Memoir Revision Essentials: Setting & Character

Class Description

So you’ve finished a draft of your memoir. Now what?

This three-hour seminar will give you actionable revision strategies for developing the setting and characters in your memoir draft. Through a series of in-class exercises, you’ll enhance the worldbuilding and character development of your memoir, including making details more specific, sharpening character portrayals, and adding sociohistorical context. We’ll discuss ways to make your characters more three-dimensional on the page and improve the cohesiveness of their arcs. You will also be guided through exercises to help evaluate how closely the setting and characters align with your memoir’s themes. There will be opportunities for students to share challenges and goals for their projects and to brainstorm revision ideas.

Expect to leave this class with a toolbox of revision techniques for polishing your memoir’s setting and characters.

Make sure to check out part two of this series, Memoir Revision Essentials: Structure & Theme, scheduled for Friday, May 12th, 10:30am-1:30pm.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.