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Memoir Writing Advanced

Get your memoir polished and ready to publish

Memoir Writing Advanced
Click to Apply

WHEN 10 weeks, October 20 - December 22
Online chats Mondays, 8-9 pm EST

WHERE Online. Click here for info.

LEVEL Advanced

PRICE
$599 ($575 for )
more info

Course Details

You have a great first-hand story. You have a pretty good idea of the structure, plot, theme, and characters. You lived the life and learned the lessons. You even put some of it on paper. Now you have a partly -- or even mostly -- finished book or essay, with no idea what to do next. Can this manuscript be saved?

Consider this class CPR for your writing. Whether you have a jumble of chapters that need surgical attachment or a personal essay lethargic from anemia, this class is for writers who need help putting life, zest, and polish in their work before sending it to agents and publishers. Through lectures, feedback, and assignments designed to free your creativity and create workarounds for trouble areas, this class will help you revive your manuscript for publication. This course is tailored to creative first-person non-fiction of any length, but the techniques are applicable to any style or genre.

In this class you will:

  • Diagnose what's ailing your writing
  • Learn to love your narrator
  • Tone and firm structure and style
  • Say it without saying it through narrative techniques
  • Learn the secrets of good dialogue
  • Learn grammar and self-editing skills
  • Overcome your fear of success that's keeping you from being finished
  • Write better beginnings and extraordinary endings

By the end of class, you will have:
A perfectly polished chunk of memoir (or two polished essays) with a clear set of steps to finish your manuscript and submit it for publication

Admission Requirements:
Please send a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2000 words).

The online classroom has several interactive components:
  • Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
  • Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
  • Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
  • Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

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Instructor Bio

Jami Bernard's Courses

Memoir Writing – (Class starts October 20)
Memoir Writing Advanced – (Class starts October 20)

Jami Bernard
Jami Bernard is a nationally known film critic, award-winning columnist, and an editor and media consultant. Her seven published books include two memoirs, The Incredible Shrinking Critic: My Excellent Adventure in Weight Loss and Breast Cancer: There & Back. She also published a Lois Lane comic for DC Comics.

Jami has been interviewed by Oprah, Katie Couric, and Charles Gibson, and has appeared on CNN, BBC-TV, NY1, E!, Bravo, IFC, A&E, Oxygen, VH1, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and Court TV. She has written for Glamour, TV Guide, Self, Entertainment Weekly, Allure, Seventeen, Spin, Shape, Fangoria, and Premiere, and is a frequent lecturer and keynote speaker. Further details are available at her website, www.jamibernard.com.

Testimonials


Through wit, practical assignments and well-researched lectures, Jami helped me become a more effective, efficient writer. I am most grateful for her gentle critique and enthusiastic encouragement. -- Nancy Boomer

"Jami is absolutely the best writing instructor I have ever had. Her comments are thoughtful, thorough, and extremely useful. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone. --Vanessa DeBello

"Jami is an amazing teacher. She helped bring out my theme, and kept me going even when I thought I had nothing in me. She is great!" -- Liza Deyrmenjian

"Jami is a great instructor. Instead of reading a book on how to write a memoir, each week we were doing it with each new assignment. Jami was helpful, not harsh, which really inspires you to improve." -- Stacy Jensen

"Everything I needed to learn and explore about writing was covered in a safe and encouraging envoirnment. Jami has an great sense of committment to her students." --Cara Coslow, co-producer, Dante's Cove

"Jami was committed to the success of the class and helped each one of us find our story. Her humour, experience, and accessibility were apparent from the first day. Merci et Bravo!" -- Kathryn Kemp-Griffin

"Jami is a born teacher -- smart, funny, and dedicated. I was mesmerized by the talent and stories of my instructor and classmates. You will be spurred on to do your absolute best to keep up!" -- Melissa Spiers

"Jami is wise and insightful. She got to the heart of my writing and helped me develop a vision and trust in myself." -- Preeva Tramiel

"Jami pulls a class together so that each student benefits. She is brilliant, insightful, articulate, and guides without forcing. It was a terrific learning experience." -- Sandy Smith

"Jami's class was one of the most instructive writing courses I have ever taken. She went beyond the call of duty with her line editing and her advice. She's a great teacher -- clear, brilliant and prescient! She's simply the best." -- Judy Fasman
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