In the winters of 2022, 2023, and 2024, I facilitated four memoir writing workshops for English-speaking women aged thirty or older. Although they were quite successful, I didn’t offer one last winter because I thought that everyone who had an interest in this genre had already attended over the previous three years. Then, a few days ago, I ran into my most exuberant student, who expressed an interest in attending again. Also, having edited five more memoirs since 2024, I realized that I could approach the topic in a different, more meaningful way.

If you are interested in attending, please say so as a reply to this post no later than next Saturday, February 21, at noon. If between three and five women would like to come, I will ask for your email addresses so that I can send you preliminary materials and provide detailed directions to the location. (I hope that Spencer will allow me to bump this post on Wednesday.) If fewer than three women sign up, I will cancel the workshop after Saturday at noon. The information below is repeated (and updated):

For: Unpublished English-speaking women aged 30 or older

Where: Hospedaje el Tope, Lazaro Cardenas 206

When: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday—February 24, 26, and 28— from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (includes a 15-minute break)

Cost: $600 pesos, payable in cash on the first day

Number of participants: minimum of three, maximum of five

Please bring: a notebook and a pen or pencil for taking notes and writing exercises, or a laptop or tablet. (Constructive comments are welcome, but criticism is prohibited.) Soft drinks and snacks are available to purchase.

Facilitator: Lynne Willard, La Manzanilla full-time resident and veteran of “The World of Words”

The workshop is designed to be fun, interactive, and non-judgmental. Although some participants might want to write an autobiography—her entire life story—we will focus on fine-tuning the parts and pieces of a memoir. Normally, a memoir covers a shorter time period, from a few memorable days to a period of many years; its length can be anywhere from 19,000 to 70,000 words. Of the 23 women who have taken the workshop to date, all of them wanted to write a story only for herself and/or her family; for those who want to publish, I will give you a complete guide to the process at the conclusion of the workshop. (You would be under no pressure whatsoever to hire me as your editor!)

Here is some unsolicited feedback:

Lynne, you are an inspiring, informative, and supportive teacher. Keep teaching!

I'm sure I speak for this group when I say you are a natural teacher, and you did a fantastic job. Professional, fun, and truly present to each of us. Honestly, you went way beyond my expectations with all the extra information you provided around publishing, etc. If you saw room for self improvement in the teaching department, it wasn't anything we noticed.