6 Weeks, 3 Essays

Class Description

Sometimes the smallest moment—or the shortest essay—holds the greatest revelation. But when it comes to writing about our lives and the wider world, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This course is for writers who are ready to produce new essays, but need the inspiration and accountability to get started. Here, you will have one goal: to write and develop three essay drafts in the space of six weeks.

Each week, we’ll explore a new route down which you can generate fresh material—conviction, observation, recollection, research, and confusion. For instruction and inspiration, we will read and discuss published work from authors like Phillip Lopate, Brit Bennett, Annie Dillard and Krys Malcolm Belc. In the first part of our course, you will write drafts of three new essays, and share generative feedback with your classmates. You will then revise one of these essays and submit it for a more in-depth workshop discussion. You will come out of the course with three new drafts, and at least one polished revision, as well as the insight and craft tools to continue writing and revising.

Class Format

This is an Online: On-Demand class that will take place on our asynchronous online learning platform, Wet.Ink. Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink before 5pm on the first day of class! All video lectures for Online: On-Demand courses have closed captioning available. To enable, click "cc" on the toolbar of each video lecture.

*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.

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