Begins Tuesday, January 20, 2026

This asynchronous class includes five live Zoom Work Rooms on Tuesdays in Weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, and 12. The live Work Rooms will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Eastern.

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

Instructor Bio

Instructor Blaise Allysen Kearsley is a Black-biracial writer and teacher based in Brooklyn. She comes from a long line of teachers, builders, visual artists, and writers. Her writing has appeared in Catapult, Longreads, the Boston Globe, Electric Literature's The Nervous Breakdown, Elle, Midnight Breakfast, The Weeklings, and in the anthologies Mortified: Real Words. Real People. Real Pathetic (Simon Spotlight Entertainment), Nonwhite and Woman, and Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, And Abandoned Rock Operas (Crown Archetype). She is the creator/producer/host of the How I Learned storytelling series and has performed at The Moth, Literary Death Match, Risk, and The Liar Show. Blaise is a contributing editor at Vestal Review, the oldest flash fiction journal on the planet.

Who is this class for?

This online memoir writing workshop is designed for both budding and experienced writers who want to explore or deepen their practice. Whether you're finding your current writing practice too limiting, want exposure to a range of new approaches, or seek an expanded sense of what's possible in your work, this course welcomes writers at all levels.

What to expect:

Discover the art of memoir writing in this immersive 12-week online class led by Blaise Allysen Kearsley, who brings her vast experience and unique voice to the course. This creative writing workshop offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn memoir writing from a seasoned professional in a rich, text-based, and asynchronous learning environment complemented by five vital Zoom check-ins and writing sessions that foster a collaborative and engaging online community.

Throughout the course, writers will embark on a structured journey into memoir writing, with each week dedicated to exploring different facets of the craft. From mastering the art of character portrayal to navigating the complexities of time and place, the curriculum is meticulously crafted to cover a wide range of topics essential for memoir writing. Participants will gain access to weekly lessons, recommended readings, and writing prompts carefully selected to inspire new work or deepen existing projects. The course emphasizes the importance of drawing multi-dimensional characters, artful descriptions, and the delicate process of mining one's memory, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

One of the course's standout features is its supportive structure, which includes the opportunity for peer and instructor feedback and the assignment of accountability partners to keep participants motivated. The Zoom meetings scheduled for Weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, and 12 offer a dynamic platform for live interactions, writing sessions, and direct engagement with Kearsley and fellow classmates. By the end of the 12 weeks, students will have honed their memoir-writing skills, created valuable new pages, learned to view their work through readers' eyes, and discovered a diverse array of writers.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will generate new pages through weekly writing prompts and exercises. Participants will receive peer and instructor feedback on their work and will be paired with accountability partners to maintain momentum throughout the 12 weeks.

Readings

Readings may include excerpts from acclaimed authors like James McBride and Nicole Chung, adding depth and diversity to the learning materials and enriching participants' understanding and appreciation of the memoir genre.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1: Memoir + Memory (with live Zoom meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern)

Week 2: Situation & Story

Week 3: Real People, Real Characters

Week 4: Description (with live Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern)

Week 5: The Sound of You

Week 6: Dialogue

Week 7: Cultivating a Writing Practice (with live Zoom meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern)

Week 8: Beliefs and Reversals

Week 9: Sense of Place

Week 10: Outside Story (with live Zoom meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern)

Week 11: Beginnings + Endings

Week 12: Art of Revision (with live Zoom meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 6:30 - 7:30 PM Eastern)

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Learn new tools of the art and craft of memoir or sharpen existing skills
• Generate pages through weekly prompts and exercises
• Take advantage of blocked-out writing time and accountability
• See your work through a reader's eyes
• Read like a writer
• Be exposed to an inclusive host of diverse writers

TESTIMONIALS:

"Blaise's class made me a stronger writer. It was the hardest workshop I've ever done, but also one of the most important." — Jennifer Stewart

"I've taken several workshops over the years, all over the country, and this was by far the best. Blaise is a goddamn treasure." — Anonymous

"I feel so inspired, enriched, encouraged, and empowered in my writing practice. I've been sitting at my desk since we all logged off just feeling how full of gratitude my heart is—for you, the workshop, and the entire group." — Adaeze Elechi

"Blaise was really able to build a community on Zoom. This is an incredibly difficult thing to do, and she made it seem so easy." — Anonymous

"I love that the readings center BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ voices. That has been an important and edifying element." — Kimberly Balsam

"I genuinely looked forward to each week. The advice you gave sent me back out into the world with confidence and purpose." — Anonymous

"You treat every question with such a genuine desire to give the best possible answer. For someone like me, that means the world." — Anonymous

"Thank you for creating this generous space for us to try new things and be vulnerable, for the insightful feedback, and for leading us through the last 8 weeks. I'm really grateful." — Alex Fendrich

"I love the readings we do, and especially that they so often feature writers of color. The written feedback from you is always so helpful and in-depth. The prompts helped me to develop a lot of content. I always look forward to workshop nights — it's a safe space to share."

"I felt so often in college, that I was writing against these very confident men who were forthcoming about the problems within my work and style. Working in your group has been restorative and has allowed me to trust myself without fear of being torn apart."

"Working with Blaise has made me a more confident writer. She's helped me to see my writing as a larger work, and creates a safe, inclusive, encouraging space to share and connect with other writers."

"Blaise is such a skilled reader and editor, and her notes are always valuable. She offers wonderful perspectives, and assembles groups of writers with keen perspectives of their own."

"I really loved the class. You treat every question with such a genuine desire to give the best possible answer and it made me happy every time. I admire that you focus on building people up. For someone like me, that means the world."

"During quarantine I had to show up for myself and others who counted on me, even when I felt like all I wanted to do was hide under my couch. Being part of this creative group of writers saved me."

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This is a text-based, asynchronous memoir 101 course that will include five virtual check-ins and writing sessions via Zoom, covering a multitude of craft elements.

We will use Wet Ink, our dedicated online classroom, designed specifically for writing classes. It is a private, easy to use, and highly interactive online platform. Learn more about it from this class demo. In addition to ongoing discussions, all craft materials, reading assignments, and writing prompts will be available in the Wet Ink classroom as a supplement to our live Zoom meetings. Students will also post work and provide and receive feedback within the online environment in Wet Ink.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

• Instructor: Blaise Allysen Kearsley
• Class size limited to 10 writers
• Begins Tuesday, January 20, 2026
• This class will have five live Zoom Work Rooms in Weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, and 12 on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Eastern
• Tuition is $795 USD.