“Writing memoir is like being a miner, shining a light into the nooks and crannies of our lives,” says instructor Katharine Harer. “We think we know what we'll find, but we're often surprised by the depth and complexity we uncover.”
In this half-day class, you’ll practice some of the fundamentals of memoir writing: re-creation of a specific place and time using sensory details, addition of moments of reflection and acknowledgement, and the creation of short scenes. Katharine will show you different ways to structure memoir pieces, and you’ll learn about the important role of the narrator – you – in guiding a reader through your lived experience.
Katharine will bring in examples of memoir pieces that you’ll read and talk about, examining how and why each piece works, and you’ll be inspired by the work of other memoir writers, such as Jesmyn Ward, Ann Patchett, and Ocean Vuong. You’ll write your own short pieces in class and be given a variety of prompts for writing at home. Katharine says, “As you work with these tools and techniques, you’ll learn how to illuminate your experiences, helping you find your way into your singular life."
About The Writing Salon's Online Zoom Classes
You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.
Katharine Harer loves teaching creative writing. She has worked with hundreds, maybe thousands, of students in her over thirty-year career as a community college writing teacher at Skyline College and as a private workshop instructor. Katharine has published seven collections of poetry, the most recent, Deconfliction, in 2020, and a full-length volume of poems, Jazz & Other Hot Subjects, in 2016. Her poetry and nonfiction have been published widely in literary journals, newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. Her travel essay Delle Donne appeared in Best Women’s Travel Writing 2016 and a personal essay, Blue Flags & Painted Crosses, is forthcoming from Sonora Review in Tucson.
- Live Zoom Meeting: Saturday, January 25, 10:00am-1:00pm
I found Katharine's teaching style empathetic and helpful. She was always about improving, no matter what level we were at.
I think Katharine is a great teacher. She gives everyone respectful, individual attention. She lets everyone have their own opinion and encourages us to listen to each other with the same empathy.
As someone who is trying to get back into writing after a long time, I felt welcomed and in good company during this class, among a diversity of students with different levels of experience. Getting one class under my belt and starting some pieces took away a lot of the internal pressure. I feel encouraged to do more writing and, probably, take more writing classes in the near future.
Katharine was very well prepared and able to inspire us to write. It is clear that she very much enjoys the topic and teaching. It was a joyful experience.