Personal Essay In Progress: Online

Class Description

This online workshop is designed for writers working on a variety of personal essay projects who want to receive regular feedback on them in a supportive and constructively critical environment. Each week, three to five students will post a draft of an essay to receive feedback from the entire class. In order to better focus on our own writing, and because the best way to learn how to improve our own work is to give feedback to others’ work, reading will largely be limited to each other’s essays. Brief readings of exemplary essays and craft essays, by such authors as Brenda Miller, Jaquira Diaz, Roxane Gay, Tim Bascom, Judith Barrington, and others, coupled with video craft lectures and discussion, will explore topics such as narrative modes, form and structure, character, using time, and voice. Weekly exercises will help you practice the techniques we learn in class, and explore solutions to common challenges and craft issues. Depending on enrollment, each student should expect to be workshopped at least three times (one which being a revision of a previously workshopped essay). The instructor will offer brief feedback on each essay draft, and more detailed feedback on a revised draft of any single essay. You’ll come away from the class with fresh perspective on your essays, progress towards revision, and a better understanding of craft issues you might need to focus on. This class is best for intermediate and advanced students with more than one personal essay already in the works.

*NOTE that while our handy dandy "Schedule" tab states a 6-7pm class time, there are actually no live meetings for this class! Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink, our online class platform, before 5pm on the first day of class.

Scholarship Information

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.