Writing a memoir is an act of courage, asking writers to share parts of their lives with others. Writers must choose what to reveal and how to bring those experiences to the page so they resonate with others. In this presentation, acclaimed memoirist and longtime educator Louise Nayer explores how writers can transform memory into vivid, compelling stories through sensory detail, scene, and character development.

Drawing from her own journey as a writer and teacher, Louise will discuss how sensory detail can unlock memory and bring the past to life. How does the wooden chair feel on your back? How does the smell of a bakery bring back a childhood memory of eating a chocolate éclair? She’ll share how to write scenes that draw readers into a particular moment rather than simply recount what happened, and how to navigate shifts in time while creating the real people in our lives as full, complicated characters on the page. She will also explore one of memoir's most essential questions: What is the story that keeps returning to you and asking to be told?

Louise will offer practical guidance for developing a writing practice, read a short excerpt from her work, and reflect on the power and magic of language. Whether you're already writing memoir or wondering how to begin, this presentation will offer tools for discovering and crafting the unique story only you can tell. 

Saturday, October 10th, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave, Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Louise Nayer is the author of six books, including two memoirs, two books of poetry, and one about the emotional journey of retirement. Burned: A Memoir was named an Oprah Great Read, and her latest memoir, Narrow Escapes, chronicles her journeys as a young woman. She is currently working on a novel. An educator for more than 50 years and the recipient of six California Arts Council grants, Louise is a member of The Writers Grotto in San Francisco.

http://www.louisenayer.com