Women Writing: A Week with Lauren Winner

In this workshop for women, we will focus on the art and craft of spiritual autobiography, addressing questions of technique (pacing, plot, character development), as well as some questions that emerge most forcefully in women’s autobiographical writing (Does the long history of the “great man” autobiography mean that female writers must invent a new way of writing memoir? Have female writers, in the last decade, gravitated toward certain voices? What are the literary payoffs and drawbacks of these voices?).

The mornings will be reserved for quiet writing time. In the afternoons, we will meet as a group to workshop one another’s prose, discuss sterling examples of recently published spiritual memoir, and explore writing exercises designed to improve craft.

The Collegeville Institute will cover travel expenses to and from the workshop, all workshop fees, and room and board. Those who join the workshop will be expected to reside at the Collegeville Institute throughout the entire week. Participants may share apartment space, though each person will be assigned a private bedroom. The program is limited to 12 participants.

Women who are writing autobiographical non-fiction prose are invited to apply.

Application Process:

The application deadline for this workshop has passed.

NOTE: There will be advance preparation (both reading and writing) for this workshop. 

Complete applications include three pieces:

1. Application Form
2. Current resume or c.v.
3. Writing sample (a 15-20 page, double-spaced piece of prose memoir)