Class Description
Whether you’ve always known you wanted to write an essay or collection, or are just sitting on a pile of half-formed ideas, this six-week class is designed to help you start setting your project in motion. Together, we’ll explore how individual essays can stand alone while also speaking to one another—through voice, theme, form, or some invisible thread you may only discover through the writing itself.
Each week, we’ll read published essays that illuminate different approaches to the form and engage with generative prompts designed to help you write toward multiple pieces. Along the way, we’ll discuss strategies for uncovering the questions that drive your essays, balancing scene and reflection, and developing the connective tissue that can transform a group of essays into something cohesive.
This is a generative class focused on getting words on the page—you’ll draft several new essays (or starts) and leave with a clearer sense of the themes that surface in your work, a growing body of material, and a roadmap for how to keep going. Whether your goal is a full-length collection, a series of linked essays, or simply to explore this format, this class is a great first step on your multiple essay journey.
Please note: Class does not meet on Wednesday, November 26th.
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 using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.