History of The Memoir Writing Workshop
The Memoir Writing Workshop was pioneered in 2007 by Irene Graham, following international success with her proven writing techniques in The Creative Writer’s Workshop, which she founded in 1991.
Since this time The Memoir Writing Workshop has been taught in various ways – online, in-person, and as a Memoir Writing Course in The Memoir Writing Workbook.
This is the background, history and principles of Irene Graham’s teachings on how to write memoir:
Inspired by the work of renowned American Psychologist Howard Gardner and his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Irene Graham created The Memoir Writing Workshop.
It is a unique and creative writing journey that helps trigger memories, develop structure, enhances writing voice, and creates story from life experiences. You tap into your inherent creativity, bring your story to life – and write a short or full-length memoir.
While the workshop is not about neuroscience or how the brain works, it is based on right-brain/left-brain learning techniques, and how by engaging in various modes of thinking and using major learning modalities, we can use our brains to trigger and recall memories, thus deepening our abilities to create and write.
The process shows the participant how to create story from life experiences. To create story, one must understand all the facets of story creation, how to build each element, and weave those elements into a creative whole. Without understanding story creation, writing can so often reach a dead end.
The Memoir Writing Workshop builds upon a basic concept of the ‘Memoir Map’ – a graphic interpretation of how to start and travel a writing journey to complete a short or full-length memoir. By engaging step-by-step with specific exercises through each path on the map, participants understand the art of memoir writing, each element of story, and can therefore write a memoir that hops off the page.
In 2009 Irene committed her Memoir Writing Course to paper and created The Memoir Writing Workbook. Originally it was available exclusively to course and workshop participants. It is now available to buy on this website.
Based on her writing techniques, Irene has taught writing workshops for 35 years, internationally, and to all age groups, in various models:
- Memoir Writing Courses – Online & LIVE
- Memoir Writing Retreats
- Writing as Therapeutic Medicine
- For Ghost Writers & Biographers
- Study Abroad Programs for USA Universities
- Library Programs (Memoir & Fiction)
- The Creative Writer’s Workshop: Retreats & LIVE (Fiction)
- Transition Year Students (16-year-olds)
- Students 8 to 15 years
As a memoir writing initiative, launched on 10 Feb 2026, Irene is now encouraging people to Start a Memoir Writing Club in their local area or online, using the simple 7 step creative writing process in The Memoir Writing Workbook as their guide.
Do visit our pages:
Memoir Writing Course
The Memoir Writing Workbook
Memoir Writing Course Online 12-week
Writing Retreats
Writing Voice Courses
Irene Graham BLOG
