Tell Your Story - Memoir Writing Workshops
by Sonia Orchard
Description
Memoir writing workshops are favourites of Sonia’s because learning how to ‘tell your story’ has so many far-reaching benefits for all forms of creative and non-creative communication, from fiction writing to debating to relationships. It is also a great healer. Telling one’s story can release shame, build pride and forge connectedness.
Sonia has a range of writing workshops adaptable for any school’s needs, from single session classes, to full day intensives. Sonia has published two literary novels; two memoirs, including her recent release “Groomed”; is a regular Opinion piece writer for major papers; and taught novel writing in RMIT’s Professional Writing and Editing degree so can deliver a wide range of writing workshops and work with any school, workplace or community on their particular needs.
Topics Covered:
(please note- not all topics can be covered in a single class session)
Benefits and outcomes:
Group Size:
Ideally, sessions are best conducted with single class sizes to ensure participants feel safe to engage and share personal experiences. Smaller groups encourage more interaction, allowing participants to feel more comfortable asking questions and discussing sensitive topics.
If this is a school booking and you cannot accommodate a single class size, larger groups may still work—especially if the cohort is cohesive, friendly, and possibly single-sex. In such cases, students may still feel comfortable interacting and engaging with the session content. Please reach out with any questions around this.
Session Details:
There are various types of structures you can opt for in the memoir writing workshops:
Sonia has a range of writing workshops adaptable for any school’s needs, from single session classes, to full day intensives. Sonia has published two literary novels; two memoirs, including her recent release “Groomed”; is a regular Opinion piece writer for major papers; and taught novel writing in RMIT’s Professional Writing and Editing degree so can deliver a wide range of writing workshops and work with any school, workplace or community on their particular needs.
Topics Covered:
- What is memoir and why is it so powerful?
- Finding one’s ‘story’
- Emotional truth vs objective truth
- Scene setting and mood
- Tips for telling your story well
(please note- not all topics can be covered in a single class session)
Benefits and outcomes:
- Better understanding of what makes a good story and grasp of creative writing techniques (creating mood, using details and senses etc)
- Insight into own values, goals, needs, dreams / self understanding
- Increased empathy and connection with others
- Building pride, inner resilience and strength
- Expressing oneself with authenticity (very valuable in relationships, job interviews etc)
- Memoir (telling one's story) runs through all fiction writing and is also valuable in persuasive writing and speech
Group Size:
Ideally, sessions are best conducted with single class sizes to ensure participants feel safe to engage and share personal experiences. Smaller groups encourage more interaction, allowing participants to feel more comfortable asking questions and discussing sensitive topics.
If this is a school booking and you cannot accommodate a single class size, larger groups may still work—especially if the cohort is cohesive, friendly, and possibly single-sex. In such cases, students may still feel comfortable interacting and engaging with the session content. Please reach out with any questions around this.
Session Details:
There are various types of structures you can opt for in the memoir writing workshops:
- Duration (structure dependant)
- 50 - 60 stand- alone sessions
- Double class 120 minutes
- 6 hour intensive workshops
- Opportunity for ongoing courses
Details
Audience
Secondary Students, Workplace team building, Adults
Duration
50 mins onwards