Many of us yearn to write a memoir—to record the most significant events and relationships that shaped us. And while the best memoirs make it seem easy, memoir is actually one of the most challenging genres to master because a writer is required to understand some elements of fiction (plot structure, character development, and dialogue) while also attending to inconvenient truths and difficult memories.

In this retreat, we’ll cover the following skills needed to write a memoir, whether it’s intended for publication or just for your family and friends:
· Identify which parts of your life would be most interesting to others
· Pinpoint your story’s central conflict
· Write about spiritual growth without sounding preachy
· Address the most challenging events of your past
· Cultivate a voice that readers will enjoy

Schedule:
Session 1: Understanding Your Story and Your Audience
Session 2: Narrowing Your Focus, Structuring Your Book
Session 3: Specific Guidelines for Writing and Publishing Your Memoir

Bio:
Jana Riess is an editor and scholar who is the author of many books, including the memoir Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor, which was a Publishers Weekly best book of the year, and The Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published. She is a senior columnist at Religion News Service and has a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University.