Bethesda Memoirs Online Meetup

Write polished memoir (or fiction, that’s OK) for enthusiasts at all skill and experience levels, critique each other's work, discuss which literary magazines, agents, and contests are open for submissions, and learn about the book publishing industry.

YOU'VE POURED BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS INTO YOUR CREATION, NOW SHARE IT WITH YOUR PEERS! Read aloud whatever you like: memoir chapters, short stories, essays, poetry, journal entries or excerpts from your novel. Upload your work for a pre-read or read it live.

In addition to open mic, the weekly Saturday morning 11:00am EST meetings will be heavy on guest speakers and industry pros. Attend whenever as you can (hopefully attend often). All meetings are online so all-comers, even those from outside the DC metro area, are welcome!

Group organizer Mel Christie hosts (as of Aug 2025) and Pete Warner works the phones, does the research, and recruits seasoned pros (particularly "how to write memoir" writers) to share their tips and field questions from members - at least one guest per month.

The revamped club is a democracy and is flexible regarding meeting formats, guest requests, suggestions for fresh name authors and other speakers. Even if you have never put pen to paper, started your memoir, or are still trying to find your genre, you can learn how the pros do it and the process they went through here!

Got questions? Contact Mel Christie through Meetup messaging, or bring them up on our next session!

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