Story Circle

by, for, and about women

Introduction to Guided Autobiography

Class instructor Sarah White

Instructor: Sarah White

Maximum Enrollment: 12

Class Term: 06/03/2023 - 07/01/2023

Tuition/Fees

SCN Member: $195

Non-Member: $245

Class synopsis

Guided Autobiography (GAB) is a process pioneered by Dr. James Birren that is based on personal writing on life themes and sharing those stories in a supportive small group. By using the Guided Autobiography method, you will do more than start writing down your memories—you will gain insights into how the events of your life have contributed to the person you are today—and may become tomorrow. People who undertake Dr. Birren’s Guided Autobiography process join an international movement; there are over 600 instructors around the world in a connected community.

Class description

Guided Autobiography workshops are organized around a sequence of themes—topics that are common threads in the fabric of just about anyone’s life. In "Introduction to Guided Autobiography," we cover the first four of GAB's nine themes: Branching points, family, role of money in your life, and your major life work or career. Looking for the "branching points" within each of these themes guides writers to significant memories worth preserving. Themes move from fairly neutral in “Intro to GAB” to more personal topics in “Guided Autobiography Part 2”, a workshop that will be offered in the future through SCN if there is sufficient interest. Students are in complete control of what they write and share; no one is pressured to read more than they are comfortable sharing with the group. The GAB method places more emphasis on self-development than writing craft.

Class goals

Write four short autobiographical essays on assigned themes, Build a written legacy to pass to future generations, Gain a greater appreciation of one’s own life and of the lives of others

Class communication method

Weekly meetings, 2 hours, via Zoom, in which the group addresses a sequence of themes. Meetings will be Wednesdays from 3-5 Central. Methods used in the sessions include guided discussion, exercises, and weekly two-page autobiographical writing assignments. Each week, participants read what they have written and receive feedback from the group. Each class ends with a suggested writing prompt, on which the student is to write 2 pages (up to 500 words) to be read aloud at the next class session. Students should make time to write and revise each week. Students will have many opportunities to read their work for group feedback. Feedback should be supportive, respectful, and relevant. The format of this workshop is primarily aural, meaning students do not turn in written assignments for instructor review but will read their writing aloud for feedback in real time.

Class outline

Unit 1: June 3

  • Introductions
  • What is Guided Autobiography
  • Goals
  • Introduce theme 1: Major branching points in your life

Unit 2: June 10

  • Choosing what to write
  • Drawing on all the senses
  • Clustering
  • Read and discuss: The major branching points in your life
  • Introduce theme 2: Your family

Unit 3: June 17

  • Read and discuss: Your family
  • Writing tips
  • The power of metaphor
  • Introduce theme 3: The role of money in your life

Unit 4: June 24

  • Read and discuss: The role of money in your life
  • Autobiography for self-awareness
  • Introduce theme 4: Your major life work or career

Unit 5: July 1

  • Read and discuss: Your major life work or career
  • Perspectives on human development
  • In-class discussion: What’s in “Guided Autobiography Part 2”
  • Evaluations
  • Closing comments

Class time commitment

Time commitment: 2 hours for weekly unit meetings; 1-4 hours for writing and revising between works

Class brief resume

Comments from recent reminiscence writing participants:
• “I am surprised the effect this writing class has ?on me. I feel revitalized.”
• “I loved the wonderful stories, their variety and depth.”
• “I loved the nonjudgmental attitudes and ?gentle suggestions of the participants.”
• “I feel like I made a dozen new friends.”
(Names withheld for confidentiality)

Instructor bio

Sarah White is an author, ghostwriter, memoir writing coach, and teacher of business skills for life story workers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an MFA in creative nonfiction. Her published work includes articles in print and online, several business marketing books, and Write Your Travel Memoirs: 5 Steps to transform your travel experiences into compelling essays, which originated as an SCN class. For more information visit her website firstpersonprod.com and blog truestorieswelltold.com.