Join Graphic Memoirist and Award-Winning Novelist, Elizabeth A. Trembley
At A Glance
When: Starting Monday February 2, 2025
Weekly meetings Monday at 12 pm to 2 pm Eastern
Where: Online via Zoom and in the SAW Mighty Network
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Class size: Minimum: 8 | Maximum 16
Cost: $1,199
Materials: A recommended materials list will be made available before the start of class.
Learn to Trust the Well
In these twelve weeks, the members of this intimate class (limit of sixteen students) will explore the processes of creating graphic memoir. These will include the practical aspects such as story structure, meeting deadlines, and keeping ourselves doing the work. It will also include the spiritual aspects of creating graphic memoir, including defining truth, opening ourselves to new revelations and facing the challenges that threaten to shut down the work that only we can bring to the world.
"Well On Your Way" means three things.
- With the help of this course, you will advance well on your way to completing your graphic memoir.
- You will learn to refill your creative well as you work and keep going, especially on a longer project over many weeks and months (and even years!)
- You will understand more about how working in graphic memoir can make some things well, often refiguring the artist's relationship to and understanding of memory, wisdom and healing.
Well On Your Way
In Detail
This course is for anyone who wants to:
- Read like a creator so that the rest of your life you'll know how to harvest lessons from your favorite artists to enrich your own work.
- Explain the complexities and possibilities of memoir, and how it differs from fiction and nonfiction.
- Explore the concept of "truth" in memoir.
- Design a plan for the creation of a short complete memoir, including setting realistic goals to meet deadlines.
- Fast draft, revise, and finalize a complete 8 page memoir using a variety of techniques.
- Provide focused and meaningful developmental feedback to other creators, deepening your own understanding of art in the process.
During these 12 weeks you will have access to:
- Exclusive access to Beth and your cohort in a private group on SAW's Mighty Network. There you can upload and share work for discussion during live class times and asynchronously during the week.
- Curated readings, videos and other learning materials.
- Live calls each week.
- Additional access to monthly calls with Professional cartoonists.
- One month free access (immediately after course) to the Graphic Memoir + Medicine working group.
Things You'll Need:
- A phone, computer or tablet with internet access to join the SAW Mighty Network and participate in live zoom calls.
- Drawing materials of your choice (analog, or digital, or both).
- Inexpensive printer paper and/or index cards.
Beth will recommend a number of titles for reading. All can be found online, via libraries or for under $50.
Two ways to commit.
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Reserve Your Spot
$1,199.00
Single payment
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Reserve Your Spot
399 for 3 months
399 for 3 months
From Beth
My course focuses on graphic memoir as a genre, particularly as a unique mix of story plus reflection, with the presence of multiple versions of “you,” and the careful need to control tone and depiction of time.
We work with the particularities of that genre inside of the bigger more general things. So, I will address story structure a lot (because most people are not really familiar) but within the context of graphic memoir (what might a particular act turning point look like in memoir rather than in fiction… how do you think about life events in a way that allows you to craft their construction for impact on readers?). Characterization, etc. stuff you clearly know, inside the genre context.
Because we can’t do a long memoir in 12 weeks, what I do is suggest people work in 8 page zine rough drafts. One a week. I give prompts which people can apply to their bigger project if they have one, or not. This is to encourage people to experience what it is like to start and finish drafts (something many never have done), to practice story structure in a shorter form, to work things out quickly instead of fussing over art in early drafts, and to try out different ideas!
Of course everything is optional! But with the zines, about 1 a week, people could end the class with 80 pages of comics drafts.
I also spend a lot of time pushing people to work in scene, rather than simply narrate and illustrate. I find that people who work in fiction know how to do this but often don’t do it when working in memoir!
We also talk a lot about “truth.”
We look at comics every week with a “reading as makers” perspective: what is this creator doing that I can learn from? So a lot of text analysis.
And ANYTHING anyone wants to talk about (managing a long form process for example) we can talk about, any time.
Overall, it’s really an intro and a wrangling of the skills and mindsets which I think really help w memoir in particular, inside of the bigger areas of story, character, self-management and so on.
There will be no more than 16 of us, which is a nice size, and we meet live every week (taped), and do most other work and sharing asynchronously, because I find that suits people across multiple time zones better.
Instructor
Instructor Bio:
Elizabeth Trembley, Ph.D, is the creator of the graphic memoir, Look Again (Street Noise Books, 2022). She is also a Lambda Literary Award-winning mystery novelist and writing teacher of more than three decades.
Beth views her role as helping students increase the power of their stories. She believes that people often psych themselves out wondering "who would ever want to read this?" about their work. She knows that if you really want to be read by others, you need to understand how to shape a story to showcase your authentic insights. Knowing the basics helps you innovate, and writing to be read by others will help you create a more diverse and just world.
Beth trained in literature and in innovation and creativity in places as diverse as the University of Chicago and Disney University. Through her classes, hundreds of students have drafted their first novels, explored digital storytelling, crafted personal essays, and reflected on their lives through memoir, both in prose and in comics. You can learn more about her at https://elizabethtrembley.com
Beth Trembley
Senior Instructor
FAQ
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Is this course good for beginners?
We don't recommend this program for people who consider themselves beginners in comics. Some understanding of comics and confidence in drawing is recommended to get the most out of this course.
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Do I need to have an existing Graphic Memoir project?
The short answer is no. In this course Beth covers the basic principles of Graphic Memoir, which can be applied to new or existing projects. She will set exercises week to week to practice new skills, and provide opportunities for workshopping to give feedback on work in development.
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Why is this class priced higher than the 4 week short courses?
Well On Your Way is uniquely designed to have maximum support from Beth and course peers over 12 weeks. The price reflects not just the quality of the material and regular live calls, but the opportunity to expand your understanding and practice of Graphic Memoir in new ways. A 20% discount is available for existing SAW members (including members of the FLOW + PUBLISH group, the Graphic Memoir + Medicine group, and the Alumni Circle). Haven't seen the code in the network? Reach out to [email protected]