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MENOMONIE — Aspiring writers looking to turn personal memories into compelling stories will have the opportunity to do just that this summer at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
A five-session mini-course titled From Memories to Memoir: Crafting Your Story will be held on Mondays from June 23 through Aug. 4. The class will meet from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the UW-Stout campus, with an option to attend remotely via Zoom. Registration is open now at a cost of $149.
The course is designed for writers of all levels, including those with no prior writing experience. Over the span of five weeks, participants will explore storytelling techniques through readings, writing prompts and one-on-one coaching. While attendees will be encouraged to share their writing in group sessions, participation is optional.
Kate Roberts Edenborg of UW-Stout is a seasoned journalist and educator with a Ph.D. in journalism and mass communication and will lead the course. With years of experience working as a professional journalist and teaching journalism at the university level, she brings a wealth of knowledge on both the theory and practice of writing non-fiction. Her expertise ensures that you’ll gain practical skills and new insights into memoir storytelling.
Topics covered in the weekly sessions include identifying a personal narrative, building scenes with vivid detail, experimenting with structure and editing written work. Each session will combine discussion with hands-on writing time.
Participants will leave the course with the beginnings of memoir pieces they can continue to develop for personal use or publication.
Each session will focus on a combination of discussion-based learning and hands-on practice with your own writing. Here’s what you’ll explore week by week:
Week 1: Defining Your Story (June 23)
Narrow a focus to a specific time and place in your life.
Week 2: Finding Your First Words (June 30)
Learn how to start your story.
Week 3: Showing & Telling (July 14)
Use figurative language and sensory details.
Week 4: Discovering Your Structure (July 28)
Explore plot and dramatic tension.
Week 5: Re-visioning & Reading (August 4)
Edit your own work and learn from listening to stories of others.
Register by Sunday, May 18, and receive $20 with the coupon code MOMSDAY or DADSDAY.
For more information or to register, visit UW-Stout’s continuing education website.