Mixtape Memoir
If you could leave behind one story from your life like a time capsule to be explored by future generations, what would be your legacy?
Our stories of family, friends, communities, challenges, traditions, love, adventure, missed opportunities and paths less traveled are like the songs on a mixtape. In this session we're writing to remember and to be remembered.
This is a writing intensive course. This course is designed to introduce you to the art of memoir. The major components are writing, reading, discussion, sharing, and peer editing. Using the Mixtape prompt, we will write three stories based on songs from our lives. We will select one of those stories and expand it out with workshop style feedback and editorial support. Each participant will have an opportunity to share an excerpt from their story at our final share back. Additional topics we’ll dive into include: how memory works, truth seeking, ourselves as unreliable narrators, the ethics of when sharing your story crosses over into sharing someone else’s story and publication options and best practices.
2026 was the first year I was able to offer Mixtape Memoir to students every quarter of the year. Students from many different backgrounds converged in person and online with the goal of learning more about the form and function of Memoir. Some finally began putting their stories on the page, while others were able to expand and improve the stories they already started. Some students even had the opportunity to publish their stories through a collaboration with Speak the Sojourner - a literary e-magazine and publication by Hinton Publishing.
Course Outcome
By the end of this class participants will have:
• read excerpts from several well-crafted and powerful memoirs by Black authors.
• identified and experimented with craft elements.
• used the mixtape framework to tell three stories.
• learned to edit and provide meaningful feedback.
• learned how to craft a memoir book proposal and query letter.
• shared stories.
• determined next steps.
VIDEO
Watch Mixtape Memoir writers share their experiences.
2026 Sessions
✔️ Winter at Inspiration Lab (Black Artists Only) 3/4/26 - 4/9/26
✔️ Spring at Estelita’s Library Beacon Hill (Open to All) 5/3 - 6/7 1-3pm
✔️ Summer Online (Open to All) 7/5 - 8/9 10am-noon PST
✔️ Autumn Online (Open to All) Mondays 10/5-11/9 5:30-7:30PM PST
Mixtape Memoir 2027
Missed the 2026 offerings??
Mixtape Memoir returns January 31, 2027.
Join the Mixtape Memoir interest list to be notified when registration is open. You can review the Autumn Registration Form (closed) to prepare for your 2027 application.