“What would you write if you weren’t afraid?”― Mary Karr, The Art of Memoir
This generative workshop will encourage deep exploration of the stories and memories that have helped shape our lives. We will read and discuss short memoirs available online or emailed as PDFs as examples of how to use prose to “show” your story through scene and description and to “tell” it through reflection. Readings will include those by Paisley Rekdal, Brenda Miller and Andre Dubus, III, as well as lesser-known memoirists publishing in journals today.
Craft and revision prompts will help put these learnings to use. A pre-class writing prompt will get us started; activities will include in-class writing and sharing (including one feedback group) as well as between class writing and reading assignments.
Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout for 10% off through May 6! (Porch members, check your email for your special earlybird discount code.)
Pauletta Hansel is a poet, memoirist and teacher. Her books include Will There Also Be Singing? (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, 2024); Heartbreak Tree (Madville Publications, 2022), which won the Poetry Society of Virginia’s 2023 North American Book Award; and Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017) winner of Berea College’s Weatherford Award in Poetry. Her writing has been featured in Cincinnati Review, Oxford American, Rattle, Appalachian Journal, Still: The Journal, Verse Daily and Poetry Daily, among others. Pauletta was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate and was 2022 Writer-in-Residence for The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
Pauletta is new to The Porch. Welcome!
