A Novel Idea: Crafting A Memoir Workshop Series

Perry County Council of the Arts (PCCA) will host its popular workshop series for writers, A Novel Idea, from January to June 2021. This monthly virtual workshop, held on second Wednesdays, 5 to 8 p.m. via Zoom, will focus on adapting life stories into an artistically crafted memoir. A Memoir is a journey through the writer’s past. It is not an autobiography—one’s entire life—but a slice of life. Participants will paint their own picture of a personal moment or experience and share their unique journey through the art of creative writing. Creative nonfiction is useful in a memoir as it helps bring scenes alive with enhanced setting and dialogue. Many personal history memoirs succeed because the writer transforms real people into compelling, fleshed-out characters on the page.  

Over 6 casual “Meet & Eat” dinnertime sessions, participants will learn to CREATE scenes with rich description and engaging dialogue, TRANSFORM people into compelling characters, and STRUCTURE stories for clarity and strong storytelling.