Writing the Self, through Others

All PEN World Voices Festival tickets are non-refundable. Please confirm the time and location of your event before finalizing your purchase.

Though memoir is an art of self-analysis, telling a personal story often involves writing about the significant relationships that have helped shape that self. How do nonfiction authors navigate the tricky terrain of writing people in their lives? How can you faithfully and ethically represent deeply personal topics—including loss, intimacy, struggling against institutions, and fraught familial bonds—that by definition involve other people? Acclaimed writers Tara Westover (Educated), Margo Jefferson (Constructing a Nervous System), and Joyce Carol Oates (Letters to a Biographer) come together to talk about their strategies for dealing with these essential questions of the writing life.

The 2024 PEN World Voices Festival, the 20th anniversary of the festival, will be a celebration of world literature and free expression. Over four days, over 100 writers from nearly 30 countries will be featured in engaging talks, panels, readings, and performances in New York City and greater Los Angeles.

Visit for more information about the entire festival, as well as PEN America.

A street level accessible entrance is located on 12th street, and restrooms are located on the ground floor.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our Box Office team at [email protected] by April 21st to request.

Please ask a Box Office Attendant or festival representative upon arrival for directions to accessible seating if preferred.

For further information on accessibility in this space, or to make a request, please contact [email protected]

While not required, per public health official guidelines, the World Voices Festival recommends being fully vaccinated, and wearing masks in all public indoor settings as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, as well as around crowds.

If you are feeling unwell, please do not come to the event. Reach out to [email protected] for assistance if you have already purchased a ticket.

We thank you for ensuring our speakers, guests and venue workers feel safe and comfortable at all World Voices Festival events. If you have questions or concerns please contact [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Church of the Village, 201 West 13th Street, New York, United States