Instructor: Jean Hastings Ardell

People have been telling stories of their adventures and survival since time immemorial. Memoir writing offers rich benefits by helping us make sense of our lives and our origins. It also permits us to resolve old mysteries of behavior and choices made, to view the past in a fresh way. And if you’ve ever wished you knew more about your grandparents’ lives, this course will enable you to create an invaluable legacy for your own grandchildren.

One of the appeals of memoir writing is that you need not be a professional to see satisfying results. Over six sessions we will encourage one another as we take up the challenge of writing our life stories. We will discuss beginnings and endings; what to do when we can’t remember everything; and how to handle family secrets. We’ll also learn to use the literary techniques of style that bring alive the stories that only we can tell. Those who wish to can receive feedback from the instructor and class members by reading aloud from their work written at home. By the end of our workshop, you can expect to have a substantial beginning to your life story.

The workshop is limited to twelve participants. Presented by NBPL Foundation

A note about the instructor: Jean graduated with honors in English from the University of California at Irvine and holds a master's degree from the University of Southern California Master of Professional Writing program. She has worked in Orange County, California, as a freelance writer since 1989. Her work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, literary journals, and anthologies. Her first book, Breaking into Baseball: Women and the National Pastime, (Southern Illinois University Press, 2005), appeared on the Los Angeles Times list of bestsellers. Her co-authored book Making My Pitch: A Woman’s Baseball Odyssey (University of Nebraska Press, 2017) has recently been optioned as a feature film.

Details:

• Six Tuesday evenings: September 25 - October 30
• 5:30 – 8:30pm
• Location: Conference Room, Newport Beach Central Library
• 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92660
• Class is limited to 12 students
• Tuition: $250
• Info: kupshaw@newportbeachca.gov or 949.717.3818