Hello! Welcome to Life Stories: Memoirs Unfolded, the writing component of your Nonfiction Journey. This course is designed designed for individuals ready to embark on the journey of documenting their personal narratives. This program offers a structured framework and supportive environment for participants to draft the initial 15-25 pages of their memoirs. Specific topics include finding your narrative voice, structuring your memoir, crafting vivid scenes, and navigating emotional terrain.
Learning Objectives
- Understand memoir structure including the use of theme, narrative arc, and personal reflection.
- Develop a unique narrative voice, focusing on authenticity, tone, and style.
- Demonstrate the ability to outline a memoir by organizing personal experiences into a coherent structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Evaluate feedback from peers to identify strengths and areas for improvement in both their own and others’ memoirs.
Requirements
Coursework
Complete each lesson in the the following course: Life Stories: Memoirs Unfolded.
*As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press complete before moving on to the next.
Mentorship
You are in one of the following pair types. You pair type is listed on your GWN Portal profile.
- Type 1: Mentor/Mentee: Meet 2-3 times per month and, as a pair, attend one of the engagement events listed below at least once per month.
- Type 2 : Peer-to-Peer: Meet 2 times per month and, as a pair, attend one of the engagement events listed below at least once per month.
Engagement Types
- Journey Meetings
- Course Studio
- Salons
Submissions
Participants of “Life Stories: Memoirs Unfolded” are required to submit the first 15-25 pages of their memoir which should include the opening chapters that showcase their narrative style and voice by January 31, 2025.
The submission should adhere to the following guidelines:
- Font: Use a standard, legible font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12-point).
- Spacing: Double-space
- Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the upper right corner.
- Header: Include your name and the title of the memoir in the header.
Asynchronous Coursework
This section provides suggested completion dates and information to remain on track with the course:
Suggested Completion Dates By Section:
- Section #1: October 21st — November 1st
- Section #2: November 4th — November 15th
- Section #3: November 18th — November 29th
- Section #4: December 2nd — December 13th
Suggested Dates for Writing & Editing:
- Writing Your Memoir: October 21st — November 29th
- Self-Edit 15-25 First Pages: November 29th — December 5th
- Integrate Peer Feedback: December 19th — January 1st
- Integrate Editor Feedback: January 16th — January 30th
Engagement Dates
Journey meetings are required for mentees.
Mentors may join their mentee but are not required to do so.
- Journey Meeting: What Will I Write? — November 2, 2024, 12 – 1:30pm ET
- Journey Meeting: Writing in Community — November 13, 2024, 4:30 – 5:30pm ET
- Journey Meeting: Peer Review Session — December 18, 2024, 6 – 7:30pm ET
- Journey Meeting: Writing in Community — January 6, 2025, 5 – 6pm ET
- Journey Meeting: Feedback W/ Feminist Press — January 15, 2025, PENDING
- Journey Meeting: Writing in Community — January 22, 2025, 6 – 7pm ET
* Mentees are required to attend TWO out of the THREE Writing in Community meetings.
Please check the Announcements tab in your portal for information on upcoming live events.
Submissions
- Submit 15-25 First Pages For Peer Review: December 6th
- Submit 15-25 First Pages For Editor Feedback: January 2nd
- Submit Final 15-25 Pages: January 31st
How to Submit Drafts for Peer-Review & Editor Feedback: Upload 15-25 pages as a PDF or Docx into the Google Drive folder under your name. Each submission title should be formatted as followed: memoirtitle-firstandlastname
How to Submit the Final Draft: Submit a PDF through the Girls Write Now portal.
*Ensure that the submission follows the guidelines highlighted above. Use the following link [ girlswritenow.org/stories/submit/ ] for instructions on submitting material through the portal.
