“So this, I believe, is the central question:
“Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?””
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
Sunday, May 19th
10am - 5pm
pacific palisades, California
Hosted at a private residence
Lunch included
open for registration
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.
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.
A former story analyst for Creative Artists Agency and 20th Century Fox, she is a published author and has written and developed projects for Nickelodeon, the Jim Henson Company and National Geographic Kids. She has taught at Cal State Fullerton, UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, UCLA Arts and Healing, and the San Miguel de Allende Writers’ Conference, and currently offers workshops, retreats and one-on-one coaching under her Spirit of Story banner.
Your Host:
MELISSA APPELBAUM-SCHWARTZ is a mom of five humans, all born within five years of each other! A former criminal defense attomey and two-time Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles, Melissa was born and raised in Los Angeles, but has lived many other lifetimes in Michigan, Spain, New York and Washington, D.C. Melissa currently resides in Pacific Palisades with her husband, two dogs, two remaining teenagers. and one tenacious fish. In her free time, she works in the real estate industry, designs interiors, pursues her art in painting and quilting, and is a hopeful memoir author who finds inspiration and motivation in Karin’s amazing “Taste of Memoir” classes and workshops.
Questions you may be asking...
Who is this workshop for?
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.
What is the format of the workshop?
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.
Where is the workshop being held?
The workshop is being hosted at a lovely private residence in Pacific Palisades on the westside of Los Angeles. The address will be provided upon registration.
There are two dogs at the home.
Do I need to prepare anything?
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.
Are food and drink included?
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.
What should I bring?
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.
Will I have to share my writing?
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.
I have (don’t have) a background in writing, will I fit in?
This creative space is open to all, whether you have a background in writing or not. 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.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may receive a refund minus a $150 admin fee if you cancel by February 10th (14 days before the workshop); otherwise, due to the limited space available, the fee is nonrefundable unless your spot can be filled.
I am interested, but feel nervous. How do I know if this is the right workshop for me?
Butterflies are normal! That says to me that you're ready to dive in, and that's risky. Creating a safe, supportive space is essential; it is the cornerstone of all Spirit of Story workshops.
If you are considering the workshop, and want to make sure it is a right fit for you, I am happy to have a conversation. Contact Karin!
Kind words...
“I so so loved yesterday for so many reasons!! Mostly I enjoyed that you led us all down our personal story paths by having us do the deed—meaning actually writing at every turn of the journey. Thank you for guiding, challenging and holding the necessary space for all of us to be and do our best. I was particularly touched by your gifting us each with our personal thematic ‘words’. It was lovely and inspiring to know that even within a group setting you genuinely took the time to hear us as the individual storytellers we long to become.
I was initially intimidated by the group of women, but you were able to bring us all to leveled playing field which made sharing easier. I learned much from each individual share and I liked that you gave ‘us’ the task of assessing the pieces of others looking for other avenues they might elaborate on with more details. This activity helped make me more aware and cognizant of my own work.
I marveled at how quickly the day went by, but I was equally impressed with how much information you were able to bestow upon us in that short period. It feels as though I have grown and been transformed in the best possible way, and I am excited to be an active player in this next chapter of writing.
Blessings and Gratitude!!”
Sandra Peters
It feels as though I have grown and been transformed in the best possible way...
... 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
“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 thing in between the lines or pinpointing 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
... amazed how 'on target' your observations and questions are...
... 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
“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
What you're offering is really magical and unique...
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
