Have you been looking for a memoir class or workshop? I’m happy to tell you there are great options available to you! Some folks thrive in weekly workshops with deadlines and feedback. Others bloom in writing groups focused less on critique and more on being heard. And some just want a single weekend to help fuel their tank. Below you’ll find memoir writing classes, programs, and communities worth considering, whatever kind of support works best for you.
Memoir Writing Classes
Gotham Writers Workshop
Gotham has been teaching creative writing since 1993. Their ten-week Memoir Writing I course is a solid starting point. In it, you’ll receive excellent instruction, engaging exercises, and real workshopping experience. Classes are offered in-person and online.
UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
If you’d benefit from a more comprehensive approach, UCLA offers a full memoir sequence. During their three-part program, you’ll be guided from the basics through a substantial portion of your manuscript. Classes are conducted online.
Interlochen Online
Interlochen, a well known Michigan arts school, offers Writing Your Memoir online. Classes include weekly instruction, inspiring reading, and feedback on your own short memoir pieces. This is a particularly useful approach when you’re still developing your voice or finding the shape of your story.
Community and Memoir Writing Workshops
Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA)
I trained in the AWA method myself. AWA workshops are built on the belief that every writer has a voice worth hearing. The workshops emphasize the creation of new work, with less focus on critique. This makes them a deeply encouraging space for new memoir writers.
Story Circle Network
Since 1997, Story Circle Network has supported women writing memoir and personal essay. They offer a wide range of instruction. You’ll find ninety-minute webinars and multi-week courses listed on their site. They also provide small writing circles where members can trade work and receive encouragement rather than critique.
The Memoir Writing Club
Led by memoir coach Irene Graham, this program pairs a workbook of right-brain and left-brain exercises with live meetings and instructor feedback. There’s also an in-person retreat option for writers who want to go deeper. It’s especially good for writers who respond to visual and associative memory prompts rather than straight outlining.
Low-Commitment Options
Gotham’s Memoir Writing Intensive
If a ten-week course feels like too much too soon, Gotham also offers a Memoir Writing Intensive—one day in NYC or two days on Zoom. It’s a mix of lectures and exercises open to writers at any level. It’s a good way to test whether memoir writing classes are the right fit for you.
HippoCamp Online
Produced by Hippocampus Magazine, the online conference “HippoCamp” is built specifically for creative nonfiction and memoir writers. You can attend craft sessions and author-platform discussions without travel or a multi-day commitment.
The Loft Literary Center
The Loft is a well-regarded nonprofit literary center based in Minneapolis, though nearly everything they offer is available online. Their memoir and personal essay classes range from single-session workshops to multi-week courses, so you can dip a toe in or commit to something longer.
Your Local Library or Community College
Many libraries and community colleges offer free or low-cost memoir and life-writing classes, often taught by writers in your area. They can be a great way to get workshopping experience without a big commitment.
I work with memoir writers at all stages of the process. Whether you’ve taken ten memoir writing classes or are just getting started, if you feel you could use more support, I can help Visit my contact page, and let’s connect.
If you’re interested in my approach to writing, you might also take a look at my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.