A Nonfiction and Memoir Writing Workshop
Level: All Levels
How can we tell the story of NOW with our fullest hearts, our clearest eyes, and a little bit of irony, too? In this 3 hour memoir and nonfiction class, participants will put to paper their experiences of the incredible times we are all living through: war, planetary crisis, Covid and more. In this workshop we will explore, through a series of writing prompts and engaged discussion, how to write about feelings of isolation, fear, sadness, nostalgia and, also, those moments of transcendent beauty and even laugh-out-loud humor that keep us going. This class is open to all levels of writing experience.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday August 11th from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Caitlin Shetterly is the author of four books: A novel, called Pete & Alice in Maine, which was sold in a preempt to Harper Books in 2021 and will be published in 2023; Modified: GMOs and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future (Putnam, 2016) which won the Maine Literary Award for Best Nonfiction of 2017, was named one of “The Best Books of 2016” by Publisher's Weekly, a “Top Pick of 2016” by Goop, and has been published in both Germany and Korea; Made for You and Me: Going West, Going Broke and Finding Home (Voice, 2011), which began as a series of audio diaries for Weekend Edition on NPR that went viral; and the Indie bestseller, Fault Lines: Stories of Divorce (Putnam Berkley Group, 2001), which named a subgenre of American short fiction as “divorce literature,” and included short stories by John Updike, Alice Munro, Sherman Alexie, Randall Kenan and Peter Ho Davies. Caitlin writes regularly for The New York Times and her work has been featured in Orion, The New York Times Magazine, Elle, Self, DownEast and The Maine Sunday Telegram. Caitlin has been a regular contributor to NPR and PRI, with stories on Weekend Edition, Morning Edition, This American Life, Studio 360 and various other public radio shows. From 2003-2007, Caitlin wrote the dating column for the Portland Phoenix. Caitlin is currently the Editor in Chief of Frenchly.us, a Francophile and Franglais-o-phone online arts and culture news magazine that is part of the French Morning Media Group. She lives with her two sons and husband and is at work on a second novel set in her home state of Maine.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Email Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due by August 1 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION