Writing
Spiritual Memoirs Workshops
Led by Nan Phifer
Author of Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide
Published First by Writers Digest Books, Reprinted by Ingot Press
Memoirs are different from autobiographies. Autobiographies present a
broad overview, while memoirs focus on the hours and minutes most keen
in our livesthe times when we are fully alive, times when experiences
penetrate to the quick. In these moments we define ourselves; the ways
we respond reveal our souls. Our individuality emerges distinctly at such
times.
Most people assume memoirs should be written chronologically, but this
approach is likely to be tedious for the writer and for readers. Memoirs
will be vivid and engaging when the memoirist writes about the most significant
and intense memories as they are recalled and waits to order the chapters
after they are written. Nan guides workshop participants in identifying
the particular experiences, people, and places in their own lives that
will compose the content of their individual memoirs. She demonstrates
a writing process that evokes spontaneous rough drafts, elicits constructive
responses from listeners, and leads to polished final drafts. Because
Nan's workshops are participatory and interactive, participants experience
a procedure they can continue to follow for further writing. An ideal
length of time for one workshop is two hours.
Nan Phifer has served as a co-director for the Oregon Writing Project
at the U. of O. and continues to contribute as a member of its Board.
In addition, she presents workshops for libraries, academic conferences,
retreat and renewal organizations, writers' groups, and religious organizations.
Her interest in American Literature and her Master of Liberal Arts studies
at The Johns Hopkins University contributed background for her present
work.
Nan's workshops range from the monthly sessions in Indianapolis where
she co-guided pastors in writing to explore their vocational dedication,
to nation-wide, on-line teaching for Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley,
California. At The Church of the Epiphany in Washington, DC, she led participants
in writing to design sacred space, and on the West Coast she guided writers
in exploring wilderness. At this time, she is creating a series of interfaith
writing workshops.
To learn more about Nan's workshops and see her current calendar, please
open www.memoirsofthesoul.com
or write to her at nanphifer@mac.com.
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