24PearlStreet Workshops and Events
Vivian Gornick says, “Truth in a memoir is achieved not through a recital of actual events; it is achieved when the reader comes to believe that the writer is working hard to engage with the experience at hand.” How do we organize the events of a life to tell a story? How does the story become a work of art? We will work hard to identify each writer’s core theme and shape a narrative governed by that theme.
You may already have an idea, sections, or a whole manuscript. Wherever you are in the difficult process of writing memoir, this workshop will provide you with some organizing principles to help you move forward.
Biography
Susanna Sonnenberg is the author of two memoirs, Her Last Death and She Matters: A Life in Friendships. Her recent essay "Mirage" was a Notable selection in 2024's Best American Essays. The recipient of fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, and the Djarassi Foundation, among many others, she has taught widely and been on the Summer Faculty of FAWC since 2017. She lives in Missoula, Montana.
