The personal essay is more than a means by which we unburden ourselves. The confessional impulse gives autobiographical writing much of its energy, but the writer must do more than vent. Self-reflection and the struggle with doubt are essential to the form.

In this workshop, we’ll move the focus away from therapeutic self-disclosure and toward the goal of establishing the relationship between the author and the imagined reader that distinguishes the personal essay from every other literary genre. Instead of confessing, we’ll confide. The class will consist of three intensive day-long sessions, held on successive Tuesdays. We’ll read and discuss personal essays that exemplify the confiding voice and do in-class exercises designed to foster it. As the class progresses, participants will present essays in progress and offer one another constructive criticism and encouragement. This is a limited enrollment class.

Tuesdays | 3 Individual Sessions: December 1, December 8, and December 15 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In person