Developing Your Personal Essay - Remote!

This workshop is designed for intermediate and advanced essay writers who are already working on personal essay projects and want to receive regular 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 Zadie Smith, Alexander Chee, Jerald Walker, and Helen Macdonald. 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 submit work 2-3 times (depending on enrollment) and receive written and verbal feedback in an in-depth workshop; by the end of the course, students will have received detailed feedback from the instructor and fellow students on at least two excerpts or complete essays to guide their drafts towards revision. Note: 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 does not meet January 26th.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! 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 via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

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.

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