Mary-Lou Weisman, best-selling author, personal essayist, and memoir writer, offers an eight-session workshop for those who have had some experience in writing memoir and personal essay.
Please note: This is not a beginner class. The goal of the workshop is to foster a habit of writing, to briefly review the elements of good style, and to help committed writers become their own best editors. Students will email their work to all class members at least four days before the next class so that they can edit their classmates' work. Those edits, plus Mary-Lou's, will be the main business of each class.
The eight sessions will be Thursdays, every other week, 12:30-2:30 pm in Room 216 (McCall Room).
Classes will be held on the following dates: September 26, October 10 & 24, November 7 & 21, December 5 & 19, and January 2.
To be sure that you are ready for this advanced eight-week course, Mary-Lou will review a sample of your writing. Please email about 500 words, no more than a two-page, double-spaced sample of your memoir or personal essay writing, to Jennifer Keller at jkeller@westportlibrary.org. It may take a week or so to review submissions.
Class size is limited to 10.
Fee: $15.
Registration link will be sent after the review of your sample. Note: Because there is usually a waiting list, acceptance is contingent on your intention to attend all classes.
Weisman has written three memoirs (Playing House in Provence, Intensive Care, and Traveling While Married), a biography (Al Jaffee's Mad Life), and a best-selling humor book (My Middle-Aged Baby Book). She also edited The Covid Chronicles for The Westport Library. As an adjunct professor, she has taught writing, both memoir and personal essay, at The New School, New York University, Manhattanville College, and at both Westport and Norwalk Continuing Education programs.