Meet the Teaching Artist: The Secret Sauce, Writing Structure & Notecards for Nonfiction Writers with Mimi Hayes
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 months ago
Writing memoir and nonfiction, where personal stories collide with the need for structure, Mimi Hayes stands out as the perfect guide for navigating this tricky terrain. With her unique blend of humor, resilience, and expertise, Mimi transforms the often daunting task of writing into a dynamic, enjoyable experience.
As a comedian, TEDx speaker, and author of I'll Be OK, It's Just a Hole in My Head, Mimi has a gift for turning life’s challenges into compelling narratives. Now, she’s ready to share her secret sauce with writers looking to find structure in their work without losing their authentic voice.
In our upcoming interview with Mimi, she’ll reveal the core ingredients of her popular course The Secret Sauce: Writing Structure & Notecards for Memoirists and Nonfiction Writers.
If you're a writer who’s ever felt overwhelmed by a manuscript that’s lost its way—or if you're just getting started and need a solid roadmap—this class is for you. Mimi’s hands-on approach, using notecards and plotting tools, will help you shape your memoir with clarity and direction. From understanding your "Pantser" or "Planner" tendencies to uncovering overarching themes, Mimi's course will guide you from chaos to cohesion.
Join us as Mimi Hayes discusses how she uses humor and practical strategies to unlock the story you didn’t even know you had in you, making the journey of writing both fun and transformative.
Hi Mimi Hayes, please introduce yourself to our audience.
I’m a stand-up comedian and the author of "I'll Be OK, It's Just a Hole in My Head." My first career was as a high school history teacher. In the classroom, I honed my stage presence in front of heckling teenagers. I moonlit as a comedian and wrote my first book in the evenings while plotting my escape. After 2 years, I made the leap and moved to New York City to pursue my comedy and writing career...and it worked! I landed a book deal and started touring as a comedian while also picking up writing teaching gigs around the city. Today, you'll find me still on stages, teaching writing courses through my business Writing With Mimi, and working on my 2nd book!
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in yourown writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
Structure can be tough for memoirists and we have to break our tendency to move in chronological order. I love how notecards can zoom us out of our long drafts and visually show us where the holes are and which themes are popping out! I'm a pantser to the core, so this practice really helps narrow my focus when I'm knee-deep in a manuscript!
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What isyour favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
Students can expect to think outside the box with structure, make a lot of notecards, and string them up around their rooms like CSI detectives. My favorite part is creating 5-sentence stories and reorganizing them!
What was your first literary crush?
Jamie Fraser of Outlander ruined men for me.
What are you currently reading?
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want towrite all the way to THE END?
I think it chooses me, to be honest. I'll have an idea that has to work itself out and eventually, after finding my way through the writing of it, it tells me what it is and how to finish it.
Where do you find inspiration?
I think people are super interesting, so I people-watch a lot. I'm also one of those people that a bunch of crazy things happen to, so there is no lack of excitement or oddity in my own life to write about!
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
Kill your ego as soon as possible. When you start writing just for yourself and aren't trying to impress anyone (or yourself), the work becomes a lot easier. This also allows you to write sh*tty first drafts, which are a necessity for all of us!
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
On Writing by Stephen King is great and very thorough! I'm also just starting Before & After The Book Deal by Courtney Maum—I love these because they're deeply personal and also really helpful in the advice they give to writers at all stages of careers.
Bonus question: What’s your teaching vibe?
Goofy and Playful! :)
Avoid the waitlist and sign up for Mimi Hayes’ upcoming class: The Secret Sauce: Writing Structure & Notecards for Memoirists and Nonfiction Writers
Instructor Mimi Hayes is an American comedian and author of I'll Be OK, It's Just a Hole in My Head. Hayes wrote her first memoir while recovering from a brain injury at the age of twenty-two. Her honest take on trauma and love followed her to the stage as a stand-up comedian where she has performed on stages such as TEDx, Denver Comedy Works, Broadway Comedy Club, The Moth, Stand Up NY, Dangerfield's, PDA Space, and The Upright Citizen’s Brigade. She has also opened for Jim Gaffigan. Her one-woman storytelling shows "I'll Be OK" and “20-Nothing” have toured at the Edinburgh and Denver Fringe Festivals with rave reviews. Mimi’s TED Talk Laughter is NOT the best medicine has reached international audiences.
