Guided Memoir

Guided Memoir: A small-group experience for new writers

Make new friends and nurture your creativity as you write your life story, two pages at a time!

Join a small group of 5-10 participants as we support and encourage each other through a powerful reading and writing program. Our focus is on writing and sharing as creative outlets for self-discovery, so you will never be graded or critiqued.

Each week we will explore our life story using a flexible theme such as:

    • love & friendship

    • family connections

    • abundance & scarcity

    • turning points

    • values & spirituality

    • homecomings & so much more!

Each session meets for two hours. During the first hour we will jumpstart our thinking with poems, excerpts from award-winning memoirs, and fun exercises—all aligned with that week’s theme. We will also receive prompting questions proven to jog memories and open new windows for exploration. During the second hour we will share two pages of our own writing, offered as works-in-progress, and receive supportive feedback.

This group is geared toward brand new writers. The readings and exercises are particularly helpful for those encountering or seeking out a life transition, but everyone can benefit.

Facilitator: Claudia Filos is an educator and personal historian with experience in community building, peer-supported learning, and facilitated discussion. She has worked in both traditional and non-traditional educational settings including Harvard University, Brandeis University, and edX. She holds an MA in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies and is particularly interested in mythology, hero narratives, oral poetics, and photography.