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  • Workshop
  • Online: Zoom
  • Adult (18+)
  • 8 Weeks

Developing Your Personal Essay

No Longer Enrolling

  • $540.00 Non-Member
  • $520.00 Member

Class Description

This workshop is designed for essay writers who are already working on personal essay projects and want to receive feedback in a supportive and constructively critical environment. The class will include in-depth workshops of student writing, discussions on the art and craft of the personal essay, and readings of exemplary works in the genre, including but not limited to pieces by Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Gabby Rivera, David Sedaris, and Jo Ann Beard. In-class writing prompts will allow students to try their hand at different elements of personal essay writing. Over the course of the class, each student will read from their essay in each class and will get to have 1 – 2 essays workshopped. The instructor will also provide written feedback on all work submitted by each week’s deadline.

Since the content of personal essays often reflect intimate issues, controversial views, and real-life situations, we will ensure that conversations around the work and its content takes place in a safe, supportive, and respectful space.

Please note: Class will not meet Monday, April 15th.

Scholarships Format/Location

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Zoom Participation:

Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.

Zoom Accessibility:

We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!