WHAT BEGAN AS my little book on how to write memoir has now grown into a system that provides everything you need to write memoir, from online memoir courses to working with skilled editors on your final draft. We can meet all of your needs as a memoir writer, from our introductory course, to our advanced courses, working with a developmental editor, to a full polished copyedit you can be proud to take to market. There is no need to go anywhere else.
I teach what I call “writing with intent.” There are no writing prompts or silly exercises in my online memoir classes, here on this site or in my book on how to write memoir. Why? Because while I’ve had thousands of people in my classes in recovery from all manners of addiction, the greatest number of them are in recovery from writing exercises that fritter away what little time most of us have to write. Put them away. Let me teach you to transform your work into writing that others want to read. Let’s work together in one of my online memoir writing classes. There are both live and recorded classes offered below.
I am a published author, a memoir teacher, as well as a memoir editor. This means that you are in good, experienced hands here. I know what it means to bring a book to the market. But first, I know how to write that book.
These days I teach online, and each virtual memoir writing class is designed to teach you how to become a fine memoir writer, whether you want to blog, write personal essays, Op-Eds, or book-length memoir. I’ve written and published all of those forms of memoir, in publications including The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Science pages, The Los Angeles Times and the four biggest mass-market publishers of books.
Want a full description of each of my online memoir classes? Click on those of interest below. Taken all of the classes below already? Work with me or one of our skilled editors one-on-one through our memoir-editing/coaching services.
Live Classes for Beginners
Memoirama 1
Everyone starts here. Learn Discover the principles of good memoir, get the tools to start writing immediately, and ask me questions during the live Q&A.
Memoirama 2
Take this next. Learn book structure. Get direct feedback from Marion as you map out your book beat by beat, chapter by chapter, and scene by scene.
How to Write Opinion Pieces
Ready to Write & Publish? Test your voice in the world by writing solid pieces for newspaper op-ed pages, public radio, and digital sites. Ask me questions during the live Q&A.
The Advanced Memoir Classes
The Master Class
Now you can write a book. Limited to 6 students, in this class you will write the first draft of your book and receive feedback. The class meets live, online for 3 hours, once a month for six months.
Your Memoir Project
Want it now? This is the Master Class, but self-paced and recorded. Learn to write book-length memoir, but without waiting for the next live Master Class to begin. Six recorded episodes and a workbook.
Recorded Classes for Both Beginners & Advanced Students
Memoirama 1 — Recorded
Entry level class. Discover the foundational principles of good memoir, get the tools to start writing immediately, and ask me questions during the live Q&A.
Memoirama 2 — Recorded
Take this next. This class focuses on a key aspect of any successful memoir: structure. Map it out beat by beat, chapter by chapter, and scene by scene so that you can go home with a working structure for your memoir.
How to Write Opinion Pieces — Recorded
Take this third. Learn how to launch your writing career by writing solid pieces for newspaper op-ed pages, public radio airing, and publication on digital sites.
How to Write a Personal Essay — Recorded
Taught only in recorded form. Essays are a wonderful way to gain the exposure you need to write memoir without committing to writing a full book. In this class, I’ll teach you the framework I’ve used to write dozens of personal essays that have been read by hundreds and thousands of people.
Your Memoir Project
Write your book. This recorded course features all the lecture material and instruction from The Master Class (see above), teaching you to write book-length memoir at your own, self-paced speed. Six episodes plus a workbook.
