Description
Come along to a fun and informative course which will help you start, continue, or finish writing your life story, memoir or biography. The course welcomes both novices and seasoned writers. Thanks to the generous support of Northern Beaches Council, each monthly workshop is priced at only $20 (discounted for full course purchase).
Across 11 monthly workshops, from February to December 2024, participants will:
– Learn all aspects of life story telling, including accessing research resources, writing techniques, interviewing, audio recording, structuring a book-length piece of work, editing, and use of technology to make their project easier.
– The primary aim of the course is to make writing life stories easy and enjoyable, focussing on clear, logical, simple methods. Felicity will share short-cuts and insider tips and tricks learnt across many years of writing.
– Lessons, worksheets and support material will allow participants to re-use their learned techniques again on projects after the course is completed.
– A strong emphasis will be on facilitating the completion of individual life stories, memoir or biographies.
– Guest speakers include authorities from local historical societies, local studies seciton of the libraries, and local Aboriginal authorities.
– Participants will have the opportunity to have a chapter of their story published in an Anthology with their fellow course writers. The Anthology will be a hard cover, full colour book, which will be donated to each Northern Beaches library and available for purchase separately. (Publishing your individual story can also be done, but is separate to the course inclusions).
– Felicity Lenehan, the course facilitator, is a biographer and board member of the Life Stories Australia Association with over 35 years’ experience as a journalist, author and writing mentor.
Let’s get writing those all-important life stories!
Further Details:
- Location: Each monthly workshop will be run at Mona Vale Library, which is central within the area of the Northern Beaches, accessible, with ample parking of up to 3 hours, and has a B-Line bus stop close to the venue, as well as cafes for our all-important coffee needs!
- The monthly workshops are run from 10am-12noon, on the second Tuesday of each month, from February to December 2024. Exact dates are: February 13, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 15, November 12, December 10. If bookings fill up in the morning slot, an afternoon slot from 1-3pm will open.
- Felicity aims to help each participant individually with their work as much as possible.
- The workshops will be as interactive as you wish them to be – you can quietly work on your project, or you can engage with fellow course participants – that is absolutely up to you and your wishes will be respected.
- Participants can hand write or type on a computer. Your own personal writing equipment is to be brought to class.
- If you cannot make one of the monthly workshops, they will be recorded so you can continue your project.
- Inclusion in the Anthology book is optional but is encouraged – it’s great to see your name published! Participants are welcome to publish their chapter under another name. Submissions will be based around a part of your life story set or related to the Northern Beaches. Felicity will help you choose an appropriate story if you wish.
- Topics covered will be:- How to Start a Life Story; Research: Using our local resources with a guest speaker from the library local studies team; Ways to structure a book or long story + Inside tips on helpful technology; Writing about place and how it impacts our story, with a guest Speaker from The Gaimaragal Group; Writing techniques: Drawing out memories and bringing them to life on the page; Interview techniques workshop; Group Feedback Workshop (optional participation); Editing your written work; Shared Histories of the Northern Beaches and their impact on nowadays, with a guest speaker from the Manly Warringah Pittwater Historical Society; Getting the job done: staying motivated, unblocking writers block, and options for publishing or sharing work; Readings, feedback and where to now with a wrap up celebration.
- The monthly workshops are heavily subsidised by the Northern Beaches Council and are costed at $20 a month if you book the whole course. I encourage participants to commit to the course in its entirety so their life story is completed (the biggest problem we face when beginning a long piece of work!). Payment plans are available – please contact Felicity to discuss – felicity@awaywithwords.net
Please scroll back to the top to book into the Course, via the “Add To Cart” button
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Alternately, ONE Life Story Writing Workshop is available for purchase, for $25, with restrictions (there may be no space to book into the remaining course sessions):
