Writing Memoir: How To Tell Your Story with Jo Case
Sunday 23 June, Fitzroy Library, 10am to 4pm
In the writing world, memoir is the new black. Readers – and publishers – are hungry for distinctive, beautifully told true tales that give new insight into what it is to be human in a particular place, at a particular time. You don’t have to have an extraordinary experience to tell – but you do need to be able to tell your story in an out-of-the-ordinary way.
Jo Case has just published her first book, Boomer and Me: A memoir of motherhood, and Asperger’s. She’ll draw on her experience in writing it, and her many years as a book reviewer and commissioning editor (aka, a professional reader). In this unique one-day workshop, you’ll discuss how to recognise a good memoir, the kinds of techniques you can borrow from and adapt, how to make sure your motivations match your method, and explore the ethical dilemmas of (inevitably) borrowing from other people’s lives in order to write your own. Jo will also give you practical storytelling tools in terms of structure, voice, character and dialogue – and discuss how to mine your memories (and personal records) to create a narrative that sings.
Participants will also be given the option to submit up to 500 words of their work-in-progress one week in advance, so that feedback can be provided after the workshop.
Date: Sunday 23 June 2013
Time: 10am to approx. 4pm
Place: Fitzroy Library, 128 Moor Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Cost: $165, $150 for KYD subscribers
Places are strictly limited to ensure a small class size. Morning tea, goodie bag and course materials are included in fee. For further queries, email kydwritersworkshop@gmail.com.
Writers Services
In addition to our workshops, Kill Your Darlings now offers comprehensive services for writers.
This is a unique opportunity to present your writing to Workshop staff for short-story and full-length manuscript assessments. There are also manuscript assessment packages, which includes ongoing consultation and editorial support with staff. To make bookings, or for more information, please contact Rebecca Starford on info@
Short story assessment
Up to 3000 words; assessment turn-around 2 weeks (max.)
Cost: $100
Manuscript assessment
Up to 70,000 words; assessment turn-around 4 weeks (max.)
Cost: $500
Manuscript package
Manuscript assessment (up to 70,000 words);
2 x 1 hour consultation with KYD Writers Workshop staff;
4 hours additional reading on new work
Cost: $1000
Rebecca Starford is the editor and co-founder of Kill Your Darlings and associate publisher at Affirm Press. She is a former deputy editor of literary review magazine, Australian Book Review. Her writing is published regularly in The Age, SMH and The Australian.
Jon Bauer is a novelist, short story writer, and the author of Rocks in the Belly, which has been published in eight countries and garnered critical and commercial success, including a longlisting for the Miles Franklin and a shortlisting for the world’s richest literary prize, the Dublin IMPAC. His stories and journalism are published both here and abroad.
Jo Case’s first book, Boomer and Me: A memoir of motherhood, and Asperger’s will be published by Hardie Grant in April 2013. She is senior writer/editor at the Wheeler Centre and has been books editor of The Big Issue, deputy editor of Australian Book Review and associate editor of Kill Your Darlings.
