Map Your Memoir:

A guided approach to find the heart of your memoir and the clarity to write forward.  

You’re writing a memoir, but…

  • When you tell others what your memoir is about, you ramble on and on, feeling like it’s not coming out right

  • You know you need to hook readers from the right starting point, but your opening is missing that spark.

  • You’ve got pages of backstory, and no idea how to weave it in without derailing the narrative.

  • Your memoir lacks interiority—it feels thin because readers can’t really feel your inner world.

  • You sense structural issues (arcs, stakes, conflict, themes), but can’t see the path forward.

  • You’re writing toward infinity. You don’t know where your story ends because life keeps going on.

  • You’ve written a whole draft and gone over and over it but…something just isn’t working.

If so, keep scrolling!

“Map Your Memoir was exactly what I needed to make fast progress on my manuscript. It feels like many years of work condensed into a short few months.”

~NATASHA BUFFO

The Memoir Map Can Help. Here’s How:

  1. You’ll simplify what your story is about

You’ve probably heard that memoir is about one thing, but it’s really about another thing. I like to call these things the external and internal stories. This course will help you identify both.

2. You’ll pinpoint your true beginning

Learn to find the right opening scene—the one that hooks, sets tone, and draws readers in. No more diluted or meandering starts.

3. You’ll develop depth through interiority

Go beyond events—share your inner landscape, reflections, revelations. This is what makes memoir compelling!

4. You’ll identify—then fill—the gaps

Use the workbook to map out where the story falters: missing arcs, flat climaxes, plot inconsistencies, etc. Then plug them with intention.

5. You’ll discover the best structure for your story

Structure is like the container for your story. You’ll figure out how to best organize and present your content for your target readers.

6. You’ll create a simple story outline

Don’t worry. This process does NOT ask you to create a detailed outline of all your plot points or to spend hours writing and rearranging sticky notes on a whiteboard. It will help you create a super simple outline that shapes your arc, creates narrative drive, and gives you a clear road map for how to write forward.

memoir course

“The Map Your Memoir process really helped me to dig deep into the heart of my story, uncover my motivation for writing it, and reveal the gaps in my narrative, including ideas for best opening and closing scenes.”

~WILEY WEI-CHIUN HO

When you Map Your Memoir with Jessica, you’ll walk away with:

  • Clarity on what your book is about (and what it’s really about)

  • A solid structure and story arc so you can finally know what to include and what to leave out

  • A simple scene outline that actually resonates with readers and offers a clear path for how to write forward

  • Renewed motivation and commitment to your goal of writing (and publishing) your memoir.

memoir course

Don’t just take my word for it. Take theirs…

  • "I have clarity on how to move forward with my manuscript."

    ~KATHRYN VIGNESS

  • "I now have a clearer idea of what the purpose of my memoir is."

    ~BRITTANY JAMES

  • "Jessica is a master at this process."

    ~LESLIE B. SCOTT

  • "I've only just started, but already your course has been more helpful and insightful than other courses have been in their entirety.”

    ~SUNDAY DUTRO

Ready to get unstuck?

When you sign up to Map Your Memoir with Jessica, you get:

  • The complete Memoir Map Workbook + answer sheet

  • Personalized editorial feedback on your Memoir Map

  • One 90-minute Zoom session with Jessica to gain even more clarity on your story, and discuss next steps for how to write forward

$750 USD