Open Letter Journaling: Elinore Pruitt Stewart

Class Description

In 1920, Elinore Pruitt Stewart was famous across the US for her stories of building a life in the Great Plains of Wyoming. The “Woman Homesteader’s” letters to Juliet Coney were published first in The Atlantic Monthly, then compiled into the books that served as inspiration for the film Heartland. Stewart’s stories are beloved for their chatty, humorous writing style and historical value. They’re also fascinating as an example of how the letter format can be used to build a stronger journaling practice, and to unlock wider publishing potential for personal experiences.

In this 3-hour seminar, you’ll learn about Elinore Pruitt Stewart, read sections of her writing, and participate in in-class writing exercises to design your own letter-based projects. You’ll leave with tools to upgrade your journaling practice and collect new material for future writing.

Class Format

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!

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.