A Six-Week Intensive to Design the Book Before You Write It
Live Online | Limited to 5 Writers
Every life contains hundreds of stories. The hard part is figuring out which one belongs in your memoir.
That’s what we’ll do together.
Too many memoirists spend months, or even years, drafting a manuscript before realizing the story lacks focus, the structure isn’t working, or they’re trying to tell too much. Here’s the first thing I tell every memoir writer: the strongest memoirs aren’t built from memories alone. They’re thoughtfully designed.
Whether you’re beginning with an idea, a lifetime of experiences, or a draft that no longer feels right, this six-week intensive will help you uncover the emotional heart of your memoir and transform it into a clear, compelling book.
Working in an intimate group of just five writers, we’ll combine guided instruction, brainstorming, conversation, and personalized feedback to help you shape your memoir from the inside out. Through discussion and carefully designed exercises, you’ll clarify your story, discover its emotional arc, organize your material, and create your own Memoir Design Blueprint—a personalized roadmap that will guide every chapter you write.
By the end of the six weeks, you’ll have a clear direction, a solid outline, and a roadmap for writing your memoir. No more wondering where to begin or whether you’re telling the right story. You’ll know what book you’re writing and have a plan for bringing it to life.
The Memoir Design Method
Every writer in the studio moves through the same six-stage process, building one piece of their memoir each week.
Session 1 — Discover
What is this book really about?
We’ll identify the transformation at the heart of your memoir and explore why this story matters now.
Outcome: Your memoir premise.
Session 2 — Focus
Find the emotional spine.
We’ll uncover the central question, theme, and emotional journey that will hold your memoir together.
Outcome: Your emotional arc.
Session 3 — Curate
Choose what belongs.
Not every memory belongs in your memoir. We’ll identify the scenes, people, and moments that best support your story while learning what to leave behind.
Outcome: Your core story material.
Session 4 — Design
Create the architecture of your memoir.
We’ll explore different memoir structures and choose the one that best serves your story.
Outcome: Your structural blueprint.
Session 5 — Organize
Turn memories into chapters.
We’ll arrange your material into a compelling progression that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
Outcome: Your chapter outline.
Session 6 — Launch
Prepare to write with confidence.
We’ll bring everything together into your completed Memoir Design Blueprint and create a writing plan that carries you into the new year.
Outcome: You’re ready to write.
This class is for writers who:
- Have always wanted to write a memoir but don’t know where to begin.
- Have written pages, or even a complete draft, but feel the book lacks focus.
- Want to organize years of memories into a compelling narrative.
- Learn best through conversation, collaboration, and personalized feedback in a small group.
What You’ll Receive
- Six live online Design Sessions
- A maximum of five participants for meaningful discussion and individualized attention
- Guided exercises and worksheets
- Personalized feedback throughout the program
- One 30-minute private Memoir Blueprint Consultation
- Your completed Memoir Design Blueprint
- A chapter-by-chapter outline ready to guide your writing
By the End of the Intensive
You’ll leave with a completed Memoir Design Blueprint—a personalized roadmap that identifies your memoir’s central transformation, emotional arc, structure, and chapter outline.
Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to write your memoir, you’ll begin the year with a clear plan for the book you want to write.
Enrollment is limited to five writers to ensure every participant receives individualized guidance and ample time to share, ask questions, and receive feedback.
Details
- Date: October 7th – November 18th, 2026
- Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EST, 4:00 – 5:15 PT (ZOOM)
We believe in making writing education accessible. This class uses a pay-what-you-can model with three price tiers:
- $425 – Supported Tier: For those who need a little financial breathing room
- $485 – Standard Tier: Covers the true cost of the class
- $525 – Supporter Tier: Helps us offer lower-cost spots to others
Choose the tier that best fits your situation, no questions asked. Everyone receives the same class experience, no matter the price point.
How to Pay: Space is limited, so please sign up early. Venmo your payment @LoungeWriters with your email address. In notes, add: Memoir Design Studio. (The last 4 digits of the phone number are 9616, if Venmo wants to know.) Email Oksana Marafioti at info@loungewriters.com if you have questions or would prefer to pay via Zelle or PayPal.
Meet Your Instructor
Oksana Marafioti is an award-winning memoirist, developmental editor, and writing coach whose memoir, American Gypsy, was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. For more than a decade, she has helped writers transform rough ideas and unfinished manuscripts into focused, compelling books.
As a vetted editor on Reedsy, Oksana has worked with memoirists and other nonfiction writers from around the world, helping them uncover the emotional heart of their stories, strengthen their structure, and prepare their manuscripts for publication. Her client reviews on Reedsy reflect her collaborative, thoughtful approach to developmental editing and book coaching.
Drawing on her experience as both an author and editor, Oksana developed the Memoir Design Studio to help writers answer the questions that matter most before they begin writing: What is this book really about? Why this story? Why now? Her goal is to help writers create a strong foundation for their memoir so they can approach the writing process with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
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