Like myth, memoir presupposes that there is a certain unity to human experience, that we all share similar hopes, dreams, and desires. When we tell the story of how and where we grew up, who our parents were, how the significant people in our lives influenced us, and what challenges and obstacles we faced, we are locating ourselves within an ancient human tradition of storytelling and meaning-making. Memoirs help us find meaning in our lives by showing us how our lives fit into a larger mythic pattern. Although not every memoir reflects a mythic theme, most memoir writers unconsciously reveal mythic themes in their desire to find meaning in their lives. Memoirs address the domains of myth: Who am I? Who are my people? What is my journey? What is my purpose? Where is home? The essence of a great memoir is the voice of the writer and how she brings the reader into a scene with sensory details. In an atmosphere of friendship, support, and safety, we will read excerpts from contemporary memoirists like Joan Didion, Dani Shapiro, Natasha Trethewey, and James McBride that reflect mythic themes, and respond to short writing prompts.

 

Program Format:

Learn at Your Own Pace with Pacifica Extension’s Virtual Learning Format

The eight monthly learning sessions are designed to allow you to engage at your own pace and at your convenience. Each month begins with select recommended readings on the theme (typically 60-75 pages), accompanied by a pre-recorded video presentation and an online discussion forum. In the middle of each month, participants have the option of joining a live 60 minute Zoom discussion of a recommended “memoir of the month” to study issues of content and craft facilitated by Jennifer Leigh Selig. Each month ends with the posting of 2-4 pages of memoir writing by participants for feedback by small groups and Jennifer. Participants may choose to submit pages of an ongoing memoir-in-progress or may produce new material in response to suggested writing prompts.

 Opening Virtual Weekend with Maureen Murdock  and Jennifer Leigh Selig 

(Conducted live via Zoom)

All Sessions are Pacific Time

Saturday, March 21  9:00 am-11:30 am, 12:30 pm-4:00 pm, PT

Sunday, March 22 9:00 am-12:00 pm, PT 1:00-2:30pm PT

Closing Virtual Weekend with Jennifer Leigh Selig

(Conducted live via Zoom)

Saturday, December 12 9:00 am-12:30 pm, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm , PT

Sunday, December 13 10:00 am-12:00 pm , PT

All Sessions are Pacific Time

***Attendance to the opening and closing weekend is required.

After nine months of intensive memoir writing, it’s time to give birth! Participants will celebrate their labors as a community with Maureen and Jennifer as midwives. Everyone will be encouraged to read aloud from self-selected pages of their memoir writing, with Maureen offering feedback on the pages and the presentation. Afterward, Jennifer will lead the group in taking a backward glance, discussing the insights we experienced and the inroads we made on our individuation journeys vis-à-vis writing our memoirs. We’ll look into the future as well, discuss ways to continue the memoir journey through courses, podcasts, and writing communities. Participants will receive a list of resources, including venues for publishing stand-alone memoir essay pieces of various lengths.

This program welcomes participants who:

• Have always wanted to write a full-length memoir or try their hand at shorter personal reflections
• Have already written memoir pieces and want to bring a depth perspective to their writing
• Have a desire to cultivate a sense of archetypal and mythic consciousness in their writing
• Wish to honor a soul-filled perspective towards creative imagination
• Desire the structure and support a thoughtful writing community can offer

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Participation points will be given for each of the following course components:

• Original discussion post—due by Saturday of each discussion week (6 points), with two response posts to classmates due by Tuesday (2 points each)
• Two to four new memoir pages—due by Saturday of each pages week (12 points), with two feedback responses to circlemates due by Tuesday (4 points each)*
• Closing weekend attendance, December 12-13 (20 points)

Because we all rely upon each other’s timeliness in order to move through program deadlines, no points will be given for late work (sorry!).

In order to be awarded the certificate, participants must accumulate 80% of the participation points (208/260), which can include optional points for participating in any live optional Zoom “Memoir of the Month” calls (4 points).

Monthly Learning Session Schedule & Topics:

MONTH	TOPIC	OPTIONAL MEMOIR OF THE MONTH ZOOM DATE
April	The Archetype of the Storyteller: “Making Sense of the Senseless,” and Other Reasons We Write (and Read) Memoir	Thursday, April 16th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT hooks, bell. (1996). Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood.
May	The Archetype of Structure: Story as Flesh, Structure as Bones	Thursday, May 21st, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Harjo, Joy. (2012). Crazy Brave: A Memoir.
June	The Archetype of Truth: To Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth(?)	Thursday, June 11th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Moore, Judith. (2006). Fat Girl.
July	The Archetype of Memory: Imaginal Remembering and Other Depth Psychological Approaches to Embodying and Enlivening Our Memories	Thursday, July 16th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Doty, Mark. (1999). Firebird: A Memoir.
August	The Archetype of Voice: “Psyche Equals Voice,” Or How to Write Pages That Sing With Soul	Thursday, August 13th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Williams, Terry Tempest. (2012). When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice.
September	The Archetype of the Caregiver: Whose Story Is It? Writing Sensitively About Others in Our Lives	Thursday, September 17th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Grealy, Lucy. (1994). Autobiography of a Face.
October	The Archetype of Image: The Power of Metaphor and the Potential of Key Images	Thursday, October 22nd, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Ensler, Eve. (2013). In the Body of the World: A Memoir.
November	The Archetype of Transformation: The Alchemy of Memoir Writing	Thursday, November 19th, 5:00-6:00 pm PT Hoffman, Richard. (1995). Half the House: A Memoir.

* Memoir of the Month calls take place on Zoom for 60 minutes from 5:00-6:00 pm Pacific Time. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you haven’t read the books to be discussed (but of course it’s better if you have!). Each memoir is chosen to align with the module’s content focus, and attending is a great way to deepen your appreciation for the craft. Sessions will be recorded as well.

All of the live Zoom sessions will be recorded and made available to everyone registered for the program.

Required Books:

• Barrington, Judith. (2002). Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art (2nd ed
• Karr, Mary. (2015). The Art of Memoir.
• Kephart, Beth. (2013). Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir.
• Maran, Meredith. (Ed.) (2016). Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists On Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) In the Name of Literature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selig, J.L. ( 2024). Deep Memoir: An Archetypal Approach to Deepen Your Story and Broaden its Appeal. Mandorla Books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murdock, M (2024). Myth Making: Self-Discovery and the Timeless Art of Memoir. Shambhala.

NOTE: Please read pages 1-17 in Maureen’s Mythmaking book and pages 1-18 in Jennifer’s Deep Memoir book before the opening online weekend.

Recommended Books:

DeSalvo, Louise. (2000). Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives.

Dodson, Daphne. (2017). Imaginal Remembering: Our Soul’s Journey Through Memory and Imagination.

Goldberg, Natalie. (2009). Old Friend From Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir.

Murdock, Maureen. (2003). Unreliable Truth: On Memoir and Memory.

Selig, Jennifer Leigh, with Deborah Anne Quibell and Dennis Patrick Slattery. (2019). Deep Creativity: Seven Ways to Spark Your Creative Spirit.