Laura's Grotto classes this spring:

Master Memoir Seminar

Instructors: Janis Cooke Newman, Laura Fraser, Rachel Howard, Julia Scheres, Melanie Gideon
Contact: j-newman@comcast.net
Number of sessions: 6
Meeting Times: Thursday evenings, 6:30 pm to 9 pm, April 22 - May 27
Course fee: $375

Description: A memoir is as individual as the writer, and there are no hard rules about what works to get published. Come explore what makes a great memoir--theme, storytelling, voice--with FIVE of the Grotto's own masters of the genre. Each class will focus on a different memoirist and her approach to getting published. The last class will feature a panel discussion with all the memoirists, who will answer your questions about your writing project. With Janis Cooke Newman (The Russian Word for Snow), Melanie Gideon (The Slippery Year), Rachel Howard (The Lost Night), Laura Fraser (An Italian Affair and All Over the Map, (to be released in June), and Julia Scheeres (Jesus Land)


Personal Essay Drop-in Workshop
Instructor: Laura Fraser
Contact:laura@laurafraser.com
Number of sessions: 2
Meeting time: Tuesday, April 28 and/or Tuesday, May 25, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Course fee: $50, $85 for two sessions

Description: The drop-in writing workshop is for writers who want feedback on finished or nearly-finished personal essay writing. You will email the instructor and class members with your piece 2 days before the workshop, and we will read it and critique what we like--and what could make it better. This workshop is perfect for people who are working on pieces and need a deadline and some feedback. We'll guarantee that you'll get your piece read at your session. We can also discuss other potential article ideas in class. Limited to 8 students per session, so sign up early.Please send a check to Laura Fraser at the Grotto to hold your space; email laura@laurafraser.com.

Instructor bio: Laura Fraser's new book, All Over the Map, is out in June. She has published personal essays in O the Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, More, the San Francisco Chronicle, Health, Women's Health, Glamour, Vogue, Self, Eating Well, and numerous anthologies.

Ready, Set, Write!

Instructor: Laura Fraser
Contact:laura@laurafraser.com
Number of sessions: 1
Meeting time: Saturday 10-4 (a hour off for lunch), April 24
Course fee: $155 (discount for 2-3 Saturday sessions)

Description: Ready, Set, Write! is a class that will help you loosen up and get started getting things down on the page. The class will include writing exercises, inspiration, and ideas for writers who are either beginners or need permission to get back to writing. No criticism, no judgment--just creativity. The afternoon will be spent talking about how to take your free writing and turn it into something more polished. Please send a check to Laura Fraser at the Grotto to hold your space; email laura@laurafraser.com.

Instructor bio: Laura Fraser's new book, All Over the Map, is out in June. She has published personal essays in O the Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, More, the San Francisco Chronicle, Health, Women's Health, Glamour, Vogue, Self, Eating Well, and numerous anthologies.

 

The Art of Craft

Instructor: Laura Fraser
Contact:laura@laurafraser.com
Number of sessions: 1
Meeting time: Saturday 10-4 (a hour off for lunch), May 1
Course fee: $155 (discount for 2-3 Saturday sessions)

Description: The Art of Craft is a day devoted to the idea that it's more important to focus on what you write than trying to get it sold. Taking a page from William Zinsser's On Writing Well (please read it!) we'll talk about what makes good writing good: clarity, simplicity, honesty, and a logical flow of ideas. We'll talk about all aspects of craft--the beginning and ending, how to structure a story, how to do interviews, how to declutter your writing, and any other issues you'd like to bring to class. Enrollment is limited. Please send a check to Laura Fraser at the Grotto to hold your space; email laura@laurafraser.com.

Instructor bio: Laura Fraser's new book, All Over the Map, is out in June. She has published personal essays in O the Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, More, the San Francisco Chronicle, Health, Women's Health, Glamour, Vogue, Self, Eating Well, and numerous anthologies.

 

All About Magazines

Instructor: Laura Fraser
Contact:laura@laurafraser.com
Number of sessions: 1
Meeting time: Saturday 10-4 (a hour off for lunch), May 8
Course fee: $155 (discount for 2-3 Saturday sessions)

Description: All About Magazines is a one-day seminar in everything you always wanted to know about magazines, from someone who has published hundreds of articles in national magazines. We'll discuss how to find ideas, research a story, target a magazine for your work, pitch an editor, structure a magazine piece, and deal with editors. This is a nuts and bolts class about the business; bring along any ideas you have for articles. Enrollment is limited. Please send a check to Laura Fraser at the Grotto to hold your space; email laura@laurafraser.com.

Instructor bio: Laura Fraser's new book, All Over the Map, is out in June. She has published personal essays in O the Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, More, the San Francisco Chronicle, Health, Women's Health, Glamour, Vogue, Self, Eating Well, and numerous anthologies.

Readings, writing workshops, and appearances

I have taught magazine writing at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, as well as at the Grotto, Esalen, San Francisco State University, Aspen Summer Words, UC Extension, A Room of Her Own (AROHO), Harvard's Nieman Conference on Narrative Non-Fiction, and other venues. I frequently do panels, classes, and workshops on memoir and magazine writing, as well as readings and bookstore events. I also do private writing coaching for a limited number of clients.

If you are interested in writing coaching, email me at laura@laurafraser.com. I work with writers who want to improve their writing, not rush to publish what they've written. As my friend and mentor William Zinsser ("On Writing Well") puts it, "I teach how to write, not how to sell." While I know something about marketing your writing, the first thing I know is that you have to write well first. I charge for reading and consulting time (which can be over the phone or by email).

In connection with my book Losing It, I made numerous media appearances, conference keynote speeches, and have talked to young women on eating disorders wards. I’ve spoken about weight and the diet industry to groups at Wesleyan University, Amherst, Williams, Mt. Holyoke, the University of Connecticut, Smith College, Hampshire College, Cal Berkeley, and other universities. I have appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Entertainment Tonight, MTV, CNN, the Food Network, Maury Povitch, Leeza Gibbons, and numerous local news shows.

I occasionally moderate panels and conduct interviews at San Franciscoo's Commonwealth Club.

Here's an interview with Jonah Lehrer, author of How We Decide.

Here's a panel on the Counterculture, with R.U. Sirius, Jello Biafra, Louis Rossetto, and Burning man's Larry Harvey .

Recently, I have done panels and workshops at:

And storytelling at:

And I did an NPR commentary on why I hate dieters at dinner parties: http://www.npr.org/dmg/dmg.php?prgCode=ME&showDate=01-Oct-2002&segNum=12&NPROldMediaPref=RM

 

To arrange a conference appearance or reading, or to inquire about private writing classes or coaching, please contact me at laura@laurafraser.com.