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Crafting Your Personal Essay for Beginners

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  • Crafting Your Personal Essay for Beginners
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Personal Essay

9 Assessments, 29 Lessons

0% Not started

INSTANTLY AVAILABLE AND ON-DEMAND

The best, most compelling essays reveal something about the writer in such a specific way that the message is paradoxically universal—and moving. These are the essays we return to over and over, share with our friends, and wish we’d written. Well, we can.


Personal, or first-person essays, are essentially about a moment in time where everything changed, and that ultimately changed you. While that moment may seem obvious, how to write our way into them, is not. This class will walk you through how—from idea to publication—and so much more.


If you’re new to writing, or want to expand your craft, this class will explore the key elements that make a strong personal essay.

You get:

  • Detailed asynchronistic lessons. Work at your own pace, on your own timeline, and in the comfort of your preferred writing spot. All you need is internet and a place to write. Readings and exercises are available to access and return to whenever you want.
  • Instructor feedback.  I want writers to feel supported every step of the way. Writing can be solitary, so I’ve carefully crafted the course to include emailed feedback from me after each assigned exercise on the work you turned in (up to 500 words). This enables you to hone organic ideas, develop structure that serves their meaning, and develop essays.
  • Constructive critique. At the end of the course, I will read one completed essay and provide constructive feedback. Includes: editorial notes, comments for revision via track changes, suggestions for publication venues, and how to submit.
  • Resource list for publication and tools for querying

While this course is not designed for fiction writing, some of the elements taught here
can enhance the craft and nuance of writing fiction, especially in the area of character
development, voice, and choosing details.

Get inspired. Get writing. Get started today.
Cost: $239

Introductory Cost: $199

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About the teacher

Meredith Gordon

My career synthesizes two distinct fields. Three decades as a licensed clinician (LCSW; MSW, San Diego State) and just as long as a journalist and editor (MA, Cal State Fullerton). I'm an author and creator, a writer and coach who brings depth and practicality to my work.