---

The personal essay is perhaps the oldest form of nonfiction prose, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. Thought by some to be antiquated and mouldy, the personal essay is instead a wonderfully flexible and creative form, as alive and inventive as the writer wishes it to be. More than memoir, but able to include elements of one’s own life experience, the personal essay remains an ideal vehicle for satisfying the human urge to not just live year to year, but to capture a bit of our experience, to produce an enduring record of our better thoughts.

Much of what you learned in school—essays must be five paragraphs long, essays must constantly announce their topic, essays must be academic, written in formal, stilted language—is wrong. The essay is not a tedious freight train full of dreary thesis sentences, mind-numbing citations, and predictably stale conclusions: the essay is flexible, fun, and fascinating, formed from sentences that are graceful, wise, and surprising.

What is an essay? Just this: the personal essayist takes a topic—virtually any topic under the big yellow sun—and holds it up to the bright light, turning it this way and that, upside and down, studying every perspective, fault, and reflection, in an artful attempt to perceive something fresh and significant. But it is always an effort, a trial, an assay, not a lecture or diatribe. In the hands of contemporary practitioners such as Rebecca Solnit and Roxane Gay, the personal essay at its best is an idiosyncratic combination of the author’s discrete sensibilities and the endless possibilities of meaning and connection.

In this 1-hour class, noted essayist and editor Dinty W. Moore will guide you through examples of the myriad forms that an essay can take, will survey the infinite range of possible topics, and will leave you with useful prompts to help you determine your own essayistic opportunities. You will learn:

• How the essay fits into contemporary literary publishing
• How understanding the flexibility of the essay form can help with “stuckness”
• The difference between a “private” essay and a “public” essay
• The role of research (and how it can be more fun than chore)
• What it means to “write what you don’t know”
• Examples of the book-length essay
• How to find the best markets (literary magazines and beyond)

Who this class is for

• Nonfiction writers who want to expand their skill sets and opportunities
• Writers looking for new ideas and new topics for essays
• Writers of memoir who feel “stuck”
• Writers who wouldn’t mind getting paid every once in a while
• Curious minds

Who this class is not for

• Children’s writers who want to write essays for children (any age)
• Anyone seeking fiction-writing advice
• People seeking book-length writing advice (this class is about short works or essays, not book-length memoir)
• People interested in a business-oriented class, with a focus on pitching and getting paid

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
• Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
• Fee: $25

The webinar is broadcast via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate. We also use Otter AI to generate an unedited transcript, provided with the recording.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class. After roughly 45-60 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 60-75 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
• Supplementary handouts with tips for finding your topic and your personal hook; a list of available markets (literary and commercial); and writing prompts to get you started with fresh ideas and innovative approaches.
• Rough transcript. We use Otter to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.