Life & Words: A Memoir Reading & Writing MasterClass

Why tell your story?

We all love to tell stories - over a drink, across a dinner table, or in the quiet of the night.

But why do you want to tell yours? 

Is it to preserve a face that is fading? To understand a choice made years ago? Or to finally find the thread of meaning in the chaos of the past?

This workshop is designed for those who want to move beyond "small talk" with their own history and turn personal experience into something enduring.

Who are we? From what places, faces, and moments are we composed? How can we revisit childhood, youth, and adulthood - the most pivotal moments of our lives?

Through the dual acts of reading and writing, we find the answers. Books grant us inspiration and a glimpse into the lives of others, and through them, we see our own lives more clearly. Writing allows us to return to those lives - to understand, preserve, and ultimately, transform them.

In this workshop, we will read masterworks of world literature and memoirs to provide a foundation for writing our own lives. Through writing exercises and close personal feedback, you will gain the tools to discover and use family and personal memories to redesign your story on the page.

The Curriculum: Four Masterclasses in Memoir

Session I: Writing Those Closest to Us

(June 2nd, 19:00-21:00)

• Case Study: The Details by Ia Genberg.

• The Focus: The author reconstructs her own world by describing specific, pivotal figures - a close friend, a partner, a family member. We will learn how to describe the people in our lives to better understand ourselves and the profound importance of our relationships.

  
  

Session II: Blending Testimony and Story

(June 9th, 19:00-21:00)

• Case Study: The Color of Water by James McBride.

• The Focus: McBride follows his mother’s life to confront questions of identity, heritage, and social divides. He weaves factual interviews into a deeply personal narrative. We will explore the delicate balance of blending objective testimony with the creative power of the imagination.

  
  

Session III: The Outside Perspective

(June 16th, 19:00-21:00)

• Case Study: Youth by J.M. Coetzee.

• The Focus: The Nobel Prize winner chooses a unique path: describing his younger self in the third person ("He"). This distance allows him to observe his own struggles with startling clarity. We will learn how to look at our own lives "from the outside" to describe them with depth and honesty.

  
  

Session IV: Weaving Life Eras Together

(June 23rd, 19:00-21:30)

• Case Study: Yoga by Emmanuel Carrère.

• The Focus: Carrère moves seamlessly from a meditation retreat to a mental health crisis, from a Greek island to a moment of profound beauty. In our final session, we will learn how to take disparate events from our lives and weave them into a single, cohesive narrative.

To maintain the continuity of the curriculum and the intimacy of the group, this workshop is available only as a complete four-session series and cannot be booked as individual sessions.

Practical info:

• Dates: Tuesdays in June: 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

• Time: Evening sessions 19:00-21:00 (the last session would be from 19:00-21:30)

• Location: The Book Nook, Singel 82, 1015 AC Amsterdam.

• Group Size and Level: Intimate group (minimum 6, maximum 12 participants) to ensure personal attention for every story. This masterclass suits writers of all levels - whether you have a full manuscript or just a collection of memories you aren't ready to lose. As a seasoned educator, Yonatan will meet each participant where they are, guiding you based on your unique level and needs.

• Format: The first three sessions are 2 hours long; the final wrap-up session is 2.5 hours. All sessions include a 10-minute break.

• On the House: Coffee, tea, water, and small snacks are provided.

• Location: The Book Nook (Singel 82, 1015 AC Amsterdam). The sessions take place in this small and wonderfully gezellig bookshop, nestled right on the canals in the historic center of Amsterdam.
  

Participants have the option to continue their writing journey privately with Yonatan following the workshop.

Questions: If you have any doubts or questions on the workshop before booking, you are welcome to contact the writer directly at yonatanb@gmail.com

About Yonatan

Yonatan Berg is a celebrated poet and author, and the youngest recipient of the Yehuda Amichai Poetry Prize.

He has published five books of poetry, two novels, and a memoir. His work, which explores themes of history, identity, and the Mediterranean landscape, has been translated into several languages, including English, German, and Italian.

A seasoned educator and a central voice in contemporary literature, Yonatan brings a unique blend of technical expertise and emotional depth to his workshops, helping writers find the "literary gold" in their personal histories.

This workshop is an opportunity to join a small, curated group of curious minds and dive deep into the architecture of memory. Whether you have a manuscript in a drawer or just a collection of memories you aren't ready to lose, you are welcome here.