Preserving Your Library: a Memoir Writing Course for Seniors by Carol Matthews

Writing memoir is a way of exploring and revisiting times and experiences from our lives. The American writer Alex Haley, author of the book Roots, once said that “Every time an old person dies it’s as if a library burns down.” This course opens up the possibility of saving something from the internal libraries we all carry within us. These stories may be ones we wish to share with our family or friends, or we may simply want to recall and write about them for our own pleasure in reminiscence.

This mini-course will consist of 3 two-hour sessions delivered by Zoom, one in the fall and one in the spring, for a total of 6 weeks. The focus will be on producing short works of memoir about specific times, relationships and situations participants want to explore in writing. It will begin with an overview about why we write memoir and what such writing can offer us and will involve writing tips and exercises for each participant to produce her or his own work.

Sessions may involve some sharing of work between participants if desired. The period between the two sessions will provide time for more writing and editing, with further
revisions and new projects continuing in the spring session.

Carol Matthews has worked as a social worker, as Executive Director of Nanaimo Family Life and as instructor and Dean of Human Services and Community Education at Malaspina University-College (now VIU). She has published a collection of short stories (Incidental Music: Oolichan  Books, 2006)) and four books of non-fiction or memoir (including Reflections on the C-Word, Hedgerow Books, 2006, Questions for Ariadne: The Labyrinth and the End of Times, Outlaw Editions, 2011.)  Most recently, Minerva’s Owl: The Bereavement Phase of My Marriage was published by Oolichan Books in December, 2017. Her short stories and reviews have appeared in literary journals such as Room, The New Quarterly, Grain, Prism, Malahat and Event.

Course details:

Tuesdays, 1:30 pm – 3 pm
November 10, 17, 24
January 19, 26 & February 2

Course will be held digitally over Zoom. Participants must have access to a device that can connect to a video call. Assistance in set up and use of Zoom can be provided to participants prior to the course upon request. Session is limited to eight participants.

To register: Call 250-754-3331 (203) or email s_burton@nflabc.org