Workshop Details

How do we begin to know our own stories, and to tell them in a way that feels universal? How can we structure our inward journeys so that they resonate with others? In this interactive workshop, we will explore multiple aspects of writing a memoir.
There is a profound difference between "journaling" and writing memoir. In journaling, we are interested in writing only for ourselves. In memoir, we are also conscious of our readers. As we craft a memoir, we want to make art out of our lives, turning confession and even confusion into clear-sighted, purposeful prose.
In many traditions, the year's end is a time of contemplation and meaningful reflection on one's own life. This workshop—accessible to writers of absolutely all levels from the published to the beginner—encourages an inventory of the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories we are compelled to share with others.
There will be plenty of time for meditation, personal writing, guided exercises, and coming together as a group in a supportive and nurturing atmosphere.
Dani Shapiro, bestselling novelist and memoirist, will guide the group through exercises designed to open the channels to memory and emotion. In an intimate and supportive environment, she will provide useful, hands-on tools for beginning to shape our journeys into compelling narratives.
Please note: There will be a celebratory Christmas Eve dinner in the Esalen Lodge.