Living Memoir
Writing memoir isn’t just about legacy -
And it’s not only about the past.
It can be a living practice—one that helps us make sense of where we’ve been, where we are now, and what we want from the years ahead.
Living Memoir-
Like casting a line, we move back, gather, and then release forward.
This is a 6-week series of guided memoir writing, held in small groups, offered in-person, or online.
Each week, we explore a different part of your story—beginning with where you come from, moving through the experiences that shaped you, and gradually arriving at where you are now.
Along the way, we look at the roles you’ve played, the patterns that formed, and what they’ve asked of you.
In the final sessions, the focus shifts: what do you want to keep, what are you ready to release, and what might come next?
Origins and Early Life
Where you come from, and what formed you.
Turning Points
Rebellion and taking up space.
Roles and Patterns
Adaptation, compromise, and belonging.
What Comes Next
Choice, direction, and agency.
This work is designed for women in mid-life.
For many of us, these years come after decades of holding everything together—family, relationships, work, responsibilities. And then something begins to shift.
Not all at once, and not always clearly—but enough to bring the question: what now?
The writing in this course is meant to help you explore that question in your own way.
It’s not a quick fix, and it won’t solve everything. But it can bring you back into relationship with your own life—its meaning, its shape, and what might be asking to change.
Hi, I’m Susan
I’ve come to trust the connection between mind, hand, and page—to bring forward what’s ready to be seen.
For as long as I can remember, writing has been an anchor for me. Most mornings, I sit at my kitchen table with a journal—writing the small things: what needs doing, what I’m noticing, the ordinary details of life.
About a year ago, I took a memoir class with a friend. I started with hesitation. There were parts of my past I didn’t want to write about, and I wasn’t sure what would come up if I did.
What surprised me wasn’t the difficulty—it was the sense of meaning that began to emerge. As I wrote, layer by layer, something softened. Joy surfaced.
Listening to others share their stories had a similar effect. It brought us closer, and reminded me how much we share beneath the surface.
That experience stayed with me, and prompted me to seek certification with the Birren Centre for Autobiographical Studies…and to develop this course.
The Finer Details
Still have questions? Reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, click the button below to sign up.
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You don’t need to be a “writer”, but you are expected the write.
There is no pressure to write in any particular style. The point is to get your stories down on paper. -
Each class will include:
a discussion on the week’s topic
short writing prompts
tips and tricks on the writing craft
reading your stories, and listening to other participants read theirs
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No, you don’t.
However, my aim is to facilitate a safe and inclusive space where everyone will feels safe enough to do so. Sometimes the most rewarding part of the process is to be heard, to have your story witnessed by others. -
You are expected to write about 800 words (about 3 pages handwritten) on each topic.
If you get stuck, I will provide you with tips on how to find another way “into” your story.
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One of the unexpected perks of this process for me was the discovery that I have lived an interesting life- and so has everyone else! Your stories have value. I want to hear them!
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This is NOT therapy- and I am not a therapist. However, in many cases, this is therapeutic work.
As you write your stories, you may find yourself experiencing unexpected emotions. If this happens, you may want to seek support from friends and loved ones, or a professional.
Upcoming Classes
In-person Class
Lennoxville & District Women’s Centre
Dates to be determined (May 2026)
Online Class
Wednesdays at 4 pm EST starting May 6, 2026
“All that we are is story. From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey, we are involved in the creation of the story of our time here. It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story. All of us. What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can while we’re here; you, me, us, together. When we can do that and we take the time to share those stories with each other, we get bigger inside, we see each other, we recognize our kinship – we change the world, one story at a time…”