Masterclass Sunday: Memory and Story with Jarred McGinnis

Memory and Story by Jarred McGinnisA different approach to MemoirWe invite you to attend and bring a parent, another family member, or a close friend to this unique creative writing workshop (participatory event). Using collaborative exercises based on shared memories and experiences, author Jarred McGinnis will help you find a way to write those funny, profound, chaotic stories that shape your lives - together.PRACTICAL DETAILSThis workshop is a 120-minute session at the end of which participants will leave with techniques for drawing out memories and some expanded pieces of creative writing based on live experiences. Jarred will show how the memoirist can make use of the novel’s narrative and descriptive techniques to make their story more fully-realised. You will spend time on the importance of writing that uses all five senses, dialogue, and detail. Jarred will demonstrate the effectiveness of evoking place and historical context by bringing in examples from contemporary British and world literature. He will also address the ethical issues involved when writing about family and real people.Jarred's hope is that the session fosters conversations between generations and gives the participants a starting point to write their own story.The session will have a maximum of 20 participants (10 writing pairs). NB. Single writers can sign up but it's best if you bring someone you know with you as many of the exercises will be done in pairs using a shared understanding of your lives.Jarred McGinnis was chosen by the Guardian as one of the UK’s ten best emerging writers. His debut novel ‘The Coward’ was selected for BBC 2’s Between the Covers, BBC Radio 2’s Book Club and listed for the Barbellion Prize. The French edition won the First Novel Prize and was selected for the prestigious Femina prize. His second novel ‘There is No Meant to Be’ was published by Harvill in 2026.He is the co-founder of The Special Relationship, which was chosen for the British Council’s International Literature Showcase. He also has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, but mostly he inspires the able-bodied by using public transport and taking his daughters to the playground.