Price range: $897.00 through $1,597.00
Turn lived experience into a story of desire, conflict, and transformation.
You’ve lived through something that shaped you. You feel the pull to write it. The challenge is structure. A memoir is not a collection of memories. It is the story of something you wanted, what stood in your way, and how you were changed.
I’ve spent decades writing and editing narrative nonfiction — as a travel journalist, a senior editor at Outside, and as the author of the memoir Into the Soul of the World: My Journey to Healing. Over time, I’ve seen that powerful memoir follows a clear arc: desire, struggle, transformation. When that arc is present, the story moves. When it isn’t, even strong writing drifts.
In this five-week intensive, I will help you map that arc in your own life.
We meet once a week for five weeks. Each session is 90 minutes and structured as a working lab — focused teaching, guided writing, and clear application.
Each week builds toward a concrete result:
Week 1 — The Core Desire
Identify the central longing driving your story.
Week 2 — The Central Struggle
Clarify the conflict — external and internal — that gives your memoir energy.
Week 3 — The Transformation
Define the shift that makes your story meaningful.
Week 4 — Turning Points & Structure
Map the key moments that move the narrative forward.
Week 5 — Building the Blueprint
Shape the full arc and outline your drafting path.
This is not passive instruction. You will write. You will make structural decisions. You will leave with a clear narrative map strong enough to support a manuscript.
You won’t just feel motivated. You’ll know how your book is built.
Five 90-minute live sessions
Structured mapping exercises
Clear weekly deliverables
Group discussion and guided feedback
For writers who want structure and accountability.
Everything in the Cohort Experience, plus:
Five 45-minute one-on-one sessions
Personalized structural feedback
Focused guidance on your narrative arc
Support shaping next drafting steps
This option is for writers who want close attention and accelerated clarity.
Writers who know there is a real story in their life.
Healers, therapists, leaders, seekers.
Anyone who has walked through meaningful change and wants to write about it with depth and craft.
You do not need a finished manuscript.
You do need the willingness to look honestly at your desire and struggle.
Do I need a finished manuscript to join?
No. This course is designed for writers at the idea or early draft stage. We focus on structure, not polishing prose.
What if I have several possible stories?
That’s common. During the first week, we’ll clarify which desire and struggle create the strongest narrative spine so you can move forward with focus.
Will I receive feedback on my writing?
Yes. In the cohort, you’ll receive guided feedback on your memoir map and structure. In the Private Intensive, you’ll receive direct, personalized structural feedback during your one-on-one sessions.
Is this a workshop where we critique pages?
No. This is a structural intensive. We focus on mapping the architecture of your memoir so your drafting has direction and force.
What if I miss a session?
Sessions will be recorded and shared with participants. Live attendance is encouraged.
Is this right for me if my story is still emotionally tender?
Memoir requires honesty. You don’t need complete closure, but you do need enough stability to examine your experience clearly. If you’re unsure, reach out and we can talk.
