Stories are Everywhere
To write a killer essay, you don’t have to look very far — your life is full of seemingly insignificant topics begging to be examined on the page. In this inspiring, generative class, we’ll investigate the ways writers touch on universal themes by exploring seemingly mundane topics such as G.K. Chesterton’s search for a piece of chalk in 1905. Through writing exercises, discussions, in-class critique, and studying examples of the form, you’ll become more comfortable wielding the essential elements of the personal essay: exposition, conflict, scene, voice, honesty, and vulnerability. By the end, you will have crafted at least one personal essay in its entirety and have ideas for scores more.
Reading list:
Virginia Woolf
Mindy Kaling
Barry Lopez
Brenda Miller
Jo Ann Beard
Nora Ephron
GK Chesterton