What we’re about
Memoir Mentors is a safe space to support, inspire and motivate memoirists and writers of personal essays.
There’s nothing quite like a writing group to take your writing to the next level. However, writing a memoir has a unique set of challenges and rewards.
Maybe you’ve tried writing groups before but were afraid to share because your writing is too personal or you don’t relate to the challenges that fiction writers face.
Maybe you’re afraid to join a writing group because you think everyone will be more advanced than you, maybe you worry that people will judge you. Fear not.
Memoir mentors is an amazing group of individuals; some are already published, some are just getting started, and some have been working on their memoirs for years. Each and every one of us has an incredible story to share and is committed to lifting each other up to achieve each other’s goals.
We meet every Tuesday for writing sessions, workshops, book club, and author Q&A sessions.
If you'd like to donate to keep the community running, please do! ❤️
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Find out more at: https://memoirmentors.com/
Sign up to the Memoir Mentors Mailing List here:
http://eepurl.com/g29101
Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/memoirmentors
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Book Club: Junkyard GirlLink visible for attendees
In the Memoir Mentors Book Club, we explore memoirs through a writer’s lens. We go beyond the surface of the stories. We dissect memoirs, identifying elements we can integrate into our own writing and those we might want to steer clear of. Our discussions center around the strengths and weaknesses of the writing, providing valuable insights for enriching our writer’s toolboxes.
Come on by for insightful conversations, even if you haven’t read the featured book.
This time, we'll be discussing: Junkyard Girl by Carlyn Montes De Oca.
Book club questions can be found here (When I get around to posting them): https://memoirmentors.com/book-club-questions/
### Live Author Q&A the Following Week!
We’re thrilled to announce that Carlyn will be joining us for a special Q&A session the following Thursday, August 7 at 7pm German time.
👉 RSVP here for the Q&ACome to the book club ready to share your thoughts, reactions, and questions—we’ll gather those to shape the conversation with the author the following week!
Carlyn Montes De Oca grew up surrounded by secrets. She never knew her dad was a Marine during World War II or that her grandmother hired kidnappers to bring her mother back home after her parents eloped. Her parents took an even bigger secret to their graves... Carlyn's identity.
In 2019, at age 57, a consumer DNA test taken for fun revealed that Carlyn's mom and dad, immigrants from Mexico, were not her biological parents. In that instant, Carlyn felt her world shatter. This revelation fueled a year long journey to find the answers to "Who the hell am I and where do I belong?"
Junkyard Girl explores the powerful impact of long-held secrets and the complex relationships between immigrant mothers and their native-born daughters. This is a coming-of-age story later in life; a tale about loss and discovery, betrayal and forgiveness, and the true meaning of an American family.
💛 Support Our Community
If you’ve found value in our events, consider supporting Memoir Mentors:
📬 Subscribe on Substack for insights, resources, and writing inspiration
💳 Donate via PayPal
💳 Donate via Stripe
Your support helps keep these events going and makes future workshops possible—thank you!Sign up to the Memoir Mentors Mailing List:
http://eepurl.com/g29101Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/memoirmentorsFind out more about our group at:
https://memoirmentors.com/ - Author Q&A with Carlyn Montes De OcaLink visible for attendees
We’re excited to welcome Carlyn Montes De Oca for a special live Q&A following our July 31st book club discussion of her powerful memoir, Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances.
Carlyn shares a story that doesn’t shy away from the big questions: identity, truth, family, and belonging. When she discovered at age 57 that she was adopted (a secret nearly everyone in her extended family had known), her life changed overnight. Junkyard Girl traces the emotional fallout and the extraordinary journey that followed.
Now’s your chance to meet the author behind the memoir and hear the story behind the story.
Plus! Carlyn is one of the rare writers who enjoys marketing her book. I'm looking forward to gleaning helpful tips on this aspect of being an author.
We’ll explore:
- How she approached writing about long-held family secrets
- What it meant to craft a “coming-of-age” memoir later in life
- The creative process of memoir writing
- How writing this book compared to her earlier books
- Practical tips on writing, publishing, and even marketing memoirs
- And more!
Bring your questions or just come to listen in on what’s sure to be a thoughtful and engaging conversation. Carlyn is a compelling speaker who brings warmth, clarity, and insight into her process as both an author and advocate.
***
About Carlyn
Carlyn Montes De Oca is a passionate animal advocate, international speaker, and multi-award-winning author of four books, including Junkyard Girl, which has won eight literary awards and became a #1 Amazon bestseller. She’s been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, Woman’s Day Magazine, and TEDx, and brings decades of experience in storytelling.***
📖 If you haven’t read the book yet, there’s still time! As of the posting of this event (May 8), her ebook is on sale for 50% off at Amazon.com.
And if you'd like to join our book discussion on July 31st (without the author), RSVP here:
👉 Memoir Mentors Book Club – July 31 - Memoir Mentors - ONLINE Write then Read -- 7pm Munich, 10am PacificLink visible for attendees
MEMOIR/PERSONAL ESSAY/CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITERS/LIFE POETS welcome!
Come join us for 90 minutes of focused memoir writing time, followed by time to share what you wrote.
7:00 - 7:15 - Introductions and intention setting
7:15 - 8:45 - 90 minutes of devoted writing/editing on your memoir/personal essay
8:45 - 10:00 - Anyone who would like to share may read for five minutes. The preference is to read what you've written during the session to motivate us to really get busy during those 90 minutes. However, if there is a previously written piece that you need feedback on, that is fine as well. Perfection is an illusion so don't feel ashamed to share something that you do not feel is perfect.Let us know before you read what kind of feedback you would like, if any. If you would just like positive encouragement, that's totally fine! If you want something more constructive, we're happy to offer that as well. We have a wonderfully kind and welcoming group, so don't be intimidated!
Reading out loud (and listening to others!) is a wonderful experience.
This is a safe space devoted to authors of memoirs/personal essays/creative nonfiction. Please come support and inspire each other and make progress together! We have sessions every Thursday.
💛 Support Our Community
If you’ve found value in our events, consider supporting Memoir Mentors:
📬 Subscribe on Substack for insights, resources, and writing inspiration
💳 Donate via PayPal
💳 Donate via Stripe
Your support helps keep these events going and makes future workshops possible—thank you!Find out more at: https://memoirmentors.com/
Sign up to the Memoir Mentors Mailing List here:
http://eepurl.com/g29101Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/memoirmentors - Memoir Mentors - ONLINE Write then Read -- 7pm Munich, 10am PacificLink visible for attendees
MEMOIR/PERSONAL ESSAY/CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITERS/LIFE POETS welcome!
Come join us for 90 minutes of focused memoir writing time, followed by time to share what you wrote.
7:00 - 7:15 - Introductions and intention setting
7:15 - 8:45 - 90 minutes of devoted writing/editing on your memoir/personal essay
8:45 - 10:00 - Anyone who would like to share may read for five minutes. The preference is to read what you've written during the session to motivate us to really get busy during those 90 minutes. However, if there is a previously written piece that you need feedback on, that is fine as well. Perfection is an illusion so don't feel ashamed to share something that you do not feel is perfect.Let us know before you read what kind of feedback you would like, if any. If you would just like positive encouragement, that's totally fine! If you want something more constructive, we're happy to offer that as well. We have a wonderfully kind and welcoming group, so don't be intimidated!
Reading out loud (and listening to others!) is a wonderful experience.
This is a safe space devoted to authors of memoirs/personal essays/creative nonfiction. Please come support and inspire each other and make progress together! We have sessions every Thursday.
💛 Support Our Community
If you’ve found value in our events, consider supporting Memoir Mentors:
📬 Subscribe on Substack for insights, resources, and writing inspiration
💳 Donate via PayPal
💳 Donate via Stripe
Your support helps keep these events going and makes future workshops possible—thank you!Find out more at: https://memoirmentors.com/
Sign up to the Memoir Mentors Mailing List here:
http://eepurl.com/g29101Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/memoirmentors
