Workshops for Writers

I love meeting writers! Please contact me to book a workshop for your group. 

My top workshops are:

• ·         Mining Memories: Jump Start your Memoir
• ·         Intro to Creative Writing
• ·         Common editing tips to improve your writing

Designed as interactive, hands on learning, these offer plenty of time for putting presented techniques into practice.

Workshops can be tailored for 2-hour, half-day or full-day, depending on the depth of content requested.

 

If you are looking for a topic not listed here, please contact me. It might something I'm interested in, but just haven't designed a workshop for yet. Let's explore the opportunity together. 

Contact me at tara@tarameissner.com 

Come write with me!

Have you ever thought about writing memoir? Not sure how to get started? As part of the amazing Lakefly Literary Conference, I will be presenting a Mining Memories breakout session to get you started. The conference is held May 8 and May 9, 2015 in Oshkosh, Wis. Come for Keynote Speaker Michael Perry, stay for the breakout sessions, book fair, and connect with like-minded people.

Learn more about the conference here: Lakefly Presenters


I have read a lot of books on memoir writing and my favorite was "Old Friend from Far Away" by Natalie Goldberg. For general writing inspiration, I recommend "On Writing" by Stephen King (direct and, at times, funny) or "Bird by Bird" by Ann Lamott (a more Zen approach to inspiring the craft).

Invite Tara to your book club!

Tara Meissner is available to attend book clubs in person or via skype. 

Email tara@tarameissner.com to make arrangements.

1.      Why did you choose this book?

2.      What knowledge did you have of psychosis and/or bipolar disorder before reading the memoir? Discuss examples of other books and movies about mental illness and how this book compares and contrasts.

3.      How does the author create herself as a character? Describe her personality traits, motivations, flaws. Is the character a likable person, someone you rooted for?

4.      Describe the other people in the book. What value do they add to the narrative? Were they likable, supportive? Who, if anyone, was portrayed as an adversary?

5.      How does the author change after psychosis?

6.      Why might the author have chosen to tell the story in past tense? Did choosing this tense work to give perspective to the experience of psychosis?

7.      What theme comes across in the memoir? Does the title help offer a clue to the theme? Does the author use symbolism?  

8.      The main character struggles with understanding and accepting reality. How do your own biases and experiences influence how you interpret the world? Does her confusion make her an unreliable narrator or do you understand this conflict as part of her journey?

9.      Identify your favorite passages or chapters that stayed with you?

10.  How has this memoir changed you or broadened your perspective and understanding of mental illness?  

Meet the Author - Intro

There are two secrets to good writing.

The first is write often and other is read widely.

In the spirit of community, I am starting a Meet the Author Series. I've asked some recently published authors to write about some aspect of life or publishing that is interesting to me. Hopefully, you will enjoy it as well. And there are giveaways!

Please watch for these authors in the upcoming weeks.

August 2^nd

Donald Dempsey, author of the memoir Betty’s Child, is writing about “Self-Publishing vs. Indie Press.”

August 20^th  

Elaine Drennon Little, author of Southern Place, is writing about “Book Clubs.”

September 2^nd

Susan Tive, co editor of the anthology Beyond Belief; The Secret Lives of Women in Extreme Religions, is writing about “Feminism and Religion.”