Spring and summer update: memoir class, in-person teaching at Conference, August workshop, and more

Hello, everyone. There is still room left for the online seminars I am teaching with my wife Amy Ettinger, author of Sweet Spot. We’ll be talking about structuring personal essays and memoirs. Here you will find a comprehensive list of my new classes, which will take place June 12 and 13, (online personal essay and memoir classes), July 25-29 (in-person teaching at Catamaran lit. conference in Santa Cruz) and August 7, 14, 21, and 28 (online memoir workshop and craft class)

On June 12, Amy and I will teach a class about the personal essay from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PDT.

There are many ways to tell the same story. The choices can be overwhelming for writers. We’ll discuss how to structure an essay, from anecdotal ledes to circular essays to braided narratives. Writers will learn a variety of ways to turn their experiences into narratives that editors will be excited to publish.

June 13: I’ll take the lead in a class about the Memoir.

10 am-12 pm PDT

It can be daunting to think of telling your life story in 70,000 words. In this class, we’ll look at some of the most common pitfalls that writers face when beginning their memoirs. We’ll share concrete examples that will help you find your narrative arc, giving your book strong focus and momentum.

I am very excited to announce in-person teaching at the Catamaran literary festival in Santa Cruz from July 25-29, at the campus of the Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz! Spend each morning workshop (9:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m.) with me and a group of up to twelve other writers. Each participant will submit up to twenty pages of memoir writing for review by the workshop group. The writing may be part of a larger work or a stand-alone piece. The workshop meets four mornings (Mon.-Thurs.) and each participant will learn methods for revising their own work and will receive focused feedback from the group on their craft. This class will also spend time on generating new writing using exercises to encourage improvisation and experimentation. Dan will give writers tools to work through blocks and find enjoyment in creating personal memoirs. More information right here

and in August, I will be back with my online small-group Zoom-based workshop, every Saturday of the month from 1230 to 230 p.m. PST. More information soon!

2 comments

  1. Shlomit Cnaan

    Dear Dan
    I would love to attend your Zoom workshop but for the fact that it happens between 2 and 4.30 am our time.
    If you do one-on-one online coaching, would you please tell me more about that? Santa Cruz and Jerusalem do have some normal working hours in common. I know this from my lovely friend Dana who I think mentioned me briefly to you at the festival.
    Hope to hear from you
    Shlomit

    1. Dan White Post author

      Hi Shlomit! It is great to hear from you, and yes, I do one on one manuscript consultations- send me an email
      at dwhitescruz@yahoo.com
      Onwards!

      Dan

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