Memoirs begin with memory. Writing a memoir means shaping memories--places, people, relationships, family stories, events both big and small--into a coherent narrative. This class will offer ideas, strategies, and suggestions to help you meet that challenge. We'll discuss how (and where) to begin putting the past on the page, how to develop and sustain your work, how to use family materials--journals, letters, photographs--to enhance your story. Bring your ideas, your thoughts, your questions, and your hopes. Laura Kalpakian is the author of numerous novels and Memory into Memoir: A Handbook for Writers published by University of New Mexico Press.