Bronx Memoir Project Workshop: 10 Ways to Self-Edit your Work

One of the biggest differences between a first and final draft of a memoir or fictional piece is the center of gravity. The center of gravity is the point around which your memoir revolves, the glue that holds it together, the thing without which there would be no memoir or fiction. The problem with most first drafts is that — while they may possess strong centers of gravity — the structure isn’t right. Many writers make the mistake of confusing the fruits of inspiration with structure. When brainstorming ideas for creative non-fiction and fiction, a writer usually doesn’t think about the nuts and bolts of how it will work as a finished piece. Finding your way into a story is only the first step. Once you have a strong idea upon which to hang the details of your memory and imagination, then you must begin to play with the structure, placing your center of gravity in the right place and constructing a story around it. In this workshop we will explore ten different ways in which you can make a successful transition from first draft to final draft in order to prepare a manuscript for consideration for publication.

About Orlando Ferrand (Instructor)



Orlando Ferrand is an award-winning poet, writer, literary translator, editor, publisher, and digital designer. He’s a recipient of BCA’s BRIO, SU-CASA, and the Artist in Community grants. A member of PEN America and The Authors Guild, he’s the author of the full-length poetry collections, Citywalker, La Otra Isla, and Star Witness, as well as the memoir Apologia: Cuban Childhood in My Backpack. Ferrand is a contributing writer and artist to PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers, the Visual AIDS Blog, POZ magazine, Linden Lane Magazine & Press, The Adroit Journal and La Peregrina Magazine. His featured TED talk and recital, “Underneath the Accent of My Skin,” was released in 2017. Ferrand has performed at The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, The New York Poetry Festival and The Poets Network & Exchange, Inc.

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