image of honey

live Workshop

Taste of Memoir

Discover the sweet & savory moments of our lives.

Do you have a story inside of you that wants to be told? Are you wondering where to begin or how to deepen into your story?

This one-day workshop is designed to guide you in exploring and writing about your true, life-based experiences. In a supportive, dynamic space, you will discover the art of memoir and come away with practical tools and inspiration that will fuel your continued exploration at home.

TASTE OF MEMOIR

Saturday, May 22, 2022

9:30am - 4:30pm

Ojai, California

Hosted at a private residence

Lunch included

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Fee: $350

Space limited to 10 participants.

To register, message Karin Gutman

Register
drawing of old books

It has been said that memoir is the novel of the 21st century—an amazing form that we’ve barely begun to tap. In writing our personal stories, we make sense of our everyday experiences and attach meaning to them. In the process, we discover what matters most to us.

This one-day immersive workshop is ideal for those who are new to personal, life-based writing, as well as more experienced writers who are looking to peel back the layers of their story. Through guided writing and interactive dialogue, you will explore the raw material of your life—those fragmented, disjointed memories and life-changing events—and learn how to craft a story out of them. It is an intimate journey that invites you to meet your inner self on the page.

Among the topics to be explored:

  • Discovering your emotional journey in the story

  • How to harness your point-of-view and permit the reader to see the world through your eyes

  • Working with images as a way to access memory

  • Bringing characters to life on the page

  • How to define “truth” in memoir

  • The best way to navigate issues of privacy and ethics in memoir

  • Peeling away the layers to uncover the deeper meaning in your story

  • How to take care of yourself in the writing process

The ripple effects of writing your personal story are far-reaching. To express your truth on the page not only changes your relationship to yourself but also to the world around you. Join us to experience this heart-opening, transformative experience.

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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

KARIN GUTMAN, MFA, is a memoir and story coach who has been guiding writers for over 20 years towards discovering and writing their life-based stories. The safe, dynamic spaces she creates allow for this deeply personal work to unfold, as writers peel away the layers, dig deep, and make meaning out of their life experiences. Her clients have sold books to major publishers, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan.

YOUR HOST:

MOLLY JORDAN, MA, MFT, is a Jungian analyst living in Ojai, California with her husband, two horses and one dog. Surrounded by nature, much of it wild, she aims to keep in touch with what is feral, both outside and inside of herself. She aims to find the courage to let that wildness - whether it flies, pounces or slithers - speak for itself through her writing.

In addition to contributing articles to the Jungian journal, Psychological Perspectives, Molly, along with her husband, Hawk Koch, co-authored Magic Time, My Life in Hollywood, the story of Hawk’s life in the entertainment business. “Magic Time” was published by Post Hill Press in 2019.

Portrait of Karin Gutman
Portrait of Molly Jordan

KIND WORDS

  • Having a safe writing space was critical in my development as a writer.

    “Having a safe writing space was critical in my development as a writer. I had so much shame about the mistakes I had made as a mother, that it took me attending several workshops before I started to reveal some parts of my story in the class. Meanwhile, the structure, prompts and valuable guidance, made me feel more at ease as I developed some writing skills.

    I remember the first time I shared my pages. I was so scared of being judged that my heart was pounding inside my chest. When I was finished reading I could barely look at anyone. But as we went around the room, all the women were so incredibly supportive with their feedback that it ultimately allowed me to become even more vulnerable in the class.”

    Wendy Adamson, author of Mother Load

  • ... guides writers gently and intuitively...

    “Karin creates a fertile environment for writing. I came to the workshop knowing that I had a story to tell, but with a lot of resistance to the act of writing. Karin guides writers gently and intuitively. She uses writing prompts to help you pop open ideas you didn’t know were there. It was so exciting when my writing really started to flow! I would take Karin’s workshop over and over again.”

    Ranjani Brow

  • ... amazed how 'on target' your observations and questions are...

    “I am always drawn to the group of people you are able to put together. You have a very calm sense and huge understanding that sometimes a prompt can take you a completely different direction and that there never is anything ‘wrong’ in your response. You also have a impeccable sense when it comes to 'listening' what is being read. It could be that you find things in between the lines or pinpoint exactly a feeling or emotion to an overall situation described in a piece. I love your feedback and am often amazed how ‘on target’ your observations and questions are when I share my work.”

    Malona Badelt

  • ... Something in me is being ‘faced’ by the very act of writing...

    “I'm really looking forward to another class... and another and another after that. Something in me is being ‘faced’ by the very act of writing whatever it is that comes out. Your class is definitely stirring my pot and I find that so rewarding. Thank you!”

    Molly Jordan, co-author of Magic Time

  • What you're offering is really magical and unique...

    “What you're offering is really magical and unique. I love your feedback and I love feedback in general that challenges me out of my comfort zone, uncomfortable as that may be. The group really opened me up to realizing what 'my' story is, or at least, what the story is I want to tell.  And it also helped me get confident and comfortable with my voice.

    The more I write and open myself to creativity, the more creative I feel.”

    Suzanne Ely

  • Thank you for empowering me to speak my truth.

    “Thank you for empowering me to speak my truth. You have changed my life for the better. I am lucky to share the journey with you!”

    Heather McGonigal

 FAQs

  • This workshop is for anyone who is interested in writing about their personal, life-based experiences and learning about the craft of memoir writing. It welcomes those who are new to the genre and looking for a safe, supportive space in which to explore, while also appealing to more experienced writers of personal narrative who are seeking an immersive experience, as a way to re-connect with the page or deepen into the heart of their story.

    Your intention may be to write for yourself, or as a legacy for your family, or with an eye towards sharing your story with a wider audience.

  • The workshop is designed as a series of guided writing prompts that build upon one another, creating a journey arc through the day. The writing time is interwoven with opportunities to share work and receive feedback. There are also intermittent breaks and a longer lunch break. Discussions about the art and craft of memoir are organically threaded through the experience.

  • The workshop is being hosted at a beautiful private residence in Ojai. The address will be provided upon registration.

    There are three horses on the property, an old dog who won’t bother anyone, and NO cats.

    If you live outside of the area, we are happy to offer recommendations for places to stay!

  • You do not need to prepare anything for our time together. That being said, if you’d like to kickstart your writing, you might sign up for The Daily Prompt or pick up Natalie Goldberg’s Old Friend From Far Away, both full of wonderful writing prompts.

  • Yes! A light breakfast will be offered upon arrival starting at 9:30am, as well as a delicious, healthy lunch. We will also be providing refreshments throughout the day.

  • Simply bring a pen, a writing pad or journal, and an open mind. While you are encouraged to write by hand, you may write on a computer if you prefer.

  • You will never be forced or pressured to share your writing. That being said, there is great power in being witnessed and bearing witness to others’ stories, and so you will have opportunities to share what you write.

  • This creative space is open to all, whether you have a background in writing or not. Over the years of working with personal stories, I have noticed that memoir is the great leveler. We are all coming together with the same intention: to discover the underlying emotional truth of our life experiences—to make sense of them and express what matters most to us.