Workshop Title: Life in Small Bites: Memoir for Busy People

Workshop Instructor: Susan Bono susanbono.com

Which Session?: September 16-20, 2026

Brief Workshop Description: Understanding comes to us in glimmers, gleams, and flashes of insight. I think that’s the power of short form memoir. It allows us to make some sense of our lives as it tumbles us ever forward. For over thirty years, I’ve been structuring workshops designed to work for anyone, from confident, accomplished writers to those who wish they were. You’ll find inspiration, challenge, and a wonderful community at Emandal. Experience the benefits of gentle deadlines, the joy of being heard and supported.

This year’s theme: Day and Night. Everything happens in a particular light. In this workshop, we’ll explore some of the ways time of day shapes memory and meaning. You’ll discover how the fall of light adds richness to your experiences, whether they take place in broad daylight, deepest night, or all the hours between.

Levels of Experience: All Ages (18+) and Levels Welcome

Additional Supplies Participants Must Bring to Workshop: All you’ll need to bring to this class is your curiosity, your natural storytelling talents (cultivated or not), your willingness to be surprised, and a journal or notebook. You are also more than welcome to use electronic writing devices if they don’t need to be constantly plugged in or connected to wi-fi. Just consider what you might connect with if you truly unplugged.

Optional Items: an extra seat cushion for an improved “butt in chair” experience; a few photographs that help you connect emotionally to a particular moment in time.

Where else have you taught this workshop or a similar course?: I’ve facilitated similar workshops at Point Reyes National Seashore; Spirit Mountain Retreat Center; Istanbul, Turkey; Mendocino Writers Conference; North Coast Writers Conference; California Writers Clubs; Sebastopol Center for the Arts; Varenna Independent Living; annually at Emandal ArtStays. susanbono.com