The Course You Didn’t Know You Needed
by Elizabeth Wilson
As our fall schedules get underway and we settle in for the end of the year, I'm excited to begin thinking about the next cohort of the Memoir Master Plan Group Course. I ran this course for the first time back in April. My brave participants and I fleshed out our core messages and were able to walk away with a clear, cohesive plan reflected in a detailed outline.
So much of the struggle in trying to write and work on a memoir is that we, as the writer, are so close to the material. It's difficult to look at one's life and see the core message screaming to be shared. That's where the group learning environment and support is key.
One participant shared this testimonial: "Elizabeth is wonderful to work with. I felt right at home when I took her memoir writing class. When we were in group she helped me feel seen and heard because I have some learning disabilities. I enjoyed the group dynamic and the course material was very helpful and unique. I feel Elizabeth's class helped prepare me and propel me forward in my writing!"
And you should feel SEEN and HEARD in your writing process. It can be scary to dig into these tough moments of the past. The emotional intensity of the process can make it difficult to organize your thoughts and set a proper scope for your message.
"Elizabeth has a gift for helping writers share their story. Willing to go beyond surface-level discussions, she guides writers through the process of getting clear on their message while holding space for the heartfelt emotions that arise as we transmute our life experiences into powerful, written words."
In the multi-week course, we hammer out the core message (or main theme) of your memoir before diving into a detailed outlining process. We start with a broad outline of key concepts before dissecting which specific moments will be best to emphasize the intention of each scene. You'll conclude the course with a detailed outline that takes the guesswork out of what to write next. You won't fall victim to distraction or lack of focus when you sit down to start writing. You'll have confidence that the story you are crafting is one that is valuable to the overall message.
"The clear and definitive guidance offered in the Memoir Course results in the formation of a thorough and skillfully-crafted outline that empowers writers to begin drafting their memoir with confidence that the resulting book will be engaging, well-structured, and on message. The information shared in the Memoir Course facilitates development of the scene-by-scene outline needed to make drafting the book as easy as simply sitting down and allowing words to flow."
All of the recent course participants had made prior attempts at starting their memoirs on their own. They struggled with lack of accountability, support, and clear direction. Self-doubt takes over and we freeze. This small group cohort with feedback and follow-up provides that necessary accountability and guidance many found lacking on their own.
Don't take my word for it...one of my course participants said it best.
"This is the course I didn't know I needed! I am incredibly grateful for the resulting ease with which I am now able to draft my memoir, turning my dream into reality. "
Does this sound like the next step for your memoir writing efforts?
Are you missing support and accountability in your writing process?
Are you in need of more structure so you know what to write when you finally carve out the time to sit down?
To maintain the effectiveness of this course, the group is kept to a small cohort, so space is limited!
If you're still unsure whether or not this is the right course or time for you, schedule a coffee chat with me to talk more about your specific project and writing goals.
