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Writing Your Truth

This is a series of one-on-one weekly memoir writing sessions for anyone who wants to share their story. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will meet virtually with your advisor to develop an outline, generate content, and revise your manuscript so that it will be polished and ready to share with the world. Whatever you envision can happen and we are here to help you along the way! Open to beginners through advanced writers.

Instructor : Carrie Seidler

Benefits of Taking this Course:

Learn the craft of storytelling and writing (beginners).

Hone your writing skills with experienced professionals (advanced)

Guidance from a professional creative writing professor and published author

Examine and depict traumatic memories as a means of healing and perhaps even to serve as cautionary or explanatory tales for others.

Details:

8 sessions (zoom)
8 weeks, 45/week with additional 1-on-1 sessions for writing through trauma available by request
$50/session or $350 if paid upfront (email for other arrangements, scholarships are available!)

Pre-requisities:

Onboarding
Commitment to sharing your story in your own words

Course Outline (Beginners):

Week 1 The Elements of a Story
Week 2 Setting the Scene
Week 3 Evoking emotion
Week 4 Tension!
Week 5 Pacing and Beats
Week 6 Dynamic Action
Week 7 Theme and Purpose
Week 8 Revision

Carrie Seidler

Instructor

Carrie has written two books that revolve around her experiences of trauma and survival, including her experimental fiction novel, Czech Glory Hole Massacre.

You can read an excerpt from CGHM in Fiction International Issue 53 (page16)

You can hear a selection from the audiobook here:

What is "Blanche Ranch"?

For now, Blanche Ranch is an agnostic online hub where trauma survivors can access a variety of educational and writing resources that will help them on their journey toward healing and growth. We offer GED and HiSET tutoring, manuscript advising, and conduct interviews for our podcast/audiobook series, "Survivor Stories."
Are you an anti-trafficking organization?

Absolutely! We stand against all forms of human trafficking, abuse, addiction, and exploitation. However, we define ourselves less an anti-trafficking organization and more as a trauma-informed educational service provider. We aim to serve as many clients as possible, regardless of their background. We provide our services as a form of harm reduction by opening up the life and career paths that may have seemed previously impossible to folks living with complex trauma.
Why the silly name?

Most nonprofits are very serious, if not overly sentimental. We knew that many trauma survivors actually tend to have well-developed senses of humor, and so do we. We named our organization after a sexy, mature, and beloved character from the TV show "Golden Girls." Blanche Devereaux knew who she was, and she took no shit. We believe that you can heal and grow without conforming to the aesthetic of the white-savior industrial complex, and that's the vibe we aim to cultivate.
Can anyone enroll?

Anyone who has survived trauma and desires our services is free to enroll. If you seek the safety of a community of like-minded individuals, if you are focused on growth, and you are capable of behaving in a respectful manner, we welcome you.
How do I get started?

Send us an email indicating the course(s) you are interested in joining. Together, we will arrange an initial onboarding session, get you enrolled, and then you're all set! Every course we offer is online and free of charge, so all you need is a phone with video meeting capabilities and you'll be ready to rock!