To go from blogger to freelance writer/memoirist can be a leap, but you can traverse the gap easily by writing Micro Memoir. I have a class coming up that will get you into the groove.

I’m often asked if there are any tips I can share about Micro Memoir, since I had my own Tiny Love Story in the New York Times, and several of my students have as well. Here are a few of my Estelle’s Edges when it comes to writing micro memoir:

*Make sure that you are telling a complete story. It should be encapsulated in 200 words or less (or in some cases much less) but it is not a fragmented story.

*Every sentence needs to be interesting and add to your piece. This is not the place to add in throwaway sentences or unnecessary dialogue. If it adds to the story, great. If not, scrap it.

*Think of your deepest, most profound memories and experiences and see if you can boil them down into just a few sentences. Make sure to capture your emotions, and use plenty of description and sensual language (I mean language of the senses).

I’m excited to be teaching a new class for NYU online where I will share my tips and we will also have so much fun crafting several ready-to-submit Micro Memoir essays. I’ll also have editors from several publications share advice on crafting short essays, and what they are looking for. Sign up is over, but there will be another class later this year. And read more about it below. And while you’re at it, make sure to follow me on TikTok, where I give publishing advice.

MICRO MEMOIR: WRITING YOUR LIFE IN 200 WORDS OR LESS

If you haven’t been published before, try your hand at micro memoir—the hottest new category in publishing. Micro memoirs are very short standalone pieces, often exploring a moment in time, drawn from personal experience. The best micro memoirs combine truth-telling with narrative tension and are specific, not general. Whether you are a blogger or an aspiring one, whether you are a memoirist, want to get published for the first time or are a widely published author looking to update your skills, you will leave this class with six ready-to-publish micro memoir CNF pieces. We will review published examples of micro-memoir (in The New York Times Tiny Love Stories (100 words), Metropolitan Diary , River Teeth’s Tiny Beautiful Things, and more) to see why they entertained, resonated with or compelled the reader, and practice creative nonfiction writing techniques like listing, using description and detail, the six-word memoir exercise, and free association. You will also learn valuable advice on crafting your work, while gaining insight and advice via recorded video interviews from editors working in the micro memoir space. Students will write at least six creative nonfiction pieces geared to specific publications and receive feedback from classmates and the instructor. At the end of the class, students will be invited to participate in a live online reading session, where they can share what they’ve written. 
This course is delivered in an online, self-paced (asynchronous) format. The instructor interacts with students and facilitates group discussions within NYU’s online learning platform. There are weekly deadlines for lesson and assignment completion.More details

YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH

• Six creative non-fiction micro memoir pieces.
• Knowledge of the growing micro memoir publishing market and where to submit your micro memoir

IDEAL FOR

• Memoirists and aspiring memoirists
• Writers and aspiring writers of all levels
• The curious and creative 

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