TRUE STORY: Write the First Draft of Your Memoir in Twelve Weeks
Why? Because the world needs YOUR story!
Hey y’all!
I’m so excited to share my first-ever #1 SIGNATURE COURSE! It is a beautiful marriage of every single thing I know about writing books and every single thing I know about helping you write your book, too.
Intrigued?? Sign up for a call and we’ll talk.
Love,
Valley
TRUE STORY:
Write the First Draft of Your Memoir in 12 Weeks
*ZOOM*
with Valley Haggard
September 9 – November 25, 2024
Mondays, 4-6 pm EST
Application necessary, 6 participants max
Explore the art of transformational memoir in a supportive small group setting.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
We will:
Spend 3 weeks completing the True Story Workbook, creating our intentions, affirmations, timeline, structure plot points, characters, themes, and prompt lists so that we are fully primed, and ready to dive in.
Spend the next 9-weeks writing our micro-stories and filling in the framework of our manuscript.
Cost + Commitment
Total Cost: $3300
Early Bird special before 7/17: $2900
Payments may be made in increments of 1, 2, or 3. 2/3 of the total cost must be paid before the course begins on 9/9.
Applicants will be chosen, not based on skill or experience, but willingness, curiosity, and dedication.
Just imagine…
Writing your memoir with an intimate, small group of writers offering each other support, positive feedback, and accountability all along the way.
Weaving together the disparate stories of your life into a meaningful and cohesive whole.
Receiving validation and support for your most vulnerable experiences in a safe and sacred space.
Incorporating practical craft instruction and intuitive guidance into your writing practice.
Finishing a complete first draft of the memoir you’ve always wanted to write in just 3 months.
You give:
6-8 hours of your time each week
100% commitment and dedication to your writing and yourself
You receive:
3 private 1-hour sessions with Valley
9 two-hour small group writing workshops
A welcome package
The True Story workbook PDF
Recordings of Valley’s guided writing meditations
An accountability partnership
Guidance creating a writing ritual
Inspiration from the Sacred Circle Writing Oracle cards
Weekly submissions of your work with feedback from Valley
A completed 100-150 page first draft of your memoir
Information and contacts for moving forward
What makes this memoir writing workshop different from other memoir writing workshops?
+Our sessions are not pre-recorded…they happen in real time.
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+We combine small group writing with one-on-one sessions so you receive inspiration from the group as well as concentrated time just for you.
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+We highlight writing that’s beautiful, honest, powerful, and true, rather than critiques that tell you what’s wrong with you.
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+We incorporate healing modalities and writing rituals into the process, allowing us to access our sacred knowing and inner wisdom.
___________
+You will be lovingly and skillfully supported as you transform the painful experiences of your past into art you can share with the world.
Twelve Week Itinerary
(subject to adjustment)
9/9: Week 1: Fast Alchemy 1:1
9/16: Week 2: Themes + Scenes: Small Group
9/23: Week 3: Cast of Characters: Small Group
9/30: Week 4: Prompts + Plot Points: Small Group
10/7: Week 5: Generative Writing: Small Group
10/14: Week 6: Catharsis: 1:1
10/21: Week 7: Generative Writing: Small Group
10/28: Week 8: Generative Writing: Small Group
11/4: Week 9: Generative Writing: Small Group
11/11: Week 10: Generative Writing: Small Group
11/18: Week 11: Generative Writing: Small Group
11/25: Week 12: What's Next? 1:1
WHY ME?
As an award winning creative writing teacher, 3-book author, and certified spiritual coach, I am uniquely qualified to guide you on your transformational memoir journey.
Once upon a time, I was desperate to write my own story but had no idea how to start and little faith I could get there. I had little self-discipline but a lot of self-criticism, self-judgment, and shame.
The traditional writing workshop critique-based model had left me paralyzed with compare and despair from the patriarchal old-school sense of “how stories should be told.” I was heartbroken about the possibility of losing the art I loved the most.
So, nearly 20 years ago I started teaching the workshops I would want to take. Leading with gentleness, compassion, and strength-based feedback, I allowed craft to take the back-burner while letting the truth led the way. The stories began to spill out.
Since I started teaching, I have borne witness to the transformational journey of hundreds of students, I have helped students publish their books, and I have published 3 books of my own.
When we write within the safety of sacred space and our stories are received with tenderness and compassion, the obstacles in our path slip away. Guided by the wisdom of our right-brain creative subconscious rather than the rigidity of left-brain logic, our stories pour forth, taking on structure and shape in a beautiful and organic way. We mine our lives for memory and experience, gathering the raw ingredients we need to make the full meal.
I am passionate about helping people write their stories, and continuing the ever-evolving journey of writing mine. When we write our memoirs, regardless of the outcome, the process changes us, helping us heal our past so we can arrive more fully in the present and create blueprints for our future.
I would love for you to join me on the adventure ahead.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call with me to find out if True Story is the right fit for you! I can’t wait.
‘
OTHER UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES….
Writing Class Series
Deep Dive: an in-person 6 week series
Wednesdays, July 24 - Sept. 4
1-3 PM EST
Valley's Writing Studio, Richmond, VA
$250
One-Day Workshops
Writing to Heal for Therapists, Clergy, and Healers
Sat, Aug 10, 2024, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Valley's Writing Studio, Richmond, VA
$245
Surrender Your Weapons: a 12-Session Series
12 noon- 2 pm EST, 3 Fridays per month in May, June, July, August
$50/session (with discount packages
June 14: Writing Sex
June 21: Writing Addiction + Recovery
July 12: Writing Monsters + Muses
July 19: Writing Grief
July 26: Write the Power
August 9: Writing God
August 16: Writing Prayer + Meditation
August 23: Writing to Heal
Retreats
We Won’t Forget the Past: Writing Our Recovery
Thu, Oct 3, 2024 – Sun, Oct 6, 2024
Collina House, Port Gibson, MS, US
$1099 - $ 1399
Transformational Memoir: a 4-Day Retreat in the Mountains of VA
Thu, Nov 7, 2024 – Sun, Nov 10, 2024
The Porches, Norwood, VA
$1125 - $1200
What are Valley’s students saying?
“What a divine, intuitively-led workshop; thank you Valley!” —Kate
“Thank you for such an amazing, well-needed and healing four days. The writing prompts and connection and feedback were all gratefully received, the food was perfect, and the extra activities we did were so much fun!”—Anna
“A safe loving space with insightful reflection and authentic celebration of the unique writer in all of us!” —Erica
“Valley is absolutely wonderful. This was my first experience & the entire experience helped me so much. Very inspiring!” —Susan
“Valley has yet again provided a safe place to write with inspiring and thoughtful feedback. Such a gift she has and shares!” —Marty
“Always the best of hours! I am so grateful for the time given and writing shared and the wonder of this, Valley.” —Mary Jo
“Valley offers sensitive feedback to writers who come to her classes, always positive and supportive, whether you have been writing all your life or are just starting to explore this path to self-knowledge.”—Chaya
Ready for next steps and need an editor? Check out Cindy Cunningham of Wellspring Writing Collective!
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