Memoir and life writing courses and consultancy
We all have a story to tell. I can teach you how to write it.
My name is Anna Derrig. I teach my memoir and life writing courses based on a decade of research, teaching privately and at Goldsmiths, University of London.
I have spoken on BBC Radio 4 – Four Thought, Other People’s Stories and The Digital Human and at international conferences about my PhD topic and book proposal: ethics, consent and life writing.
My next memoir/life writing course will be on Zoom.
Five Saturdays: Dates tbc from 10.30am - 3pm (incl 30 mins lunch break).
Cost tbc
Max ten participants.
To contact me about private courses, mentoring and consultancy, please email annaderrig@gmail.com.
About my courses
Memoirs enable us to examine and articulate the memorable moments and events of our lives. Through writing and constructive feedback, in my courses we explore how to give form and shape to your major stories and turning points.
The writing of your story can be cathartic, joyful or simply words well-written for public or personal benefit. Through inspiring and engaging workshops, we will explore how you can write your untold stories. You’ll learn more about yourself while practising the creative techniques of fiction to frame your life story – from structure to voice and dialogue.
We will also discuss how to write about others ethically, ideally with the consent of your subject(s). You’ll hear about the latest trends in memoir publishing and study contemporary writers such as Sigrid Rausing, Terese Marie Mailhot and Karl Ove Knausgaard. You will also learn how to read as a writer and to give and receive constructive criticism. You will be writing and reading between classes, when you will receive feedback from the tutor and the group.
In small supportive sessions, we form a tight-knit group, exploring the nuances of life writing as a genre, examining the ethical implications, and gaining an understanding of the contemporary field.
Course Structure
Typically, my memoir and life writing course runs one full day each week for four consecutive weeks when I can teach in person. Online the course will run for five consecutive Saturdays for a shorter period.
The following in person course structure has served well for most people who have taken the course. The online structure will follow this outline, but over five weeks.
Week 1 - Introductions
In our first workshop we’ll begin by getting to know the group, outlining the structure of the course and the expectations. We’ll explore learning to listen actively, how to build your confidence, as well how to access your imagination. We will also discuss the reading listing and how you can read like a writer.
Week 2 - Creative styles - writing and re-writing. Life writing and ethics
This week will examine different creative styles. There will be student readings and feedback (for this and the next two weeks), a writing exercise and we’ll focus on the skill of writing as re-writing. We will also explore life writing as a genre with its particular ethical implications.
Week 3 - Structure, voice and voices. Point of view.
We will look at recently published books and how contemporary authors frame their stories. We will explore your voice and other voices , using writing exercises to practice different points of view.
Week 4 - Memory, truth and recall. Life mapping.
In our final session, we’ll explore the lines between memoir and fiction – asking to what extent we can fictionalise a story without losing the essence of memoir. We will also reflect on our own lives through a life mapping exercise, as well as questioning the pros and cons of publishing and looking at the contemporary market for memoirs.
What you’ll learn
We will form a strong group bond in which our individual writing can flourish. Group participation provides an atmosphere in which listening to and learning from others is integral. Within this mutually-supportive writing community, anything shared within the group is confidential. We’ll explore how to give non-judgmental, analytical feedback on the writing, not the writer.
We’ll use a variety of techniques to get you started: writing exercises, group feedback, group and pair work, informal discussions, lecture-led discussion, reading lists, whiteboard and powerpoint activities and online resources, where appropriate.
The course is adapted each term to meet your diverse needs as writers. You’ll come away with writing to work on for yourself, whether you want to build a portfolio for further study, enter competitions, or develop ideas as a foundation for a short or longer memoir.
Why Study this Course?
Learn more about memoir and life writing as a genre, including the current trends within the field
Become part of a vibrant and diverse community of writers
Understand how to read like a writer and write like you’ve never written before
Develop your self-awareness and self-evaluation as a writer, through listening to and giving constructive feedback on writing
Find out more about publishing and trends in creative nonfiction
Develop your awareness and critical understanding of the ethical issues surrounding memoir and life writing
Consolidate your learning with peer feedback on your own and others’ writing
At the end of this course you will have:
Increased confidence in and understanding of yourself as a writer
A piece of writing you can work on for your memoir and to apply for competitions, other courses and for personal satisfaction
The ability to practice a range of life writing skills and styles, as well as feedback on your writing from a range of viewpoints
An awareness of the pitfalls and opportunities of an ethical approach
Knowledge of contemporary memoirs, current life writing trends and the changing nature of life writing