Writing your life story or a memoir of a defining time in your life is a wonderful legacy to leave behind 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.
This workshop will give you guidance on:
- how to get started with laying the foundations for your story
- clarify who your audience/target market will be
- how to compile information and research background information
- interviewing skills
- getting through the tough stuff
- making sure your content is engaging
- publication options
- how to market your book
By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with a clear structure, practical tools, and the confidence to begin writing your memoir.
Date: Saturday 23 August 2025
Time: 10.30am-1.30pm
Location: Learning Lab, Level 2, Harry Bailey Memorial Library, Yarrila Place
Jacqx Melilli, author, award-winning playwright, and writing coach has a Master of Arts degree in Writing and Literature from Deakin University.
Her publications include stage plays, short stories, educational books, and hundreds of published articles.
Her novel, When The Glitter Fades, is loosely based on true events about vaudeville and circus performers touring Victoria during the Great Depression. She found that the mammoth task of researching for this project would have been much easier if people had recorded their life experiences.
This is why she is passionate about helping people write their memoirs.
It’s a wonderful and valuable legacy to leave behind your life experiences either for your family to enjoy privately, or commercially for the benefit of researchers.
Workshop Feedback – Saturday 23 August 2025
Very helpful and informative. Made me think more deeply about what to include in my writing and how to make it interesting! I would definitely be interested in another workshop. Thank you! Trish
Thank you, Jacqx. I loved this workshop. I found it helpful to see how structure works. “Gold nuggets” are a good idea to use emotional, evocative language. Very nice, thank you. Rita
Wonderful. Has given my dreams of writing, structure and a way forward. Thank you sooo much. Judi
Jacqx was very inclusive, personable and gracious in opening up this whole field of memoir writing. Thanks so much.
Thanks so much! You are a great instructor and I felt very comfortable. Pros: I’m now viewing my book plan as a series of approachable chapters rather than a single big mountain to climb. I got several chapters planned, opening paragraph and more. Cons: Would be great if we had a whole day to do this! I would definitely sign up for that. Phoebe
Thank you, Jacqx. The course has been so informative, and inspirational. This has opened a whole new world. I would love to have this continued. Deb
Jacqx memoir writing workshop was engaging and informative. Supportive environment with good feedback. Three hours was not long enough. Another workshop, please.
Learnt heaps! Really useful. Marilyn
Fabulous session–would love to have another soon. Maybe has helped me with clarification, maybe not. But it has widened my thoughts and made me want to keep trying to write something. Thanks. Anne
A really useful workshop. Too much material to get through comfortably in the time. A longer time frame would be good and asking people to think about their projects before coming. Many thanks!