Turn your life stories into publishable short memoirs.

Everybody has a story—the trick is how to tell it. This three-hour workshop will begin by looking closely at brilliant examples of recently published short memoirs with a focus on beginnings, endings, setting and narrative arc. Then we’ll quickly move on to write our own. We’ll discuss editing tips and ideas about where and how to pitch and submit your finished piece. Whether you’re just starting out, or have been writing for years, this workshop will help hone your memoir-writing and publishing skills.

Learning outcomes

In this workshop, participants will:

Investigate what makes a brilliant short memoir
Create engaging writing with a focus on narrative arc, setting, and a strong start
Generate ideas for future memoirs
Learn about where and how to pitch and publish your short memoir

Format

This is a hybrid workshop with a focus on writing craft; it will be held in-person at State Library of Queensland and live streamed to an online audience via Zoom. This workshop is suitable for memoir writers of all levels and backgrounds.

About Sarah

Sarah Klenbort is a writer and Teaching Associate in writing at the University of Queensland. She grew up in Atlanta and has lived in Beijing, New York, Wales and Sydney. Sarah now lives in Brisbane with her Welsh husband and two Australian children. Her stories have won prizes, and she’s published over 40 short pieces in Eureka Street, Guardian Australia, Best Australian Stories, Overland, Island and other publications here and abroad.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info

Contact the host of The Art of the Short Memoir with Sarah Klenbort