Julie Stafford
MEMOIR IN MARRAKECH RETREAT
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
— Maya Angelou
You're invited...
Join me in my favourite Marrakech garden for a five-day memoir writing experience unlike any other.
Whether you are a complete beginner with a story that has been quietly biding its time or a seasoned writer seeking fresh inspiration, my five-day memoir writing experience is designed to help you transform your memories into a meaningful, compelling story.
But this is far more than a writing retreat.
It is an immersion into one of the world's most intoxicating cultures. Over 5 days (6 hours per day), we will explore your dream of bringing your story to life and onto the page, crafting your memoir.
Beyond our outdoor classroom, Marrakech becomes part of the creative process itself—a city of vibrant colours, ancient traditions, hidden courtyards, fragrant spices, rooftop sunsets and stories waiting around every corner.
Together, we will recall, reflect, discover, create and write.
You will leave with new skills, fresh confidence, lifelong friendships, and the beginnings of a memoir only you can write.
Come and let Marrakech awaken your senses—and your story.
Memoir in Marrakech
is a 5-day memoir writing experience for passionate writers, founded by Julie Stafford,
author of the famous 'Taste of Life' cookbook series that sold over 2.2million copies worldwide,
and three memoirs ...
'The Seagull'
'Seagulls on the Ganges'
&
'Becoming Solo'
the seagull
memoir
Seagulls on the Ganges
fictional memoir
BECOMING SOLO
memoir
Memoir ...
A memoir is not simply the recording of events. It is the art of discovering meaning within a life. It is the process of looking back and understanding how the experiences that shaped us became the story we now carry.
Every memoir begins with a journey.
Sometimes it takes us back through memory.
Sometimes that journey takes us across continents.
And sometimes, if we are fortunate, it does both.
For me, it was both.
Of all the destinations I have travelled to throughout the world, few have captivated me quite like Morocco. I have travelled more than 30,500 kilometres through this extraordinary country, from the blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen to the windswept Atlantic coast of Essaouira, from the ancient medinas of Fez to the golden dunes of the Sahara. Yet it is Marrakech that continues to call me back. And it is Marrakech where we will come together to explore the genre of memoir writing and how you can bring your story to life on the page.
Why Marrakech?
There is something about this city that awakens the storyteller.
Perhaps it is the rose-coloured walls glowing beneath the late afternoon sun. Perhaps it is the distant call to prayer floating across rooftops at dusk. Perhaps it is the scent of orange blossom, cedarwood and spices drifting through hidden riads. Or perhaps it is because Marrakech sits at the crossroads of so many stories—Berber, Arab, African, European, ancient and modern—all woven together into one magnificent tapestry.
Marrakech invites us to slow down.
To observe.
To listen.
To remember.
And these are precisely the qualities required to write a memoir.
I cannot imagine a more inspiring place to undertake that journey than in Marrakech. Each morning, we will gather within the peaceful sanctuary, far removed from the noise and distractions of everyday life. Beneath carved archways and beside tranquil courtyards, we will explore the memories, moments, people and experiences that deserve a place on your page.
Beyond our writing sessions, Marrakech itself becomes part of the experience. Its colours, sounds, textures and rhythms remind us of something many of us have forgotten in our busy lives—the importance of paying attention. Writers are observers. Storytellers notice what others overlook. Marrakech teaches us how to see again.
What to expect ...
This writing experience is about more than learning how to write a book. It is about stepping away from the demands of everyday life and giving yourself permission to explore your story.
To honour it.
To shape it.
And perhaps, in the process, to discover something new about yourself.
I would be honoured to help you begin your journey to transform your memories into a memoir only you can write. Because your story matters. And perhaps its first chapter begins here.
Extend your time in Morocco ...
And for those who choose to extend their adventure, Morocco offers even more. I have travelled to Morocco many times. Travelled more than 35,000km across the country. Stayed in riads and hotels and even glamped under the stars in the heart of the Sahara. I have built relationships with trusted providers and will be happy to help you build an off-the-beaten-track Morocco discovery program, either before your 5-Day Memoir Writing in Marrakech begins or afterwards.
The majestic Atlas Mountains rise like guardians beyond the city.
Ancient kasbahs cling to rocky hillsides.
Palm-filled valleys cut through dramatic landscapes.
And beyond them all lies the Sahara Desert—a place that has captured my heart more profoundly than almost anywhere else on earth.
There is something deeply humbling about standing atop a dune at sunset, watching the colours shift across an endless sea of sand. The desert has a way of stripping away noise and revealing what truly matters. It reminds us of the power of stillness, reflection and perspective—all essential companions on the memoir journey.
THE PROGRAM
5 DAYS MEMOIR WRITING IN MARRAKECH
6 hrs per day, plus 1 hr lunch break
(30 hrs intensive memoir writing with Julie)
(different starting times each day to fit the group's sightseeing schedules)
-
Choose your own accommodation in Marrakech (we can help you decide)
-
Airport Transfers to your accommodation
-
Welcome to Morocco Show & drinks (first night)
-
Different daily writing locations
-
1 Day in Essaouira
-
1 Cooking Class
-
5 x lunches
-
Drinks and Discussion to finish each day
COST
$5,970 per person
Early bird special $5,555 (paid before September 1, 2026)
DAY 1
Pitch your story
Session 1
What is your story?
Who is your audience? Why?
What is its beginning, arc, and ending?
Identifying the transformation at the heart of your story
Exercise:
Every memoir begins with a life event. What's yours?
Session 2
What is your memoir's emotional power?
Identifying the emotional promise to readers: readers don't simply want to know what happened; they want to know why it happened. They want to know why it mattered.
Exercise:
Write your memoir in one sentence
Session 3
Creating your life timeline
Identifying defining moments
Discovering recurring patterns
Mining memory for story gold
Exercise:
The moments that shaped me.
Session 4
Showing versus telling
Exercise:
Write your first pivotal scene.
"Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open."— Natalie Goldberg
DAY 2
Building a Memoir Readers Can't Put Down
Session 1
Structure Is Everything
The memoir journey
Beginning, middle and end
The transformational arc
Why readers turn pages
Exercise:
Mapping your transformation.
Session 2
Creating Powerful Scenes
• Scene construction
• Dialogue
• Tension
• Emotional movement
Exercise:
Write a scene from your story using dialogue.
Session 3
Character Development
• Writing yourself honestly
• Writing family members fairly
• Villains, heroes and complexity
• Creating believable people
Exercise:
Building your memoir cast.
Session 4
Finding Your Voice
Which author is most like your voice?
• Authentic voice
• Vulnerability
• Humour/Sadness
• Wisdom without preaching
Exercise:
Write the same story three different ways.
"We write memoir not to relive the past, but to understand how it shaped the person we became."— Julie Stafford
DAY 3
Turning Memory into Meaning
Session 1
Writing the Difficult Parts
• Loss/Love
• Trauma
• Shame
• Family conflict
Exercise:
Writing safely and truthfully.
Session 2
Finding Meaning
• Reflection versus storytelling
• The wisdom layer
• Why your story matters
Exercise:
What did this experience teach me?
Session 3
Creating Emotional Connection
• Universal themes
• Making readers care
• Building empathy
• Emotional pacing
Exercise:
The scene readers will never forget.
Session 4
AI for Memoir Writers
• Research assistant
• Writing coach
• Developmental editor
• Memory prompt generator
Exercise:
Building your personal AI writing partner.
"The past beats inside me like a second heart."— John Banville
DAY 4
Writing Your Book
Session 1
Creating Your Chapter Structure
• Chapter design
• Sequencing
• Momentum
• Story flow
Exercise:
Build your chapter roadmap.
Session 2
Writing a Powerful Beginning
• Hooks
• Prologues
• First chapters
• Opening promises
Exercise:
Draft your opening.
Session 3
Writing a Memorable Ending
• Resolution
• Transformation
• Full circle moments
• Lasting impact
Exercise:
Write your final chapter first.
Session 4
Guided Writing Studio
Dedicated writing time with coaching and feedback.
Participants begin writing their memoir opening chapters.
"Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us."— Oscar Wilde
DAY 5
From Manuscript to Published Book
Session 1
Editing Like a Professional
• Self-editing
• Common mistakes
• Strengthening scenes
• Tightening language
Exercise:
Edit your opening chapter.
Session 2
Feedback and Critique
• Giving feedback
• Receiving feedback
• Strengthening confidence
Participants share excerpts.
Session 3
Publishing in 2026
• Traditional publishing
• Self-publishing
• Print-on-demand
• Audiobooks
• Building an author platform
Exercise:
Create your publishing pathway.
Session 4
The Next Chapter
• Creating a writing plan
• Staying motivated
• Building a memoir practice
Each participant presents: "My Memoir in One Minute"
Closing Reflection:
Your story is no longer hidden.
It has begun.
"Every life contains a story worth telling. A memoir is simply the moment we become brave enough to tell it."— Julie Stafford
Five days ... One Extraordinary Story ... Your Story
JULIE'S MOROCCO PHOTO GALLERY
