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40 Best Memoir Creative Writing Classes in 2024

Showing 40 courses that match your search.

The 2025 Novel Writing, Creative Nonfiction, and Memoir Writing Project

The Loft Literary Center

This course offers a year-long writing project with mentorship from established authors, focusing on novel writing, creative nonfiction, and memoir. Participants engage in rigorous writing and revision, attend workshops, and receive guidance to make their manuscripts submission-ready. Further details, including pricing, will be provided later in the Fall.

Website: https://loft.org/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

January, 2025

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Any

Length: 12 months

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Create: Free Draft Generator with Camille Cabrera

GrubStreet

This course provides a platform for new writers or those seeking inspiration to generate new writing projects through engaging prompts. Participants will connect with peers and learn about further writing opportunities.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/seminar/create-free-draft-generato...

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

December, 2024

Price:

Free

Based in Boston

Level: Beginner

Length: 1 hour

Class size: 100

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Jumpstart Your Writing

GrubStreet

The course focuses on creative writing through engaging exercises that promote character creation, dialogue, and vivid imagery, catering to both beginners and experienced writers. Participants will read various short pieces from renowned authors.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/find-a-class

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

October, 2024

Price:

$375.00

Based in Boston

Level: Beginner

Length: 6 weeks (1 session per week)

Class size: 12 seats max

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Memoir Writing Mini-Course

Red Lounge for Writers

The course consists of three video lessons covering essential elements of memoir writing, common pitfalls, and tips on structuring the beginning and end of your story. Includes downloadable worksheets for hands-on practice.

Website: https://www.redloungeforwriters.com/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced over 3 lessons

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Start to Write Your Memoir

The Memoir Network

This free course includes five lessons that teach memoir writing techniques, focusing on memory enhancement, pre-writing tasks, utilizing personal materials, productivity options, and overcoming writer's block.

Website: https://thememoirnetwork.com/free-memoir-writing-course/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced over 5 lessons

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Creative Writing Specialization

Wesleyan College

This specialization includes five courses focusing on short story writing, character development, setting and description, style, and culminates with a capstone project. It's designed to help aspiring writers craft original stories.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Est. 1 month (10 hours per week)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization

Wesleyan University

This specialization includes four courses designed to help learners write personal narratives effectively. It offers tools, tips, and exercises from published memoirists and essayists.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Est. 1 month (10 hours a week)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Memoir VI: Editing, Publishing & Queries

San Diego Writers

The course includes six sessions focused on editing memoirs, peer editing, and an overview of publishing options with guest professionals. The environment is supportive, fostering creativity.

Website: https://writeyourstorynow.org/certificates-wrkshps

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

October, 2024

Price:

$216.00

Based in San Diego

Level: Intermediate

Length: 6 sessions (2 hours and 15 minutes each)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Crafting Your Life into Story

The Writer's Center

This workshop focuses on identifying pivotal life events and crafting them into stories, whether fiction or non-fiction. It follows a structured approach to storytelling, helping participants develop plots and beginnings of autobiographical works.

Website: https://writer.org/event/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

September, 2024

Price:

$115.00

Based in Washington

Level: Beginner

Length: 2 sessions

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Form & Content: Experimenting with Prose Structures with Ploi Pirapokin

Story Studio Chicago

The course explores various prose structures by using inspirations from poetic forms and genre conventions. Participants will learn six traditional and unconventional story structures, analyzing their risks and rewards.

Website: https://www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

September, 2024

Price:

$65.00

Based in Chicago

Level: Intermediate

Length: 1 session (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Memoir Writing I

Gotham Writers

A 10-week workshop involving lectures, exercises, and peer critiques aimed at teaching memoir writing. It covers various aspects of writing a memoir, including finding compelling stories and crafting them with fiction-like finesse.

Website: https://wp.writingclasses.com/courses/

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$439.00

Based in New York

Level: Beginner

Length: 10 weeks

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Writing the Real Course

The University of Sydney

This course immerses writers in creative nonfiction, offering practical guidance in composition and style while encouraging imaginative and disciplined writing. Participants explore the differences between fiction and nonfiction and learn to treat nonfiction with the same literary care as fiction.

Website: https://cce.sydney.edu.au/course/WRRE

Categories: Memoir

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$450.00

Based in Sydney

Level: Any

Length: 4 sessions (12 hours total)

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

How to choose a memoir writing class

Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that memoir you’ve been working on? You’re in the right place. That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses.

However, creative writing classes aren’t one size fit all. If you’re planning to join a memoir writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about writing memoirs.

So make sure to consider the following questions when you’re researching memoir writing courses:

  • Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in writing memoirs?
  • Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about memoirs? Does this course include it?
  • How long is the course, and where is it taught?
  • How much does the memoir writing course cost? Does it fit into your budget?

More memoir writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on memoir writing. 

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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