Maybe you have an exciting idea for a memoir or narrative nonfiction book you’d like to write. “That’s a great idea!” people say. “Just write it!” they say. So you sit down and write. And you write. And you write some more. But the story meanders aimlessly, spins off in multiple directions, or seems to fizzle after 30 or 40 pages. You aren’t sure where it’s going, how to tell your story, or how to actually turn this unwieldy thing into a book. Do not despair. You are not alone. This workshop is for you! In this workshop, we will talk about common pitfalls in writing a book-length project. We’ll discuss things like the importance of structure and a clear understanding of the underlying themes that drive your book in order to carry your reader from chapter to chapter. We’ll share our individual projects and writing to receive peer and instructor feedback, and to evaluate potential overarching issues. You’ll leave the course with tangible resources to support you, and a better idea of how to approach and develop your longer writing project, so that when you return home you will feel more confident about where exactly you’re going when you sit down to write your book.

In this workshop, we will generate new writing through exercises and assignments, and provide feedback on writing you produce in our week.