Building a Great Memoir
"Building a Memoir" is fully enrolled. Please contact the office if you'd like to be added to the waitlist.
How do you uncover potent moments from the past—gazing at fireflies in a Long Island summer or starting at a rain splattered window after the death of a loved one? Whether you already have a story you want to tell or you are new to writing, this class will teach you the basic elements of memoir: sensory detail, scene and summary, dialogue, voice, time shifts and arc. You’ll hone your skills and move your writing to a deeper level. You’ll do in-class exercises and work with peers. You can hand in some work to the instructor for comments and share work with the class if you wish. In a comfortable setting you’ll meet writing pals and leave the class with a body of work.
Faculty Bio
Louise Nayer has taught creative writing for over 40 years and is the author of six books, including Burned: A Memoir, an Oprah Great Read and winner of the Wisconsin Library Association Award, and, more recently, Narrow Escapes and Poised for Retirement, Moving from Anxiety to Zen. She is a member of the Writer’s Grotto.
This is an In-Person-Only Workshop
- Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- Limited to 18 members
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, Jan. 22 and ends on Monday, March 4
- There is no class on Monday, Feb. 19
- Classes meet for six weeks, two hours per session (10-noon)
- Videos will post on Fridays in Member Dashboards
- Course materials, including videos, will remain available to view and enjoy through March 31
Member Praise for Louise Nayer
Every weekly lesson was an "aha" moment for me. Louise Nayer's teaching and feedback were inspirational and valuable!
Ms. Nayer created an environment conducive to member comfort in sharing reactions to narratives of others and personal pieces as well. More importantly, she was remarkable in requesting student work and responding to it rapidly. She was incredibly generous with her attention to student work.