Tanja Pajevic
Memoir Mastery
A Step-by-Step Program to Reclaim Your Story, Create an Engaging Memoir, and Empower Yourself in the Process
What if writing your memoir was easier, more empowering, and more fun?
By the time they find me, many of my clients feel discouraged by the memoir-writing process.
Some are stuck. Others are overwhelmed.
Many have been shut down by misguided workshop feedback, while others are hesitant to re-engage with the traumatic events in their writing.
Some struggle with starting their book. Others circle around organization and structure.
And yet, they're not ready to give up.
Their memoir is still calling them.
They're ready to share their wisdom with the world, but they're not sure how to move forward. How to reignite their vision.
I'm here to help.
Because there’s someone out there – right now – who needs your wisdom.
Someone who needs your story.
Someone who is waiting for it.
Hi, I'm Tanja Pajevic, memoir book coach and author of The Secret Life of Grief, winner of the Nautilus Silver Book Award.
For the past 20+ years, I've helped people write their stories. These days, I almost exclusively write and teach memoir and I absolutely love it.
Because true stories are powerful.
They inspire us on a deeply personal level. As Brené Brown says, we’re hardwired for story.
It’s how we learn.
Your story can change lives!
But first, you need to write it.
If you're ready to reclaim your story, write an engaging memoir, and empower yourself in the process, I'd be honored to be your guide.
Your Story Matters
In this 8-week course, you’ll go from feeling alone, stuck, confused and overwhelmed to empowered in your vision for your memoir, aligned in your strategy, and deeply supported in the memoir process.
With 6 online modules, 8 live coaching calls and a kind and supportive community, you’ll receive plenty of support for your memoir as well as gentle and compassionate support for your mind, body and soul.
Together, we'll empower you with strategic support based on YOUR vision and aligned with YOUR goals.
Because your story matters.
And the world needs your gifts now more than ever!
What you'll learn:
Module 1: Anchoring in the 10,000 Foot View
In this module, we’ll dive into the heart of your story, ensuring you’re created a strong foundation for a successful memoir. Then we’ll ground you in the mind and body tools you need for support and safety as you're writing—keys to reaching the finish line.
Module 2: Crystallizing Your Vision
What to include in your memoir and what to leave out? We can’t do your story justice if we cram in too much! In this module, we’ll address the most important questions you need to answer to shape a compelling story that aligns with YOUR vision and goals.
Module 3: Engaging Your Reader
We’ll learn the science of story, the elements your memoir absolutely must have, and discuss narrative arc structures. Because if your reader doesn't keep turning the pages, you've lost your chance at making an impact!
Module 4: Creating Your Road Map
Time to pull it all together and create your book’s road map. I'll show you how to organize your materials so that you can write a powerful memoir AND finish it. I'll also lead you through a simple (but powerful) visualization to tap into your own wisdom--so you can follow the path that’s right for you.
Module 5: Strengthening Your Manuscript
In this module, I’ll teach you what I look for when I do a developmental edit, then we’ll spend two weeks doing developmental reviews of our manuscripts as a group in order to strengthen and streamline your memoir and save you months of writing your way into dead-ends.
Module 6: Creating an Architecture for Success
We'll celebrate your progress, then wrap up by creating an architecture for success. You'll know exactly what kind of support you need as you move forward with your memoir, and what to do when you get stuck.
What past students have said about my offerings:
"I joined [your course] because I didn’t know how to organize or outline my memoir with its long time span and complexity of what I’d like to convey. Your helpful teachings about finding and listing the scenes that move the story forward in keeping with its theme were priceless to me. Also the group energy, and your insightful feedback to the other students, made the information ‘click’ for me. And I appreciate your acceptance of my unique vision for a book. I found you to be honest and aligned with your words, so I knew I could trust your encouragement as being genuine."
Jeane Manning
"I will recommend this course to friends who are working on memoir because of the high level of professionalism and skill it brings to the work of students. I was educated, inspired, supported and encouraged. I came to the course because my memoir has gone through several revisions but is still not doing what it needs to do to work. Now I have direction and focus to move forward. I think the material, organization, and presentation...course design...were excellent because I saw the interconnectedness between all modules and benefited from the progress built in. The only problem is that the course ends, but that is remedied by the availability of the modules and the offer of future courses....you are a wonderful teacher."
Grace Gibbons
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"This amazing course has given me the courage and inspiration to get on with my memoir. The whole set up is unique, especially since there are videos for each segment .... and then you get to ask questions in a group setting for each module. The use of wonderful examples from other memoirs got me steeped in the literature. Tanja is a wonderful teacher!"
A.M.H.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"[The course offered] camaraderie that is supportive, loving and gentle. The generosity of the other attendees and mutual support of one another’s projects creates a true wonderful community."
"I’m still just over the moon with how much I learned in one day from you. Every single detail of the class was perfect – from listing a story’s “big rocks” down to scanning the room for tigers ...You are an absolutely amazing teacher ... I’m just really, really, really grateful that I didn’t go one more year without taking your class."
K.T.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Thank you! I was so alone as a writer - the community and having a place to ask questions of other writers (not just friends and family) was so helpful. Your input and experience was so valuable!"
"Tanja has a gift for creating a supportive community."
Christine Tracy
"I'm so glad I found the course! It was worth every penny!
Thank you."
Safety, structure and self-care is the fastest and most enjoyable path to writing a memoir your reader can't put down.
As a memoir book coach, I can always tell when someone’s written their way into the story -- there's so much that has to be cut, reorganized and rewritten.
It’s never fun to suggest a major revision -- especially when someone thinks they’re close to the finish line.
That's why we start with the big picture.
Because creating the right structure for your book will save you time, money and frustration.
Plus, when you have a strategy that aligns with YOUR vision for your book, it’s much easier to write a book that keeps your reader engaged.
And it’s a whole lot more enjoyable.
From there, we get clear on what belongs (as well as what doesn’t), shaping your manuscript in a way that captures your reader.
Because if you lose your reader, you've lost your chance at making an impact!
Last, but absolutely not least, we delve into tools that support your mind, body and soul.
Because when you're writing about your life, it's easy to stir up old memories and reignite trauma that’s stored in the body. And without the right support, we can inadvertently shut ourselves down.
Sometimes this shows up as your inner critic getting louder. Maybe you find yourself procrastinating. Or giving up on your project altogether.
This is the not-so-pretty side of writing memoir. And it’s why creating a safe container for your writing is so important.
Because when you can create a safe container for your writing, everything is So. Much. Easier.
That’s why we'll teach you how to work WITH your mind, body and soul, not against them.
Because forcing yourself to write isn’t going to help you finish your memoir. But safety, self-care and compassion will.
Plus, when you work WITH your body and mind as you’re writing, you increase your confidence. And you learn to trust yourself again.
Writing -- and finishing -- a book is an incredible rewarding experience.
But it's also an incredibly empowering experience on the personal level.
Throughout the memoir-writing process, I see my clients become more confident in themselves as well as their memoir.
They become someone who speaks up and tells their story.
Who believes in themselves again. Who follows through on their dreams.
Someone who makes a difference.
And that, my friend, is magical.
Registration is now closed.
Click here to be added to the priority waitlist -- you'll be the first to know when the next cohort opens!
Pay over 3 months
- All video training
- All supporting PDFs and downloads
- Private community forum for Q&A and support
- 8 live group coaching calls
- All bonuses
$ month
Pay in full
- All video training
- All supporting PDFs and downloads
- Private community forum for Q&A and support
- 8 live group coaching calls
- All bonuses
$ pay-in-full
How the course works:
Memoir Mastery is a unique blend of strategic support based on YOUR vision for your memoir and aligned with YOUR goals.
Combine that with plenty of support for your mind, body and soul so you can stay healthy and whole -- AND reach the finish line.
That's why I’ve built the following pieces into this course:
- 6 online modules broken into bite-sized steps, with video trainings and supporting PDFs accessible to you for the lifetime of the course.
- 8 live group coaching calls (we'll meet on Zoom, and all calls will be recorded in case you're unable to make it).
- Private forum for Q&A, support and accountability.
- PLUS a bonus training covering the common concerns we face when writing about our lives, such as "What will my family think?" and "Can so-and-so sue me? "
- PLUS a bonus training to help you set up a writing schedule that works for your real, full, human-scale life (instead of some idealized version of yourself).
FAQs
Who is Memoir Mastery for?
Memoir Mastery is for you if you're willing to show up, be present, and support yourself and your fellow writers (even if you don't feel comfortable calling yourself a writer yet!).
Although I'm here to guide you, I don’t have all the answers. This program will be most effective for those who have a growth mindset and are open to inspiration, exploration and change (rather than a fixed mindset, which tends to keep folks stuck and defensive.) Writing memoir is deep and sacred work, and the process often includes everything from exploration and play to tears and laughter.
This isn't the program for you if you're looking for a generative writing course. Although we have exercises designed to pinpoint the heart of your story, the bulk of our time will not be devoted to writing prompts and free writes.
This program isn't for you if you're looking for a magic bullet or assurance your memoir will end up on The New York Times Bestseller list.
How is this course different from your other courses?
Although I've offered Memoir Mastery before, this is a new and improved version that combines the best of my three courses: the original Memoir Mastery course, the Navigating the Messy Middle course, and the How to Do a Developmental Edit workshop. I've boiled those offerings down to a small group interactive experience designed to get you to the finish line with lots of support for your mind, body and soul.
Our new, streamlined approach will be focused on creating a structure that aligns with YOUR vision and goals (vs. outside feedback) while creating safety for your mind, body and soul -- all within a kind and supportive group environment.
Will this course still be helpful if I've taken a previous version of Memoir Mastery?
Yes! The memoir-writing process is complex, and you're likely ready for a different level of support than you were in the past.
Plus, the developmental review process is a unique addition that's worth the investment alone. It's one of the unique aspects of what I teach, and something previous clients have raved about. The dev review is an empowering process designed to help you suss out what's working in your manuscript and what's not, so that you can course-correct. And it's all aligned with YOUR vision, so that you can revise or restructure your memoir in a way that feels good to you. Plus, you can use this system again for future projects.
Last but not last, there's a much deeper level of mind and body support in this offering. That's one of the reasons I'm limiting this cohort to 8 writers -- I've found that size is my sweet spot for creating a magically supportive community and ensuring you make consistent progress.
What if I'm a newbie?
If you're just starting out with your memoir, this program will help you build a strong foundation more quickly and easily, which will save you oodles of time, money and frustration in the long run. One of the reasons I've created this offering is because I've spent too many years watching writers struggle a full-length memoir. And it's brutal when a writer realizes they have to restructure their entire book -- especially when they thought they were close to the finish line. I created this offering to streamline the process and save you from that heartache.
Memoir Mastery is a program that meets you where you're at. And you'll have lifetime access to the materials, so you can always come back and revisit the more advanced concepts when you're ready for them.
*Note: This will be my first time teaching this program in this specific format. As such, I'll be regularly asking for your feedback. If needed, we may course-correct as we go. As part of this exchange, this will likely be the only time I offer this course at the current price.
*Note: We'll only run the program with at least five students, and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event we don't have a minimum number of writers, you'll receive a full refund.
How will the content be delivered and what will it include?
Memoir Mastery is a hybrid offering, with a mix of live and recorded elements. The teachings will be available to you in video, audio and PDF format in our private learning platform.
Each week, you'll receive a new module. From there, we'll use the discussion forum for accountability and support. I'll also host 8 live coaching calls during our time together so that we can work through your challenges in real time.
If you're unable to join us live, you can always send me your question in advance. All calls will be recorded and available to you within 24 hours.
What's the schedule for the live calls?
Calls are 1 hour and 15 minutes in length and will meet on Tuesdays from 1:00 - 2:15 pm MT/ 3:00 - 4:15 pm ET. All calls are on Zoom.
Our first official call will be on Tuesday, October 1st.
We'll meet for 8 consecutive weeks, with our final call on Tuesday, November 19th.
What if I have a schedule conflict?
You'll be able to send in your questions in advance if you can't make a call. The live calls will be recorded and available to you within 24 hours.
Also, the course will remain available to you for the lifetime of the course) so you can always revisit the materials at a time that's right for you.
What if this brings up a lot of uncomfortable emotions?
Although I offer trauma-informed teachings to help make this a safe process, I’m a writer and teacher, not a trained therapist.
If you find yourself needing additional support during our time together, please reach out to a therapist or other trained professional.
Why is this so expensive?
First of all, I understand your concern, especially within the current economy!
For context, it might help to clarify that this isn’t a course – it’s a book program. Memoir Mastery is a holistic program designed to help you clarify, structure and strengthen your memoir in order to create a compelling and engaging book for your reader. Plus, we provide you with deep support for your mind and body as you’re writing. All in all, the program designed to empower you in the story-writing process and get you to the finish line.
If you compare this to similar programs, you’ll find that the actually pretty dang low.
For instance, a lot of folks rely on writing workshops to make progress on their books. An 8-week workshop will run somewhere in the neighborhood of $350-$650. However, workshops are NOT designed to help you write a full-length book! And while they’re certainly helpful if you’re looking for feedback on 20-40 pages, a workshop won’t teach you book structure, much less offer the additional support you’ll need to get to the finish line.
Forgive me for being blunt, but this is something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. How many workshops have you taken in the past? Did they get you any closer to your finished book?
On the other end of the spectrum are programs designed to help you write your book. For example, some literary communities offer 2-year book programs that run $8000+ a year ($16K total).
Going back to school to get your MFA, meanwhile, will cost you between $24,000 to $73,000.
I don’t think you should have to spend that amount of time or money if you want to write a book!
Memoir Mastery is offered at a much lower price because I want to make this as affordable to as many folks as I can.
A big part of my mission is to empower women and help them reclaim their story. Full stop.
It’s also to help them share that story, if they so choose.
Do you offer refunds?
I fully believe in the value of this program. However, your success in this program also depends on your willingness to show up and engage with the materials.
As such, if you join the program, show up to every live session, do the exercises, submit your completed materials and worksheets, and still feel like you haven't made progress with your memoir, you'll receive a full refund. Requests must be submitted within 5 days of the completion of the program.
This is meant to help encourage you to make a clear-eyed decision v. hoping for a magic bullet. Part of our work together will be to create a safe container for ourselves and our projects, so please consider your commitment level before registering.
*Note: it's common for fear to arise when we consider committing (or recommitting) to our memoir. If you're unsure whether or not this offering is for you, take a few minutes to check in with your inner wisdom.
Any other questions?
Email me at info@tanjapajevic.com and I'll get back to you within 48 business hours!
Your story matters
And the world needs your wisdom now more than ever.
I'd be honored to help you tell it!
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