An Intro to Memoir

With Workshop Leader, Martha Vowles

This workshop is intended for writers who want to explore stories based on their lives. They might have honed their skills in writing fiction or poetry, but stall on how to get started with stories about their own experiences. We will examine how to choose your subject matter, how to decide what belongs in your narrative, how to deal with conflicting memories, how to approach sensitive topics, and how to stay out of court.

About Martha:

Martha Vowles was brought up in rural Quebec, along the Ottawa River. She moved to Atlantic Canada in the 1970’s. She’s an avid reader, and has always had an appreciation for the artistry and power of stories. Retired from her career as a speech-language pathologist, she lives beside the Wolastoq River, with her husband and critters. She devotes much of her time to writing and gardening. Her first book, a memoir entitled, Senior Management: Parenting My Parents, was published by Nevermore Press in April 2021and won the 2022 NB Book Award for non-fiction. She is currently working on a second memoir, a collection of poetry, and has a novel on the back burner, next to the stew pot.