Below you will find the theory for each week, but I want you to understand that each class will include:

- A 'way into writing' warmup. These are designed to get you writing, in an easy, unintimidating way. Each week the exercise will be related to the topic, and run for about 10 minutes to get the brain going. By the end you'll have these activities to return to whenever you get stuck.

- A range of different handouts depending on the topic.

- Enough time to ask questions.

- Activities designed to consolidate your learning.

- Optional homework activities dependant on the time you have to dedicate to this project. If you are too busy to do them, just download them and keep them safe so you can do them at the end of the 10 weeks.

- Fun. I think its important to make creativity a key part of our lives, have fun, embrace the messy and laugh at ourselves. Although sometimes we might be writing about difficult people, I'd like to help you make the writing process as easy as possible.

- Replays. Don't forget you can access replays if you miss a week.

- Weekly accountability targets and mid-week follow ups. 

This week kicks us off with the basics. It’s about the mental elements of writing as well as the practical. 

• The writing process (large scale and small scale)
• What you might (accidently) discover about yourself over the next 10 weeks (and what to do about it)
• The difference between memoir, history, non-fiction and fiction - and what you are actually writing.
• Drafting- how to do it in a way that works for you
• Finding your voice and your writing style
• Fear of the blank page
• The bossy internal critic and how to silence it 
• Different creative techniques and tips to get going
• Goal setting for the next ten weeks

Outcome For Week 1: 

1 - Learn everything above.
2 - Get a clear, achievable plan for WHEN you will write over the next 10 weeks. (If you are busy balancing caring requirements or full-time jobs, don’t expect the same progress as your retired mate)
3 - We will actually write a draft so you can get the sense of how fast you write.
4 - Optional homework.

Week 2 we are getting clear about what you are going to write about and how you are going to do it. I have a dedicated template for you to use to make things nice and easy. This works whether you have research documents that you want to include or just a range of little stories or memories and you are not quite sure how to structure them.

We will create a summary and then turn that into a scene.

Outcome For Week 2: 
1 - Get a clear, achievable plan for WHAT you will write. A plan that includes the actual stories or facts that you want to capture so you never turn up to a blank page.
2 - Using the planner to write a new section of your memoir/history/story.
3 - Optional homework: Adding more detail to the planner. Some reading samples.

At about this point you might be wondering about some of the murky bits. So we will work through potential issues including:

-The problem with memory

-The problem with records (gaps and mistruths)

-What is collective or social memory, how it impacts our interpretations and how to challenge it.

- Dealing with ethics, trauma, violence and family secrets 

- How to interview people. 

Outcome For Week 3: 
1 - Determine any issues you might have and how to resolve them. This might include  any further research you might need to do, including interviews.
2 - Using the planner to write a new section of your memoir/history/story that might contain some of these issues.
3 - Optional homework: Complete a full chapter or section of writing using our week two planner. Some reading samples.

The people are at the heart of a family history or memoir so this week they are our sole focus. We will explore:

• Writing to people you don’t know (how can I get to know them better?)
• Writing to people you DO know (and who might even read this - even worse!)
• Writing historical figures that other people have already written about
• How do I create memorable 'characters'?
• What we can learn from fiction

Outcome For Week 4: 
1 - Using my template you will create an ‘ancestor profile’ for at least one of the key people in your narrative. 
2 - Write a character-driven scene, or description.
3 - Optional homework: Continue with your profiles and some reading samples.

'The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there.' P. Hartley The Go-Between.

This week is broken into two key areas - era and physical location.

It's important to consider the era(s) that we are writing about and how to create historical context for contemporary readers. Whether you are writing for grandchildren or your siblings, it's always important to consider the changes between now and then. I will show you some fun ways to explore this, particularly 'Bower birding'.

The we will consider physical locations.  

Some locations hold so much emotional resonance and importance, from busy cities to grandma's kitchen, the more detail, the more enjoyable to read.

Outcome For Week 5: 
1 - Using my template you will create a timeline of important events that will help you add context to your work. 

2 - Activities to consider ways that we can immerse ourselves in the era.
3 - Write a location-driven scene, or description.

4 - Mid-point goal check!
5 - Optional homework: Continue with your profiles and some reading samples.

Now that we are across all our characters and locations it's important to consider how to make this a story that someone enjoy reading. Week 6 is all about the elements of great storytelling. We will consider:

• Common writing techniques such as 'show don't tell' and building emotional resonance.
• Examining point of view
• How to write dialogue
• How to write a scene
• Incorporating quotes and research in a seamless way
• How to add photos, tables of diagrams if needed.

Outcome For Week 6: 
1 - At this point we are right in the middle so a big objective here is to keep writing!
2 - Play with different storytelling conventions to suit your style and narrative.
3 - Optional homework: Keep writing and optional reading list.

Anything we write will need to be edited, no one ever gets anything 100% perfect. But sometimes self-editing is tricky. This week we will look at:

• Structural edits (How everything fits & sits together)
• Copy editing (word choice, phasing, referencing correctly) 
• Proofreading (spellchecking, getting names correct etc)

 We will also consider what you can do yourself and when to engage a professional, and tools that can help.

You might need extra coffee for this week if you're the sort of person who avoids this, but I'll make it as fun as possible.

 Outcome For Week 7: 
1 - Understanding the role of editing in your work.
2 - Editing a section of writing that you've already worked on.
3 - Optional homework: Keep writing and optional reading list.

At this point you've drafted and edited but what do you do when you are still not happy? Or perhaps you're happy but you know there is space for more. In week 8 we are going to look back at the planner from week 2 and go even deeper. It doesn't mean re-work, it means that you're ready to learn more now. This week we will look closer at your writing style. You will:

• Consider your own style now that you've had a few weeks to find it,
• look at what you would like to improve
• look at what you would like to add or remove from your writing
• create a system to do just that! 

I'll show you the system I used to save time and make my work far better during my PhD. (If you are planning on hiring an editor this will save you $)

 Outcome For Week 8: 
1 - Understanding your own style (the good, the bad, the ugly)
2 - Using the provided template find a way that helps you improve and save time in your editing.
3 - Optional homework: Keep writing and optional reading list.

There's a couple of parts to week 9. By now you might have one large google or word document or perhaps lots of little ones and you're wondering what to do about it. I'll give you some tips on managing this.

Also, we will look at printing and publishing options based on varying needs and budgets. Plus, looking out for scams.

Outcome For Week 9: 
1 - Creating a system that works for you as your manuscript gets longer!
2 - Deciding on options for printing, publishing or sharing your work with your loved ones (or the general reading public).
3 - Optional homework: Researching options that might be available in your local area for printing and publishing. We are so close to the end - keep writing and optional reading list.

Our final week will include:

• Celebrating the work you've done!
• Determining if your who, what, when and why of your project have changed (spoiler alert - they often do)
• Planning where to go from here.

Outcome For Week 10: 
1 - Making sure you've caught up on all the replays if required, and downloaded all the handouts.
2 - Creating a clear plan for your project (timeline, budget etc).
3 - Celebrating how far you've come.