These ladies speak for all the women I know who have been through the course. It truly is life-changing. I've read more and written more than I ever would have otherwise and getting closer to that book that was just in my head for so many years. Alison is brilliant, compassionate and so creative - can't say enough!

I love Gail Purdy's answer to the last question - I love all her answers! I almost didn't want to listen to this interview because of that question, "Who Should You Write For?". And so I am super very glad that she simply said, from what she'd experienced emotionally with the writing in that it helped her get in touched with something deeper in herself ... so she says: WRITE FOR YOURSELF

The description is so helpful. It is difficult to hold back the depth of emotions while reading aloud.

Excellent interview, Gail! Thank you for the inspiration!

Great interview Gail Purdy! Now get back to writing!

Thank you Gail Purdy for putting is so succinctly. writing to help heal, to be heard, to connect with others who may have had similar experiences. Makes me want to keep writing. so thank u

Beautifully said!

Do you accept texts in Spanish?

writing is a way of being in the world, that's a great insight, thank you

Excellent interview. I had previously submitted a story in 2022 and did not make it to the long list. I wish I had known about Leslie back then . I have contemplated re-writing it but I took time to write my debut memoir which was published this January. Incidentally, I like using ProWritingAid vs Grammarly regarding punctuation and grammar.

Sophie Kohn, The first time I read your story, I was focused on the metaphors, the beautiful language, and your superb communication skills. I had to read it a second time to absorb the story. That's just me. When I was in college, I had to read every chapter of a textbook three times to absorb it thoroughly. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your world. It sounds like a beautiful place to be.

Sophie Kohn, you nailed it.

Brilliantly insightful, thank you Alison and Laurie. I sent off my entry a while ago, and of course am now filled with doubts, writers!!! go figure

An excellent interview, bursting with fabulous writing examples, insight, and valuable intel on what editors and contest judges look for in a submission. This was a Masterclass in itself! Thank you, Alison and Laurie!

Thanks Alison - I needed to hear this exact message this morning!!❤

WOW, Alison!!! I love all the infos covered here, especially the examples of the showing and how it compares with the "telling" as you point them out in the Almost Dad story, is absolutely so very very helpful. Thank you so much Alison ... and thank you Laurie for your explanations - the 4 points. I love this story Almost Dad, (personally/secretly I think it's 10x more touching and deeper and the other one, although of course I also enjoyed Cathy's).

Thanks so much for posting this. It’s super helpful and inspiring.

So nice to hear your honesty about how we feel about being 'a real writer'. You had a go and it paid off! Congratulations. ☺️

Awesome Cathy! I so enjoyed your honesty and humour in this. Congratulations on winning the 2023 Amy Award contest! 👍Micki

What a lovely person and a wonderful interview. I can really identify with her. And, she encourages me to go for it!!!

I love this!! ❤

I also recently completed Memoir Writing Ink and look forward to the next Canada retreat! 📖✍️

Oh my My writing has gotten so fluid and my inner writer surprises me every day. What I recently learned about myself in the first lesson, was how my lack of self confidence was hurting the core of my being. My heart ached for so many years.

Thanks so much for your generous offerings .

"The voice you use to talk to yourself..." BOOM! Thank you.

“It’s when we teeter outside our comfort zone that we find the real gems in our lives, as well as in our creative work.” Perfect!

Loved the ' save the original' .....

6:15 so true. I say that about children s mind

5:40 why did what happened matter still today 7:00 write letter w pen write a letter to your younger self at age 5, 8 , 11, 15, 18, 26, 29, 32, 34

There was a starfish that got thrown into the ocean from the beach by a young man. He said, it matters to it.

Epic indeed, and truly resonant!

Amazing advice for a up and coming writer 😊 Alison, thank you so much for this wonderful and informative video.

Wow thanks for answering my main question , why did / does it matter? Carol N.I.

Again Allison hitting the nail on the head, after my dear husband passed away 6 months ago after 56 years. And I wrote an article for a newspaper about our experience of his 13 week to die and the need to try and encourage assistant dying. And it was accepted to print Again Allison thank you.carolN.I

Getting even better. Wow. Been trying to get started for ages .Carol N.I.

Brilliant already greatly encouraged Carol N.I.

These points make such sense. Thank you.

Congratulations Alison! You sound amazingly Irish!

Beautifully said, and so true that there is very likely a deeper purpose still unknown in that desire to express or motivation to write it. Love that we may not need to know and if merely a recounting of our time here on earth. What a blessing all of this is. Thank you Alison

Thank you Alison for offering this. I was so excited to see email from you, saying "No writing Memoir class isn't over!" LOL I have been pondering this question over and over since the class. I have continued writing with the editorial help of Laurie Gaugh, who has been just wonderful. She has been supportive of my continuing to finish the 20 chapters I had written but not 'tweaked' prior to your course. So anxious for the 15th! - Sandi Oliverio

the crafting.... that's what has not hit me. :( It's a chore for me.

Hello Alison, I've taken Memoir Ink, and now I have started a Substack called Memoirist in the Museum. Can I add you to my list of subscribers?

Thank you so much Alison for putting this gift out to us who have stories to tell,Blessings to you

I have wanted to write my memoir for several years. I took writing classes at a local college in preparation. Yet, for three years now, I have hesitated, instead writing several creative non-fiction pieces based on my life experiences. My problem is that I fear hurting individuals who are still in my life. I also think of my granddaughters reading about my escapades or the bad behavior of other family members toward me and thinking poorly of myself or them. I survived domestic abuse. Some things are quite severe and could shock some family members and cause them to defend their actions, perhaps legally. Is there a fine line between what is said in memoir and defamation? My brother, when he was alive, threatened to sue me if I wrote my memoir, claiming that I would disgrace the family. I am still held hostage by that threat 3 years after his passing. I looked long at my great-grandmother's photo a few days ago. I wished I knew more about her and realized that if she had written her memoir I would know so much more about my lineage as well. But would I want to know about the secrets, the off-color behavior, the bad judgments? She would be so much more real to me and I think I would cherish that knowledge. Still, I am left with a moral dilemma. This keeps me from going forward. I truly don't want to hurt anyone but I also want them to know who I really am and to set the story straight. I want them to know how I survived everything, found my courage to carry on, and can still love them. But I want to write with dignity and protect the dignity of others despite what impact they have had on my life. I'm not interested in writing a "tell-all" for the purpose of revenge. It all feels very fragile and must be handled properly and with respect. Does anyone else wrestle with this problem?

Love this so much. Thanks Alison for the reminder.