Drawing on Your Inner Life: Creating a Memoir
Course Overview
Drawing on Your Inner Life: Creating a Memoir
What makes a personal memory worth telling, and how can you turn it into a compelling story?
This practical workshop explores how emotions, experiences, relationships and significant life events can become the foundation of meaningful memoir writing.
Through guided exercises and examples from published memoirs, participants will learn to look beyond what happened and reflect on why particular experiences mattered and how they shaped their lives.
The workshop introduces techniques for exploring memories, developing an authentic writing voice and transforming personal reflections into engaging narratives.
Workshop Content
· Finding your story: Identify significant memories, experiences and turning points that offer opportunities for memoir writing.
· Exploring emotions and identity: Reflect on how personal experiences, family influences and beliefs have shaped your perspective.
· Developing your writing voice: Experiment with freewriting, personal reflection and different narrative approaches.
· Turning memories into stories: Practise using character development, dialogue and reflection to create meaningful personal narratives.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the workshop you will be able to:·
· Identify personal experiences and memories suitable for memoir writing.
· Explore the emotional significance of past events and their influence on personal identity.
· Apply freewriting and reflective writing techniques to develop ideas.
Who Is This Workshop For?
Suitable for beginners and anyone interested in memoir, autobiographical or reflective writing, whether starting a new project or developing existing work.
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Marie Geissler
Dr Marie Geissler is a cultural historian who is passionate about helping people write about their lives in ways that build confidence, insight, and personal empowerment. Drawing inspiration from archaeology—the practice of uncovering both visible and hidden layers of history—she encourages students to explore and reflect on their own experiences, memories and stories.
Marie is the author of numerous publications, including Dreaming the Land: Aboriginal Art from Remote Australia, an acclaimed work that profiles the lives and achievements of 100 leading Indigenous artists who helped pioneer Australia’s contemporary Indigenous art movement.
With more than three years of experience teaching memoir, Marie creates a supportive and engaging learning environment where writers of all backgrounds can discover and develop their unique voices. She is also a Board Member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Australia and the South Pacific, where she actively promotes Australian innovation, creativity, and culture to international audiences.
Marie brings warmth, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for personal storytelling to her memoir classes, helping students uncover meaningful connections between their lived experiences and the stories they choose to tell.
About Marie Geissler
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