Allyson Latta (Photo: Keane Shore)
Happy new year, writers!
There are still a couple of spots open in my online critique course Memories into Story II: Life Writing, offered through University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. The fun begins Monday, January 12, and runs for two 4-week periods — 12 Jan to 9 Feb and 23 Feb to 21 Mar.
This time around, there’s a two-week break from 9 to 22 Feb, as I’ll be in San Miguel de Allende leading a workshop and taking part in a panel on memoir writing at the San Miguel International Writers’ Conference.
My guest for Memories into Story II, which focuses on memoir and personal essay, is Richard Gilbert, author of Shepherd (read this wonderful review by Thomas Larson in River Teeth) and one of my favourite essayists on the craft of memoir writing. During the course, students will read several short works by Richard and have the opportunity to take part in a virtual interview.
To register, students must have completed my introductory course, Memories into Story I, or equivalent memoir writing instruction. In the case of the latter, prior to registering please submit two samples of your best writing (maximum 1,500 words) for my approval to scs.writing@utoronto.ca.
Students must have one of their two short works (maximum 15 pages, double spaced) ready to share with the group by the start of class. The second work can be completed during the course.
Former student Alexandra Risen, who completed Memories into Story I (intro class) and whom I mentored through her Final Project for the UofT SCS Creative Writing Certificate, recently landed a book deal for her memoir. Plum Johnson, author of the memoir They Left Us Everything, was a student in my previous session of Memories into Story II. Among my students, many emerging writers have gone on to see their short memoirs published in journals including Hippocampus Magazine, carte blanche, and The Sun Magazine, newspapers, and anthologies, or to self-publish their life stories.
How far could a course like this take you and your writing? Join us and see!
For additional details or to register, visit Memories into Story II.