The late Frank McCourt spent 30 years as an English teacher in New York City high schools and was 66 years old when he began writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, “Angela’s Ashes.” Despite having no experience as an author, he always felt he had a story to tell, revealing to the New York Times, ”All along, I wanted to do this book badly,” he said. ”I would have to do it or I would have died howling.”
No matter your age or profession, like Frank McCourt, you have a story to tell.
Poynter’s pioneering workshop, Mining for Memoir, is designed to give you the guidance to chronicle your personal history. This online program is not just for journalists — we welcome aspiring memoirists of all backgrounds, experience levels and life stages.
Whether you’re used to crafting narratives and want a detailed view of the publishing industry, or just have a personal history waiting to be excavated but no professional writing experience, our virtual training will teach you to research, report and craft the story no one knows better than you.
Poynter’s Kristen Hare — author and award-winning obituary reporter — leads this four-week workshop that takes you through all aspects of memoir writing in two-hour sessions every Monday in October. Each session includes an hour-long lecture or panel discussion, followed by a skill-building session and small group coaching.
Get practical insights and personal histories from a star-studded lineup of writers, editors and memoirists, including Fernanda Camarena, Eric Deggans, Leslie Gray Streeter, Sam Freedman, Tom Huang, Kelly McMasters and Mallary Tenore Tarpley.
Dig into topics including discovering the different types of memoirs, writing for scene, research and reporting with primary and personal source materials, types of publishing industry presses and their differences, essential steps to take in your memoirist journey and much more.
Don’t let your story go untold. Let Poynter’s Mining for Memoir help you craft and concentrate your lived experience into a compelling story that stands the test of time.
Enroll as soon as you know you’re interested.
Questions?
If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.
