Micro-memoir: a taster

What is the course about?

The micro-memoir is becoming an increasingly popular genre within the discipline of creative non-fiction. This day workshop introduces students to this blossoming area of life writing and offers guidance on manipulating form, language and structure for effect.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- What is a micro-memoir?
- What are the key elements of the form?
- Which approaches to structure can you use in this genre?
- Which language techniques work well in this genre?

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Understand the key elements of the form.
- Understand approaches to structure and language in micro-memoir.
- Write three micro-memoirs of your own.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is best suited to student who have already taken one of our introductory courses on life writing such as Journal Inspiration, Autobiographical Writing: an introduction or creative non-fiction: a taster.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught through a mix of pair work, group work, tutor instruction, text analysis and in-class writing activities.


All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Please bring pen and paper.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Why not try one of our longer life writing courses such as Autobiographical writing, Writing a memoir or Creative non-fiction?

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.