More than memories: Copyediting memoir and creating connection

3.05pm – 4pm BST, 12 September 2026 ‐ 55 mins

Session 4 – breakout (running concurrently)

I’ve been a memoir cynic, but I’m now a devotee of the genre, and I’ll make the case for the power of memoir, especially in our changing times: authentic human experience cannot be mimicked or synthesized. 

My core value, inspired by EM Forster, is ‘only connect’. A memoir author creates deep connection through their storytelling. They discover connective threads in their life as they craft a narrative, but that narrative also holds the potential for readers to connect more deeply to their own stories. Being a trusted adviser to a memoirist means I honour that potential and handle the memoirist’s story with care and compassion. 

If you’re new to copyediting, join me to learn what distinguishes memoir as a genre, and gain insights into other editors’ approaches to a text and to querying. 

If you’re working in other genres, this session will also be relevant to anyone who wants to consider their role as a trusted adviser when working directly with authors. 

If you’re already working with memoirists, this session is an opportunity to connect with other enthusiastic professionals, learn from their approaches, and contribute your own insights. 

The session will include:  

• the case for memoir as a powerful source of connection 
• the challenges of line editing and copyediting memoir to deliver excellent prose while connecting with a memoirist’s story, voice, and ambition 
• case studies with short extracts of memoir, including a live editing session to discuss approaches to editing and querying that foster a positive relationship as trusted advisers. 
• time for questions and delegate sharing.

Speakers

Catriona Turner

Find out more

×

Catriona Turner

Catriona Turner has been copyediting fiction and memoir for indie authors for about eight years in her business The Word Bothy. Her clients include first-time writers and successful career authors. She's also a writer and memoirist. She has worked on fiction with the Faber Academy, and published her debut ‘Nest: a memoir of home on the move’ in 2023. 

She spent a decade as an English teacher in Scottish secondary schools until she moved abroad with her family, when she took the opportunity to create a freelance career. She has been a member of the CIEP since 2021. 

Since returning to Aberdeen, she has continued to write and work with clients, while building experience as a speaker and organising author events. Her TEDx talk ‘Find Your Main Character Energy’ is available to watch on YouTube.