Class Description
Sometimes the smallest moment — or the shortest essay — holds the greatest revelation. In this generative class, you’ll explore the many forms of the personal essay by writing up to six personal essays between 500 and 1,000 words. By writing in a shorter format, you’ll learn to write quickly, generate a lot of material, and heighten your storytelling skills and your understanding of the essay genre.
Each week, you’ll write a new essay (sometimes in class, sometimes at home) in response to a prompt that will experiment with subject matter, focus, voice, and especially form and structure. To illuminate craft topics and to be inspired, we’ll read and discuss a diversity of essay from yesterday and today---narrative essays; lyric essays (ranging from fragmented, flash, braided and hermit crab forms); and topical/timely commentary-style essays---from writers such as Ira Sukrungruarg, Neema Avashia, Brian Doyle, Gwendolyn Wallace, Ryan Van Meter, Roxane Gay, Cheryl Strayed, Annie Dillard, Brenda Miller, Joan Didion, Virginia Woolf, Thuy Phan, George Orwell, Sabrina Imbler, Sei Shōnagon, and Michel de Montaigne.
In the workshop, the class will discuss at least two of your drafts (either in small groups or the whole class) and provide thoughtful, targeted feedback that focus on what’s working in your essays and how to strengthen and refine them. Generative in-class writing exercises will allow you to practice new craft techniques and put into practice what you're learning. By the end, you’ll leave with up to six new drafts, exposure to the many possibilities of the personal essay, and fresh insights into the writing process.
Driving to the center? For evening or weekend classes, we recommend SP+ Parking at 45 Binford Street for the most affordable parking around. It's about a 10-minute walk to GrubStreet and offers a flat rate of:
$13 after 4pm Monday-Friday
$9 all day Saturday-Sunday
Writing Roadmap: We've created a simple, goal-based writing roadmap to help you find the perfect GrubStreet course for your writing needs.
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 in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.
Covid-19 Update:
GrubStreet's space will be mask-optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in person.
Space Accessibility:
Our space is ADA accessible with automatic door openers, ADA-compliant restrooms, desk and table spacing, braille signage, and elevator. Our classrooms can be equipped with ALS for hard of hearing individuals. We cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. For more accessibility requests, please contact our Operations team at [email protected] or (617) 695-0075.