursday, August 20 from 10am-noon MST.
There are still a few spots left if you’d like to join us. Please click here to register.
How are these classes different?
The Lighthouse class meets weekly (on Zoom) for 2 hours over 8 weeks. There will be weekly teachings and readings and everyone will have the opportunity to submit up to 15 pages of writing for review during our time together.
Teachings will be tailored to the needs of the group, which will provide a strong foundation for writing memoir. However, since our time will also be spent reviewing/workshopping each other’s writing, we won’t have the opportunity to go as deep on every level.
Writing workshops such as these are designed to support you as you move through the writing process and are often meant to be taken on an ongoing basis. Taking classes through Lighthouse is also a great way to identify teachers that are a good fit for you.
The Memoir Mastery class is a deeper, more comprehensive dive, designed to give you everything you need to know to write your memoir, from safety and self-care to structure, craft and organization. This course is based on my experience as a writer and teacher trying to navigate the logistics of what it really takes to write (and gasp) finish a memoir. Although we address these topics in my Lighthouse classes as well, I simply can’t cover it all during one 2-hr, 8-week class.
Both classes will include excerpts from contemporary memoirs to hone and deepen our craft. Part of what we’re learning is how to read like a writer, then apply those lessons to your own writing. Both classes will discuss excerpts from contemporary writers such as Elizabeth Alexander, Tara Westover, Saeed Jones and more.
Here’s more info about both classes:
Memoir Mastery: How to Write a Compelling Memoir
I’ve found that the keys to writing memoir are getting the right structure, accountability, encouragement and support. That’s why I’ve built the following pieces into this course:
- 2 “on-ramp” bonus trainings to help you get your (mindset) game on and set up a writing schedule you can adhere to.
- 6 online modules covering craft and technique as well as weekly mindset tips. Each module is broken into bite-sized steps, with downloadable video trainings and supporting PDFs accessible to you for the lifetime of the course. You can take everything at your own pace.
- 4 live group coaching calls on Zoom.
- Calls meet every other Tues from 12-1pm MST.
- Dates are 9/15, 9/29, 10/13, 10/27.
- All calls will be recorded if you’re unable to make it.
- Support and feedback for your short writing exercises (up to 15 pages total).
- Private forum for coaching, Q&A, support and accountability.
- 4 “lift-off” bonus interviews with authors, editors and book reviewers to clarify next steps.
Here are some of the memoirs we’ll be looking at throughout the course:
- Educated by Tara Westover
- The Color of Water by James McBride
- The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber
- Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams
- Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
- The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander, and more.
For more information and to register, please click here.
Please note: If you’ve been affected by recent events and are in need of a partial scholarship, please use the following coupon codes to receive a 20% savings off of your tuition:
- Coupon code for the pay-in-full option: DANCE
- Coupon code for the 3-month payment plan: DANCE3
If you’re a Memoir Mastery alum and would like to join us for this round at a 50% discount, please email me directly.
Writing the Memoir
Ready to bring your memoir to life? This class is for memoir writers at any stage of writing or editing their memoir. We’ll combine group discussion, lectures, readings, and workshops in order to help strengthen your writing, and each writer will have the opportunity to share pages for constructive critique and feedback. Discussions and lectures will be tailored to the needs of the group and will include topics such as how to create a compelling narrative arc, hook your reader, maintain effective pacing, flesh out your scenes as well as your characters, and more. We’ll also discuss the importance of safety and self-care in memoir—key to making it to the finish line.
Because this class is tailored to the needs of the group, the lessons and excerpts are more fluid in nature. For more info and/or to register, please click here. Lighthouse also offers financial assistance for those in need.
Please note: registration for my Lighthouse classes occurs through Lighthouse. My work at Lighthouse is completely separate from the courses I teach here, through my own business.
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Tanja
P.S.: As always, please reach out with questions. Simply hit reply or email me at tanja [at] tanjapajevic [dot] com.
