Writing a Memoir as a Legacy Online 4 Week Course with Writing NSW
Claim August as your writing month and accelerate your memoir with Jacquelin Melilli’s immersive, deep-dive course on how to leave a legacy of your life experiences you’ll be proud to share.
Each Monday beginning 3 August to Friday 28 August, 2026, you will log online at a time that suits you to go through your learning materials and begin your writing tasks. Assignments will be given with the option of peer feedback. Jacquelin will be guiding you through the course, providing feedback and answering questions through the learning platform, WetInk. There are no ‘live’ sessions in this course.
Course Overview–The Value of Writing a Memoir
What legacy do you want to leave behind? Your story could change someone’s life.
How do you want to be remembered? What mark do you want to leave to commemorate that your life mattered? Writing a memoir of a defining time in your life is a wonderful legacy to leave for your family or maybe even Australia’s historical societies. It’s your chance to share your experiences, wisdom and skills that will grow in value in the generations to come.
Author, playwright, writing coach, and workshop presenter Jacquelin Melilli will help you get started and will guide you in how to make your story engaging and concise—which is particularly important if you are wanting to publish it for commercial gain. You will learn about structure, research and creating market appeal to an audience searching for answers or inspiration they believe you can offer through your experiences.
Course Topics:
• The difference between a memoir and an autobiography.
• Who will be your audience?
• How to compile information
• Researching the facts versus relying on memories
• Interviewing skills
• Laying out your chapters
• Keeping the content interesting
• Getting through the tough stuff
• Working with a writing coach or editor
• Publication choices
Expected Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, you’ll have:
1. A foundation for your memoir
2. Clear direction
3. Chapter breakdowns
4. New writing and interviewing skills
5. The inspiration to get started on documenting your memoir so you can leave behind a legacy you’ll be proud to share.
Participant Requirements
Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program. This course involves writing tasks to get your story started or progress with your story, so you’ll need writing materials. Participants will be encouraged to share samples of their work.
You do not need to log into the course at a specific time and there are no live meetings. You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.
Lessons open on a weekly basis and you will have the week to work through the content. There will be some writing exercises and the opportunity to provide peer feedback. Both the writing exercises and peer feedback will have weekly deadlines.
For more information and to book your place, click this link. You will be redirected to the Writing NSW website.
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