A workshop about authorial freedom and privacy: we'll explore experiences of sharing what we write with those we write about.

Writing our own experiences inevitably involves writing about other people and the question of how to respect their privacy and avoid offence or upset. Some have written about the experience of showing their writing to those they’ve written about. They describe the clash of differing recollections and perspectives, but the result is an enriching of their work in the process of revision that ensues. By exposing our writing to those we write about, we expand our understanding and acceptance of a range of truths and we learn the importance of care in artistic expression. We’ll look at confrontations described by writers such as Maggie Nelson and Jeanette Walls and write about our own experiences of autobiographical exposure.

Suitable for all levels of writing experience.

The Memories Unearthed sessions take a different theme each time and use texts as prompts to dig up and explore memories in writing. The workshops suit those who are interested in trying out methods of memoir writing, and those who would like to use writing to help shape or preserve memories. They are also useful to fiction writers who want to draw on lived experience in their writing. The pieces you develop may form the basis of a short piece or be threaded together to form part of a long-form project, such as a memoir or novel. You will have the opportunity to share what you write, but there is no obligation to do so.

The workshops are designed to work either as one-off sessions or as part of a series.

Delaina Haslam is a creative nonfiction writer and a translator. She’s written for arts and entertainment publications in Madrid and London and translates sociology for academic journals. She has also worked with the Poetry Translation Centre translating francophone African poetry. She’s writing a memoir about baby loss and brain disease, memory and loss, extracts of which have been shortlisted for the Northern Debut Award and the Plaza Memoir Prize, and reached the second stage of the Bridport Memoir Prize. Through writing this book, she’s developed techniques that she’s keen to share with others.

The Writers Workshop’s space in Orchard Square, Sheffield, has no step-free access. If you have been excluded from this event due to inaccessibility, please let us know. We are committed to finding fully accessible premises and, in the meantime, making as many of our events available online as possible.

Tea and coffee will be provided during the workshop and refreshments are also available to be purchased from the Waterstones cafe next door (with a discount available for Writers Workshop members who show their digital membership card).

This event is online advance booking only: no walkups on the day.

Refunds: Refunds may be given up to 3 days before the event.

The Writers Workshop is a nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to enable everyone to experience the joy and power of creative writing, both at our venue in Sheffield and online. Members of the Writers Workshop get a discount on all our events and other perks. For more information, visit www.thewritersworkshop.co.uk.

Description supplied by the event organiser.