Life Stories Workshop: Scandals Not A Prerequisite!

While memoirs remain one of the hottest genres on the bestselling book and film lists, many writers hesitate to write their own life stories. They worry about revealing family secrets or private details that might upset their relatives and friends—or even get them sued.

But a memoir doesn’t have to be scandalous or embarrassing—or even written as a traditional memoir, says writing coach and former journalist Debra Scacciaferro of Warwick. Her two-day intensive writing workshop “Which Way Do I Go? Life Stories in Fact or Fiction” encourages students to think outside the box of a traditional memoir when putting their life stories to paper. 

“Memoirs can be written in a million different ways,” she points out, “You'll find them in the travel aisle, among military history, as self-help books—even in the reference section. Some of my favorite novels are actually fictionalized memoirs."

The workshop will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, at Cuppa Pulp Writers' Space, 119 Main Street, Nanuet, N.Y., from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. each day. This workshop is open to both men and women.  

She points to best-selling humorist David Sedaris, whose memoirs are in essay and radio play form, and poet Tricia Bauer’s award-winning fictional memoir about her family’s experience with Alzheimer’s Disease written in poetic prose. There are illustrated children’s books, poetry collections, and even cookbook memoirs that blend family recipes with essays on cooking.

“I love offering writers new ways to approach a project,” she said. “Sometimes writers get stuck thinking there is only one way to write something. My job is to help them look at the wider variety of possibilities and find the best creative way possible to tell their story.” 

This workshop is for writers of all skill levels who find themselves sharing stories over and over, be it their own or those of someone who has been an influence on their lives. Everyone has something to teach, and this workshop gives students the tools to best share their lessons with the world. 

Participants will receive a free copy of Debra’s Life Story Method Workbook, which will be used in a series of writing exercises to identify dramatic elements and central themes in their own Life Story. 

The fee for the two-day workshop is just $215 ($165 Early Bird Rate if registered by June 15). Registration is available online at www.cuppapulp.com/cilk119.