San Jose & 淡水

今天在網上繼續尋找寫作有關的課程， 找到聯合報已經開課的課程，叫做素人自傳寫作投稿班，

我覺的這還是偏向知識傳遞，我在美國上的是自己多寫，念自己的作品，而不強調老師自己的學養，

而是看學生想學什麼，這是台灣與美國不同之處....

I found this writing course in Taipei which I translated as Memoir Writing for Everyone. I have been doing market research on writing. Apparently, it exists here.  I also found this site in English. I am not sure who this author is. 

Here are the 5 tips he offers for writing memoir.

Source: http://schools.penncrest.org/staff/tdouglas/

Writing Your Memoir:

In writing a Memoir, you write about ONE story from a life, NOT the entire life as in autobiography.  

You can only ever write one autobiography, BUT, you can write countless memoirs.  

It’s a small project, instead of an intimidating one!

Diagram your life:  

Some people already have a “burning story” to tell. 

Others may find it difficult to pinpoint something interesting. 

If you diagram your life, it will help you gain perspective. 

So, to begin, get in the right mood, enlist the help of a friend or family member,  over milk and cookies might help! (just like baking fruitcake, in Truman Capote’s A Christmas Story). 

In the diagram, plot out your life’s 6 most significant moments.  

When you do so, thoughtfully and honestly, there will usually be one pivotal event that stands out as particular, intriguing, or meaningful. 

If there isn’t, don’t worry. 

There are many different ways to diagram your life. 

Try dividing yours by critical choices, influential people, conflicts, beliefs, lessons, struggles, even mistakes. 

Experiment until you find the one story that wants to be told, the one experience that has made you who you are today.

DON’T begin at the beginning.  Don’t tell the story chronologically.  

WHY?  Because it is way too predictable. 

Think of your favorite books.  Most don’t start at the beginning. 

Instead they revert you with instant action and intrigue. 

A good beginning is a roper…it draws you in…and it gives the reader just enough action to hook them without giving away or divulging the outcome. Use all your senses:

 The best writers create vivid new worlds for readers to inhabit. 

Yet most budding writers of memoir produce first drafts that are flat. 

To transport the reader, and yourself, write VIVIDLY! 

This is done through detail, by using all your senses to fully re-create a moment in time. 

You can teach yourself to do this.

The next time your are waiting at a restaurant, doctor’s office, sitting in traffic, or in class, pay attention and notice the various sights, sound s, smells, and textures. 

This is what a good writer needs to do, both in reality and in the story. 

You have a writing muscle, and it needs exercise to perform well. 

Any idea where that muscle is?   Set a daily goal to write 200, 500 or even 1000 words.  

 Set aside some regular time, such as in the morning, or before you go to bed, and be disciplined.  

Don’t worry about making what your write perfect, just focus on getting the story out of your head!  (you can always revise later)  

Above all, relax.  Memoir is the easiest type of writing to do well.  -  

 Since you’ve already done the research and are closely and intimately familiar with every character…

Now, you just need to tell it.

聯合報課程內容
 
我的故事自己說，平民作家、素人自傳不是夢。說好故事有撇步，提升文筆有方法。六堂課，帶你循序漸進，用精緻的文字來回顧人生，把生活的印記、家族的歷史……說不完的感動，美滿的收藏起來。

獨家課程:
由聯合報繽紛版編輯群批閱並指導，將屬於自己人生閱歷的一篇篇故事串成自傳，讓你在課堂就可以寫出作品，再從課堂的分享吸收同好的長處，寫作技巧大幅提升，並開啟源源不斷的創作力。

課程大綱
請學員們在上課第二週繳交自傳大綱及一篇自我生命故事短文（500字內），第四週繳交一篇自傳體散文（約1500-2000字），以A4打字列印紙本遞交，導師將於第三週及最後一週課堂上與學員們進行自傳作品討論，讓難忘的回憶串成一篇動人的故事。



週	日期	講題	講師
1	3/16	如何說故事：自傳的要素與結構	林德俊 韋瑋
2	3/23	由短入長！片段回憶到完整人生	吳鈞堯
3	3/30	作家見面會： 寫得好看！學員精彩生命故事大解析	韋瑋 繽紛版專欄作家 林綺
4	4/6	自傳成書！如何料理一窩故事	汪詠黛
5	4/13	寫得動人！就要百分百心靈的書寫	歐銀釧
6	4/20	精雕細琢好文筆：學員作品總體檢	韋瑋 林德俊