These days, it seems like everyone – from tween/teen bloggers to seasoned New York Times best-selling authors – is writing about their lives. But what makes some stories more satisfying than others? And more to the point, how can you tell the difference between the kinds of personal stories people want to read and the ones they don’t?

In this class, you’ll learn the art of the personal essay through an in-depth, guided discussion of models by contemporary writers and exercises designed to help you craft a 500 word+ mini personal essay (also known as “flash” nonfiction) that you can use as the basis for (1) a more substantial essay (2500+ words), suitable for journal submission or (2) the seed for a book-length project.

The class is intended for writers of all levels, from beginner to advanced, and will explore how to sift through story material to find those all-important tension points that make people take notice, grab readers by the throat from the start with compelling openings and “shoot straight from the gut” to avoid the narrative clichés guaranteed to turn readers off.

TAKE THIS CLASS IF

You’re writing or interested in writing memoir or personal essays.
You’re getting ready to publish a book of fiction and want to publish personal essays to help promote it.
You’re trying to find the heart of your memoir.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS CLASS

“The writing exercises were great and she suggested a 10-minute a day, every morning (or whenever works for someone) writing practice using a different prompt every day. I thought it was SUCH a great idea!!”
“Felt more like a discussion rather than a lecture which I liked”
“Excellent, excellent, excellent”

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

M. M. (Maude) Adjarian has published her essays, short fiction and poetry in such journals as the Baltimore Review, Grub Street, Verdad, South 85, The Serving House Journal, Pif, Gravel, Glint and Crack the Spine, among others. A senior non-fiction book reviewer at Kirkus, her articles have also appeared in Arts+Culture Texas, Bitch Magazine, Tribeza-Austin and the Dallas Voice. Currently, she is at work on a family memoir provisionally titled This Life That Binds.