Storytelling with Courage, Wit, and Universal Truth
July 24, 2020
11 AM PDT | 12 PM MDT | 1 PM CDT | 2 PM EDT
Welcome everyone to our July NAMW member teleseminar! We love inviting experienced teachers and writers, and we’re so pleased to introduce a very popular teacher of writing—and memoir, Eileen Cronin. I joined her Zoom class this spring and I loved the deep and thought-provoking discussions we were invited to participate in, topics like the possibility of deep healing, breaking silences and how to use craft to best excavate our stories. Join us for a discussion that will explore courage and permission to express what needs to come out.
From Eileen:
Creative writing is a courageous act, and writing memoir takes that act to a whole new level. As memoirists, we are tasked with turning our intimate moments into art. Some of us wonder if our stories will be too commonplace, while others fear our stories are too unique to resonate with a wider audience. We find our stories by uncovering the universal truths buried within. Our task as memoirists while excavating those truths is to create an engaging story. We do this by developing the language, the characters, the settings, and the plot, so that a whole world emerges. This workshop will explore the questions memoirists need to ask themselves throughout the writing process in order to create that compelling story.
Below are the questions we will explore:
- Why you need to get started now.
- No story is too unique—what’s yours?
- Why no story is too ubiquitous (Patricia Hampl has great things to say about this)
- How to make your unique story more universal –we will turn to broader themes of love, betrayal, truth, identity, etc.
- Alternatively, how to find the unique angle in your story that may seem too common these days.
- Why it’s important to focus on the art of the storytelling.
Bio:
Eileen Cronin is a creative writing instructor at UCLA Extension and a psychologist in Family Medicine at UCLA. Her book, Mermaid: A Memoir of Resilience, translated in 3 languages, was one of O Magazine’s Best Memoirs of the Year. She’s received a Vermont Studio Center Fellowship and the Washington Writing Prize in short fiction. She’s published in numerous literary magazines as well as The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and other news sources.
I know that all these topics apply to publishing a memoir— but what if my memoir is only intended for family, particularly grandchildren, after they grow up?
I find myself interested in this topic and particularly the author, teacher, Eileen Cronin.
Look forward to her Storytelling with Courage, Wit and Universal Truth.
Count me in and thank you
Also count me in! Looking forward to another wonderful session!
How do I sign up for this teleseminar? It sounds interesting. Thanks.
Hi Jennifer,
Our monthly teleseminars are member only events. Members automatically receive the call info every month.
You can learn more about becoming a NAMW member here: https://namw.org/become-a-member/
Kind Regards,
Erica
NAMW
Planning to join in!!
Newbie here, how does one participate? I look forward to the class but not sure how to zoom in sorta speak;)
Hi Tod,
As a member, you should have received the call info via email. Please email us at customersupport@namw.org for additional assistance.
Kind Regards,
Erica
NAMW
Looking forward to this.
I have a prior commitment at this time, but look forward to reviewing the recording. Sounds like an excellent topic and speaker!
What if my memoir is just about my school days? Do you think it will make interesting reading?
i am a NAMW member and do not have a link to access the Cronin teleseminar. Help!
Hi Lonna,
I just sent access info to you via email. Please let know if you need additional assistance.
Kind Regards,
Erica
NAMW
SO frustrated! Cant figure out how to join this even even though Im a member!!!!!!!!
Hi Rachel,
I just emailed you call info. Please let us know if you need additional assistance.
Kind Regards,
Erica
NAMW