About this Course
We write to be seen and to see the world anew. In this generative writing workshop taught by the award-winning author, journalist and essayist Kristen Millares Young, you’ll practice the art of crafting a compelling personal essay. You’ll master the steps toward becoming a published essayist, including how to generate ideas, develop drafts, offer and receive constructive feedback, revise your own work, pitch and submit to editors, and build and sustain a writing community.
We’ll read and discuss essays by Elissa Washuta, Melissa Febos, Ada Calhoun, Jane Wong, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Gloria AnzaldĂșa, Audre Lorde and Elizabeth Rosner. Then you’ll write in response to timed, instructor-designed prompts based on these writers’ works. You’ll leave our time together with two workshopped essays that are ready for submission.
Three accomplished guests — New York Times-recognized editor Margot Kahn Case, Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland and Welcome to the Writer’s Life author Paulette Perhach — will share their paths and expertise with you during interactive lectures and discussions.
Designed For
Those interested in writing and publishing personal essays and adding new ideas to our social discourse.
See Requirements
Admission Requirements
The course is open to anyone looking for a safe space to write and share personal essays.
Time Commitment
Including time in class, you should expect to spend about seven to nine hours each week on coursework.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have advanced English skills to enroll. To see if you qualify, make sure you are at the C1 level on the CEFR self-assessment grid. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Noncredit Programs.
International Students
International students are welcome to enroll in an online offering of this course, which doesn’t require a visa. To enroll in a classroom offering, you must have a visa that permits study in the United States. This course does not enable students to obtain or maintain F-1 visa status. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.
Technology Requirements
- Access to a computer with a recent operating system and web browser
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset and webcam (recommended)
Completing the Course
To successfully complete this course, you must fulfill the requirements outlined by your instructor.
What You’ll Learn
- How to shape a basic concept into a viable essay
- How to revise a first draft into an effective structure
- How to provide, collect and apply feedback in the revision process
- How to foster relationships with editors and pitch your work to publications
- How to publish and promote your work
Get Hands-On Experience
- Develop submittable drafts of two personal essays
- Craft pitch letters that are ready to send to editors
OUR ENROLLMENT COACHES ARE HERE TO HELP
Connect with an enrollment coach to learn more about this offering. Or if you need help finding the right certificate, specialization or course for you, reach out to explore your options.