Memory cards, each completing the sentence differently

Tell me about the time…

Practical online courses to help you write your life story, one moment, one person and one experience at a time.

you don't have to write about your whole life. start with one story

The Academy

Life Writing Academy offers practical online courses to help you turn memories into stories, one moment, one person and one experience at a time.

You don't need to be a writer. You don't need to start at the beginning. And you certainly don't need to write your entire life story.

You just need somewhere to begin.

Six core courses

Practical help for the stories you want to write


Writing Courses

01 · Setting Your Boundaries

  • Course
  • 31 Lessons

Before you write a word of your life story, there are decisions to make. Who are you writing for? What earns a place? How honest are you prepared to be? Six lessons to help you settle those questions early, so you can begin calmly and with a sense of purpose. Allow three to four hours.

02 · The Opening Act

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson

Where to begin, and how to open a life story so that people want to keep reading. The second course in The Life Writing Academy. Coming Soon

03 · The Art of Observation

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson

Some details bring a story to life. Others slow it down. This course is about learning to tell the difference. Coming soon.

04 · Setting the Scene

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson

How to write about places so a reader can stand in them with you. Coming soon.

05 · Bringing People to the Page

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson

How to write about the people in your life, the ones you loved, the ones you didn't, and the ones you're still working out. Coming soon.

06 · The Final Word

  • Course
  • 1 Lesson

How to end a life story, and how to know when you've finished. Coming soon.

Testimonials

What people say about the courses.

"I’ve been on several memoir-writing courses over the years, and this is the one I’ve enjoyed and learnt the most from. Rhuwina makes everything simple and easy to understand."

Lorna, Australia

"Everything was broken down into small, manageable chunks, with lots of examples showing us how we could write about our own lives."

Helen, UK

"Rhuwina is brilliant at figuring out what we need to know to write a life story and then inspiring us to make it happen."

Liz, Australia

Three ways in

Not ready for a course? Start here.


Memory Library, library card

The Memory Library

A free guide to finding the memories you thought you'd forgotten.

one good idea, one idea a month

One Good Idea

One useful idea about life writing, delivered each month.

podcast audio waves

Make Mine a Memoir

Memoirs worth reading and ideas worth borrowing for your own writing.

This is where your story starts.