In this generative, six-week class, students will learn how to shape their personal experiences into well-crafted, universal stories. We will begin by defining the genre of memoir, exploring both the benefits and fears involved in revealing ourselves on the page. Each week, we will examine a different craft element, such as point of view, sensory description, narrative structure, and voice, with provided texts that illustrate each concept. Writing prompts will be offered, though students are free to choose what they’d like to write about, with the opportunity to share their work and receive kind, constructive critiques. This course will provide the tools necessary to become a stronger writer and reader, as well as guidance through the transformative process of finding language for memory and experience.
This six-week class will meet on Saturdays: September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 14, and 21 (Skip October 7). Each class is 2.5 hours.
About the Instructor
Libby Kurz is a writer, nurse, and USAF veteran. She holds a BS in Nursing from UNC-Charlotte and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. Her work appears or is forthcoming in The Iowa Review, Ruminate, The Other Journal, Literary Mama, and Driftwood Press, among others. Her poetry was awarded first prize in the New Voices category of the Poetry Society of Virginia’s 2017 contest, and in 2019, Finishing Line Press published her poetry chapbook, The Heart Room, which chronicles her experiences working as a cardiothoracic nurse in Norfolk, VA. An excerpt from her memoir in progress won 2nd place in the The Iowa Review’s 2022 Jeff Sharlet Memorial Prize for Veterans, judged by Jerri Bell. She teaches poetry, memoir, and trauma writing workshops for The Muse Writers Center, Langley AFB, and the Wounded Warrior Project. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, three children, and 115lb lapdog. You can find her at www.libbykurz.com.
This class is produced in partnership with The Muse Writers Center.
