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Course Description
It doesn't matter if you're a famous politician, suburban homemaker or someone in between, the fact of the matter is that everyone has a personal story worth telling.Whether you want to honor someone who's made a difference in your life, heal old wounds, document unique experiences or travels, record your family history, or leave a legacy to future generations, "Journaling and Memoir Writing" is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will demystify the process of finally putting your story on paper.
No matter if you're a novice or a professional writer interested in the memoir form, "Journaling and Memoir Writing" is designed to help you decide what story to tell and the best way in which to tell it.Whether you are interested in writing a memoir exploring your personal struggles such as addiction, abuse or divorce or a travelogue based on your experience backpacking through Europe, this course will help you narrow the focus of your life story and define the underlying theme that will connect you with an audience.You will also learn how to find your true voice that will make your story unique and authentic.Through varied and comprehensive writing exercises you will learn how to sharpen your instincts and hone your storytelling craft."Journaling and Memoir Writing" will also teach you how to dig deeper into your life and mine important memories that will enable you add incredible depth and richness to your story.In addition to the extensive writing lessons, you will learn what to do with your memoir once it is finished.Whether your goal is pass on your memoir as a family heirloom or to become a New York Times best seller, "Journaling and Memoir Writing" will address the various publishing options available to you.Everyone has a story to tell.Let this online class help you write yours today.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Memoir
Where an autobiography is a story written by yourself about your life so far, a memoir tends to focus on a specific period or theme in your life.
Lesson 2: On Writing
There are rules to writing, you can choose to break every rule in the book, but you should at least know them before you do so.
Lesson 3: Finding Your Voice
Because each of us is unique, we must find a way to translate or uniqueness to the page. The spoken word and the written word aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.
Lesson 4: How to Get Started
There are several ways in which you can prepare yourself so that when you do begin writing your memoir, you will avoid some of the traps that derail many aspiring memoirists.
Lesson 5: What's It About?
Writing a memoir is not the easiest thing in the world to do, but with a little preparation you can avoid many of the common roadblocks and hurdles that novice writers often face.
Lesson 6: How To Deal With The Main Character (You)
You must challenge yourself every step of the way and look at your life from every possible angle.
Lesson 7: Memory Mining and Truth
In this lesson we will focus on even more ways to help jog and focus your memories for your memoir.
Lesson 8: Anatomy of a Scene and Structure
Consider opening your memoir with one of the most memorable events of your life. Create a mystery so the reader will immediately want to know more.
Lesson 9: Editing and Receiving Feedback
Seasoned writers view their first drafts as a piece of clay ready to be molded into something special. The best memoirs have been worked and reworked.
Lesson 10: How to Overcome Difficulties
There are many difficulties that can stall or even derail your project. The most prevalent issues that tend to weigh down a writer's project include a lack of time, writer's block, and rejection.
Lesson 11: You're Finished, Now What?
In this lesson we will cover traditional publishing, how to find an agent, self publishing and publishing to the web.
Optional Certificates Awarded
Certificate of Merit
Certificate of Academic Excellence
Certificates may be awarded by the instructor at his/her own discretion and are based on student merit.
To save your award and have a hard-copy delivered, there is a $30.00 processing fee that covers the customization, printing, and delivery of the award, as well as access to the UniversalClass™ Portfolio Service that documents your achievements online.
Official awards have a serial number that verifies the authenticity of the award (great for employers
to verify your achievement).
This is a non-credit course, and is provided for your personal enrichment.
This course is not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements.
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