Memoir Master Class | Catapult | New York City

This is a master class in writing memoir. We will write in class from long-tested prompts that will spark your creative energy. The work will be read aloud, discussed, and used as vehicles for developing literary techniques to take home with you as you plunge more deeply into your writing: We will examine: where to begin your story; the composition of scenes; transitions both within and between scenes, from present moment to reflection, backstory, and flash forward; the use of white space; techniques for breaking through emotional barriers to diving deeper; how to summarize effectively (gallop through time in a compelling way); recreate dialogue from the distant past; how to write detailed prose that is so alive it reels the reader in and keeps them turning the page.

Master Memoirist Beverly Donofrio has published three critically acclaimed memoirs. Her first, the New York Times bestselling Riding in Cars with Boys, was made into a popular movie, and her second, Looking for Mary, was a Barnes and Noble “Discover” pick. She has published three children’s books, her latest, Where’s Mommy was named a best picture book by The New York Times. Her essays have appeared in many anthologies, periodicals, and magazines, including The New York Times; The Washington Post; Los Angeles Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; Marie Claire; More; Allure; Spirituality and Health; The Huffington Post; Slate; Cagibi; Hippocampus; Long Reads; and Brevity. Her award-winning NPR documentaries can be heard through Sound Portraits. She gives workshops around the country and is currently on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Wilkes University. She is working on a fourth memoir, a collection of life stories about becoming a wild woman and determined feminist as the natural result of being born the daughter of a guardian of the patriarchy, a man who wore a badge on his chest and a billie club, black jack and gun on his belt.

The workshop is from 1pm-5pm each day on August 24 and 25.

The class size is limited to 8 people. Submission of up to 2 double-spaced pages for consideration of admittance is required.