Framing the Story: An Introduction to the Art of the Graphic Memoir

Before we can put a single word down on the page, we must first behold the mental image, however fleeting, that informs our meaning-making process. This is what makes the graphic novel such an incredible lesson to us as writers. It teaches us how to frame images in such a way as to be almost cinematic in our approach to storytelling. Frame by frame, we see firsthand the decisions that go into telling one’s life story and this awareness cannot but improve our own writing process – regardless of the genre. After thoroughly unpacking David Small’s graphic memoir, Stitches, participants will be invited to tell their own stories – at first in pictures (no drawing experience necessary; we welcome stick figures) and later in prose, all while discussing the difficult art of balancing the verbal & visual aspects of the form.

July 20-21  9am to 3pm