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Instructor Rob Williams says, “I love being wowed by a short piece of writing, something that may take only three to five minutes to read, but in its brevity is still rich with candor, humor, or heartbreak, and leaves me thinking about it long after I’ve read the last sentence.”

The 5-Minute Memoir, a popular recurring section of Writer’s Digest magazine, is a 600-word essay reflection on the writer’s life, and though it typically takes five minutes to read, it can impact and resonate far beyond the page. In this full-day workshop, we’ll explore more than just the writing life (though writing about that is fine, too!) to include the small and large experiences that affect us, whether a walk in the park with a friend or a major life transition.

Rob says, “We will begin by reading and discussing some examples of the 5-minute memoir written by well-established and new writers, and then, through fun and insightful prompts, you’ll learn how to move from sketching out an anecdote to the actual writing. The short writing exercises will help you enhance character details and setting descriptions and encourage you to pay special attention to evoking self-reflection and significance.”

From the writing exercises, optional sharing, and detailed instructor feedback, participants will leave the class with a 5-minute memoir, be it a hilarious narrative or a pensive reflection, that is a small, eloquent glimpse into what makes you you.  

*There will be a lunch break for at least 30 minutes during this Saturday class.

 

About The Writing Salon's In-Person Classes

In-person class schedules are subject to sudden change or cancellation due to Covid. We will communicate any course changes to you as quickly as possible. Masking, social distancing, and other Covid measures will be enforced in accordance with local guidelines. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about your class. If you have any questions about in-person learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.

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Instructor

    Rob Williams teaches Creative Writing and English at Skyline College and has led writing workshops at San Diego Writers Ink on flash fiction and creative nonfiction. His essays and fiction have appeared in Maisonneuve Magazine, Versal, 400 Words, San Diego Citybeat Magazine and various anthologies including I Do/I Don’t and Foolish Hearts. He is the co-editor of the Lambda Literary Award-nominated anthology From Boys to Men: Gay Men Write About Growing Up and has received writing fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center and Fishtrap. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and worked as a Poetry Reader for W. W. Norton in New York City.

Schedule
  1. Saturday, March 04, 10:00am-4:00pm
Reviews
  • Rob is fantastic. He is supportive and thoughtful. I would take any class from him.

    Erin
  • This class was masterfully structured to allow cross-communication and spontaneity while covering a lot of territory. I never felt constrained by time. Rob is relaxed yet focused; interesting and interested; generative; kind.

    Zoe C
  • Rob's prompts helped us focus on efficient, active, sensory writing. Rob's live on-the-spot critiques were impressive.

    Ariel R.

Details

Date:
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Time:
6:00 pm - 12:00 am PST
Cost:
$155.00
Event Categories:
,

Organizer

Rob Williams
Email:
rob@robwilliams.org

Venue

San Francisco
2042 Balboa St.
San Francisco, CA United States
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Cancellation Policy

10 days or more before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 10% fee OR a refund minus a 20% fee.

3-9 days before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 20% fee OR a refund minus a 30% fee.

2 days or less before the start date for a class, the registrant will not receive a credit or a refund.

The Writing Salon cannot offer refunds, credits, or makeup sessions for classes a student might miss.

In the event of an emergency, we may consider a refund or credit, whether partial or full. We review these requests on a case-by-case basis, and we ask that you notify us as near as possible to the start date for the class.

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