Memoir Writing
Dates: August 11 - 15, 2008
Instructor: Barbara Robinette Moss www.barbaramoss.com
 Do you have a personal story that feels stuck in your mind, as if calling to be written? Have you jotted down bits and pieces of it but need a little help determining what you truly want to say? Award-winning author Barbara Robinette Moss, teaching a 5-day memoir writing workshop, will help you translate experiences and emotions into words. Through class exercises, you will focus on getting to the heart of the story, while acknowledging and considering the powerful emotions stirred by writing personal experiences. The course runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day and each student receives a half-hour private consultation with their instructor.
You will write, read aloud, and with Barbara you'll gently revise as you transpose your memories onto the page. Once a story has been established, you will search for the beginning, middle and end, and discuss techniques for strengthening the writing with metaphor, a sense of place and dialogue. Non-fiction writing can easily get cluttered with .jpg) “everything that happened.” In these classes you will determine what details to leave in, what to leave out. Bring your journals and diaries if you have them. No manuscript necessary, but please bring your willingness to write and share your experiences. Dailly reading and writing assignments. In this course you will:
- Determine what story you truly want to tell
- Develop a sense of place
- Pinpoint the beginning, middle and end
- Learn to write convincing dialogue
- Learn to write summary that moves the story forward
- Discover the “transformation” within the story
- Determine the “lift” at the end of your story
About your instructor: In 1996, Barbara Robbinette Moss won the gold medal for personal essay in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition, sponsored by The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, New Orleans, Louisiana. The winning story, “Near the Center of the Earth,” became the first chapter for her memoir, Change Me into Zeus’s Daughter, published by Scribner. After publication, Barbara won the 2002 Alabama Author Award for Nonfiction, sponsored by the Alabama Library Association, and the Iowa Authors Award 2000, sponsored by the Library Association of Des Moines Foundation. In 2004, Barbara's books have been reviewed by many publications including The New York Times Book Review, The London Daily Telegraph, The Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Birmingham News, The Des Moines Register, The Times Picayune, and USA Today. Articles have appeared in People Magazine, Elle, Allure, and many more.
Costs: Option A $650 US Includes workshop, private half hour consultation with instructor, one night of student readings. A deposit of $300 is required to reserve your space. Before registering, students must submit a writing sample (an MS Word or Adobe pdf document of up to 10 single-sided, double-spaced type written pages is required for admission along with a non-refundable $25 reading fee.) Click here to register now. For information regarding accommodations at varying price ranges, please email jody@sanmiguelworkshops.com. Optional yoga classes, spa treatments, walking tours and moring hikes are available at an additional charge, which you may register for upon arrival.
A minimum number of students are required for this workshop. If registration proves insufficient, San Miguel Workshops has the right to cancel or postpone the session, and will refund your money in full. Please see additional details under "Terms and Conditions" on the Registration Page of this website. * Photo above right by JJ Anderson
Fiction Writing - Intermediate Level
Juried Selection / Writing Sample Required
Dates: August 11 - 15, 2008
Instructor: Kaylie Jones www.kayliejones.com
 Bestselling author Kaylie Jones will teach a 5-day intermediate fiction workshop. This workshop is an intensive exploration of the elements of writing fiction and will focus on techniques for character development, plot, conflict, dialogue, beginnings, endings, the writing process and basic storytelling. The course runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day and each student receives a half-hour private consultation with their instructor.
Space is limited and a writing sample (an MS Word or Adobe pdf document of up to 10 single-sided, double-spaced type written page is required for admission along with a non-refundable $25 reading fee).
 About your instructor: Born in Paris to novelist James Jones, Kaylie Jones studied language and literature at Wesleyan University and received an MFA in Writing from Columbia University. She is the author of five novels including A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries, which was made into a Merchant Ivory Film directed by James Ivory and starring Kris Kristofferson and the critically acclaimed novel, Speak Now. Kaylie also worked at Poets & Writers, Inc. in the Readings/Workshops Program and later as the assistant to the Director of Development. She taught fiction workshops at The Writers Voice, then became involved in the creation of the MFA Program in Writing at LIUs Southampton campus, where she still teaches Literature and Fiction Writing. In addition, Kaylie chairs the James Jones First Novel Fellowship, which awards $10,000 yearly to an unpublished first novel. In the last ten years, seven of the winners have been published to impressive critical acclaim.
Testimonials:
Kaylie is an absolute pleasure to work with and very, very motivating. She is incredibly well read and she uses her vast knowledge to give examples of specific techniques, etc. that she’s teaching. There was the perfect balance of discussion, at home work and class participation. Ultimately, she has a laser like ability to hone in on exactly the issue/problem with your work. - Stacy K. from New York
Costs: Option A $650 US Includes workshop, private half hour consultation with instructor, one night of student readings. A deposit of $300 is required to reserve your space. Before registering, students must submit a writing sample (an MS Word or Adobe pdf document of up to 10 single-sided, double-spaced type written pages is required for admission along with a non-refundable $25 reading fee.) Click here to register now. For information regarding accommodations at varying price ranges, please email jody@sanmiguelworkshops.com. Optional yoga classes, spa treatments, walking tours and moring hikes are available at an additional charge, which you may register for upon arrival.
A minimum number of students are required for this workshop. If registration proves insufficient, San Miguel Workshops has the right to cancel or postpone the session, and will refund your money in full. Please see additional details under "Terms and Conditions" on the Registration Page of this website.
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