Friday, September 18, 2026 • 4-6pm PDT • WORKSHOP

When The Character is You: Curating Persona in Memoir

This workshop helps memoirists take control of their narrative by developing a powerful persona that balances the writer’s dual role: narrator of the story and character within it.

Transform your real-life self into a compelling narrative presence with Jordan Rosenfeld

Ideal for: Memoir and essay writers who want to translate authentic experience into compelling story

Today’s memoirs can’t be long, dull slogs through an entire life—they must be selective, curated glimpses of a potent period, shaped by an evocative voice. This workshop helps memoirists take control of their narrative by developing a powerful persona that balances the writer’s dual role: narrator of the story and character within it.

Memoir often engages with difficult, intimate material that must be carefully shaped and revealed. By curating a persona, you can guide how your story is told—maintaining artistic control while still honoring your truth. We’ll explore what it means to create a written persona, craft a voice that is a stylized yet authentic version of you, and make intentional choices at the sentence level.

What We'll Cover

In this workshop, we’ll explore the core elements that shape a compelling memoir voice, helping you develop a persona that feels authentic while engaging readers on every level.

  • The foundations of voice and tone, and the personal influences that shape them

  • How to craft an authentic on-the-page persona through intentional language choices

  • Techniques for deepening voice through structure, including time shifts, dialogue, and interiority

This Workshop is Ideal for

Memoir and essay writers who want to craft compelling, reader-driven narratives

Writers who want to hook readers from the first page and bring their stories vividly to life

Writers looking to strengthen voice, tone, and “show, not tell” techniques

Writers seeking greater control over their narrative and a stronger path toward publication

When The Character is You: Curating Persona in Memoir

$75.00

Friday, September 18, 2026 • 4-6pm PDT • WORKSHOP

You'll Walk Away With

Methods for developing the right voice, tone, and compelling persona for your story

Tools for making stronger word, sentence, and image choices

Essential techniques for translating your lived experience effectively to the page

Practical strategies for revising and strengthening your memoir

Jordan Rosenfeld

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Jordan Rosenfeld

Jordan Rosenfeld, BA, MFA, is author of the novel Fallout (May, 2025), Forged in Grace and Women in Red, and six books on the craft of writing including How to Write a Page-Turner, the bestselling Make a Scene, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes and Write Free. Jordan’s articles and essays have been published in hundreds of publications, The Atlantic, LitHub, The New York Times, The Rumpus, Salon, Scientific American, The Weeklings, and many more. Jordan teaches online writing classes and at numerous well respected writing conferences, including the Writer’s Digest Annual + Novel Writing conferences and The San Francisco Writer’s Conference. She is a freelance manuscript editor and writing coach.

Ready to craft your writing voice?

Sibyl Writing Craft Workshop FAQ

Yes! Most of our workshops are streamed live on Zoom, allowing you to learn in real time and interact with the instructor. If you can't make it, don’t worry—we will send you a link to watch or download the recording within 24 to 48 hours after the session ends.

Yes! If you can’t attend live (or want to revisit the material), you’ll receive a recording after the session. You can watch it on your own schedule.

Our webinars and workshops will have built in time for Q&A at the end. Some workshop instructors may respond to questions throughout the session, depending on the workshop format.

Many workshops include slides, worksheets, or resource lists that you can download and keep.

No preparation is required unless otherwise noted. Some instructors may offer optional prompts or materials to help you get even more out of the session.