Fiction Technique in Memoir — 8-Week Online Nonfiction Workshop with Michelle Kicherer Starts Tuesday, May 4th, 2027
Fiction Technique in Memoir Writing Workshop | May 2027 Online
Fiction Technique in Memoir: An 8-Week Online Writing Workshop with Michelle Kicherer
Begins Tuesday, May 4, 2027
Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
🌍 Class Times by Time Zone:
- Los Angeles (PDT): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Chicago (CDT): 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- New York (EDT): 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- London (BST): 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Berlin (CEST): 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Now Enrolling!
Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.
Instructor Michelle Kicherer covers books and music for the San Francisco Chronicle and teaches writing classes in fiction and memoir. She is a former ghostwriter of memoir and nonfiction books and a current writing coach and founder of Banana Pitch Press, an indie press specializing in novellas and memoirellas. Her fiction has appeared in The Master's Review, The Sierra Nevada Review, The Berkeley Fiction Review, and others. Her debut novella Sexy Life, Hello was published in 2025. Willamette Week called it "one of the most compelling short reads of the year." Her short story collection How to Eat a Sub is forthcoming Fall 2028. Michelle aims to have one weird new experience every day.
Meet the Teaching Artist
Meet the Teaching Artist: Fiction Technique in Memoir with Michelle Kicherer
Who is this class for?
This online writing class is for memoir writers who want to tell some portion of their life's story in a captivating way. If you want your memoir to have a story arc, memorable characters, and a narrator who changes by the end, this workshop is for you.
What to expect:
Memoir is a unique and exciting format in which the writer has the creative freedom to tell some portion of their life's story in a captivating way. We don't necessarily need to read your story from birth up to the present day but like any good novel, a good memoir should have a story arc, memorable characters and a narrator who changes in some way by the end of the story.
In this memoir writing workshop, we will look at techniques for forming that story arc, for developing stronger characters and for writing scenes that will create an impact. We do this by applying some of the same storytelling and structural techniques that fiction writers use.
In this class, we will examine the work of writers whose memoirs or other nonfiction pieces have a strong storytelling component. Together, we will dissect storytelling components of their work and learn tangible tools that we can apply to our own memoirs. Each writer will have one opportunity to workshop an excerpt from their memoir, and multiple opportunities to "talk out" their work in class and gain insights from their instructor and peers.
Come prepared for a super fun class with live interaction on Zoom each week and plenty of writing, reading, and talking!
What are the writing goals?
In this course, students will workshop one excerpt from their memoir and receive feedback from the instructor and their peers. By the end of the course you will have:
- The tools you need to continue your writing practice
- Completed drafts for further development, revision, and publication
- The confidence that your story is meaningful for yourself and other readers
Readings
Readings may include excerpts from Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story by Leslie Jamison, Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones, The Liars' Club by Mary Karr, and other excerpts and essays.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1: Creative Nonfiction: What is memoir?
Week 2: Looking at aboutness and storyline in memoir + Book Talk: The Liars' Club
Week 3: Structure Part 1, What is at Stake? What Scenes to show and why? + Workshop 1
Week 4: Dialogue in Memoir + Workshop 2
Week 5: Structure Part 2, Transitions and "What is the point of this story?"
Week 6: Structure Part 3, Unique Format: Using "Other" Media, etc. in Storytelling + Workshop 3
Week 7: Unique Voice + Workshop 4
Week 8: Editing 101 + Verbal Workshop
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
- Understand what a strong memoir structure looks like
- Learn how to apply a novel-like story arc to your memoir
- Learn how to pinpoint and expand upon moments of tension in your memoir in order to create the greatest impact, both on your narrator (you) and your reader
- Understand how to insert humor and memorable scenes in your memoir
TESTIMONIALS:
"I gained confidence. I became aware of some of my strong points, the details of writing conversation, the scheme of plot and theme in developing a story, and the importance of considering less rather than more when editing one's own work. These were all elements of writing that Michelle taught. I know my skill in writing has improved… I was amazed that so much could be covered in two hours of Zoom!"
— Beverley C., Writing Student
"Michelle's class on memoir writing exceeded my expectations. Michelle's feedback on my work is so valuable, as was the feedback I received from my peers."
— Cindy J.
"Michelle, thanks again and again. It's delightful to work with you and receive helpful suggestions, skilled editing, and ongoing encouragement. You've fed my writing in more ways than you could ever know, or imagine."
— Geri O., Writing Student
"I loved this class. I found Michelle's lectures, reading lists, and comments on my work particularly valuable. Thank you, Michelle!"
— Robert L.
"Michelle was so easy to work with. She was able to provide new ideas, to focus my thinking, and to generate a structure and a way forward that I couldn't see because I was too close to the material."
— Peter Novak
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Tuition is $545 USD. 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.
ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:
- Instructor: Michelle Kicherer
- Begins Tuesday, May 4, 2027
- Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
- Tuition is $545 USD.