© 2018-2022 Kerry Sunderland
INTRODUCTORY memoir writing course
STARTS MARCH 30, 2021
STARTS MARCH 30, 2021
'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.'
- Maya Angelou
- Maya Angelou
Our focus
A transformational short course with former
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
creative writing tutor Kerry Sunderland
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
creative writing tutor Kerry Sunderland
Overview of course:
Writing memoir isn't just about arranging words on a page, it is about examining the people, places and events that have shaped you. In this exploration, you'll learn more about yourself and what has made you the person you are today. Writing about how you have transformed is, itself, inherently transformational.
Memoirs, like any other books, are made sentence by sentence. So they're written by not only paying close attention to the people, places and events that have shaped you, but equally close attention to the sentences you use to bring your story to life for your readers.
One of the most important aspects of writing memoir is learning what to include and what to leave out. We will also consider the difference between 'situation' and 'story', and play with the many ways there are to structure your story.
In this course, Kerry will guide you to:
• Explore memoir and life writing as a genre
• Develop connections with a community of writers
• Understand how to read like a writer and how to write for readers
• Consider the many ethical issues that arise when writing memoir
• Learn how to give and receive constructive feedback on writing
• Extend your learning with peer feedback on yours and others' writing
• Find out more about publishing opportunities.
The course will consist of writing exercises, facilitated discussions and feedback sessions about each participant's work.
Memoirs, like any other books, are made sentence by sentence. So they're written by not only paying close attention to the people, places and events that have shaped you, but equally close attention to the sentences you use to bring your story to life for your readers.
One of the most important aspects of writing memoir is learning what to include and what to leave out. We will also consider the difference between 'situation' and 'story', and play with the many ways there are to structure your story.
In this course, Kerry will guide you to:
• Explore memoir and life writing as a genre
• Develop connections with a community of writers
• Understand how to read like a writer and how to write for readers
• Consider the many ethical issues that arise when writing memoir
• Learn how to give and receive constructive feedback on writing
• Extend your learning with peer feedback on yours and others' writing
• Find out more about publishing opportunities.
The course will consist of writing exercises, facilitated discussions and feedback sessions about each participant's work.
Your facilitator
- Kerry SunderlandKerry Sunderland is an Australian writer based in New Zealand. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Victoria University of Wellington and was joint winner of the 2018 Hachette Mentorship in Australia for her soon-to-be published memoir, Beyond the Blue Door.
Kerry has worked has a professional writer, magazine editor and journalist since the early 1990s and her words have appeared in North & South, The Spinoff, Stuff/The Nelson Mail and Wild Tomato.
FIND OUT MORE
How the course will be delivered:
Write Your Life is a blended course, with both face-to-face workshops and online seminars.
We start with face-to-face workshops to get to know each other and build connections - and to do lots of writing together!
Then when we start looking at our writing, sentence by sentence, we move online to make the most of what technology can offer.
All face-to-face workshops will take place from 11am to 3pm (with an hour's break for lunch) in the Kotahitanga meeting room at the Riverside Community Cultural Centre (see details below).
All online sessions will take place on Zoom from 11am to 1pm. If you haven't used Zoom before, you will receive extra coaching in our week 3 face-to-face workshop to make sure you are set up for the first online session in week four.
We start with face-to-face workshops to get to know each other and build connections - and to do lots of writing together!
Then when we start looking at our writing, sentence by sentence, we move online to make the most of what technology can offer.
All face-to-face workshops will take place from 11am to 3pm (with an hour's break for lunch) in the Kotahitanga meeting room at the Riverside Community Cultural Centre (see details below).
All online sessions will take place on Zoom from 11am to 1pm. If you haven't used Zoom before, you will receive extra coaching in our week 3 face-to-face workshop to make sure you are set up for the first online session in week four.
Our venue
Face-to-face workshops will be held at the Riverside Community Cultural Centre, 289 Main Road, Lower Moutere.
The Riverside Community Cultural Centre is located on the hill above the Riverside Café.
You can bring your own lunch or buy lunch at the café, which re-opens mid-March under new management.
The Riverside Community Cultural Centre is located on the hill above the Riverside Café.
You can bring your own lunch or buy lunch at the café, which re-opens mid-March under new management.
Weekly schedule
From Tuesday 30 March to Tuesday 1 June 2021
All face-to-face classes are from 11am to 3pm (with an hour's break for lunch)
All online classes are from 11am to 1pm
All face-to-face classes are from 11am to 3pm (with an hour's break for lunch)
All online classes are from 11am to 1pm
Tuesday, 30 March
Introductions to each other and the art and craft of memoir writing (face-to-face)
Tuesday, 6 April
The practice of life writing (face-to-face)
Tuesday, 13 April
Compassion and characters (face-to-face)
Tuesday, 20 April
Narrative voice and point of view (online)
Tuesday, 27 April
Editing and revising (online)
Tuesday, 4 May
Memory, truth and recall (face-to-face)
Tuesday 11 May
Group feedback session (face-to-face)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
Tuesday 18 May
Group feedback session (online)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
Tuesday 25 May
Group feedback session (online)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
(Bespoke session designed to meet your individual and collective needs)
Tuesday 1 June
Find your way forward (online)
Followed by one-on-one online feedback sessions at a time that suits you
Followed by one-on-one online feedback sessions at a time that suits you
Your investment:
This 10-week course is being offered on a sliding scale from $350 to $490 (special introductory price for inaugural course).
Please pay what what you can; as a suggestion those who are unwaged would pay $350, those who earn minimum wage would pay $420 and those who receive an above average salary would pay $490.
Please note: The course will go ahead when a minimum of six participants register. The maximum number of participants is 12.
Please pay what what you can; as a suggestion those who are unwaged would pay $350, those who earn minimum wage would pay $420 and those who receive an above average salary would pay $490.
Please note: The course will go ahead when a minimum of six participants register. The maximum number of participants is 12.
This course had finished
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE 2022 COURSE
A 30 per cent deposit must be paid within five business days of booking to secure your place. When you book, you will receive payment instructions. The balance must be paid 10 days before the course commences (i.e. 20 March 2021). Other payment plans are available if negotiated prior to this date.
Cancellation policy: If the Tasman region is in Alert Level 2, all face-to-face workshops will take place with appropriate physical distancing. If the region is in Alert Level 3 or 4, all classes will move online to Zoom. If Write Across New Zealand cancels the event for any other reason prior to commencement, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel your booking anytime before the 20 March 2021, your deposit (and full payment if already made) will be refunded. If you cancel less than 10 days before the course commences, no refund will be possible unless your position is filled by someone else.
Cancellation policy: If the Tasman region is in Alert Level 2, all face-to-face workshops will take place with appropriate physical distancing. If the region is in Alert Level 3 or 4, all classes will move online to Zoom. If Write Across New Zealand cancels the event for any other reason prior to commencement, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel your booking anytime before the 20 March 2021, your deposit (and full payment if already made) will be refunded. If you cancel less than 10 days before the course commences, no refund will be possible unless your position is filled by someone else.