As the universe is contained in a single grain of sand, the human condition is contained in the personal essay. Learn to translate your experiences, pathos, humor and insights into essays that will be of interest to a general audience.
In this course you will:
- Learn how to generate ideas and combine them with the elements of prose, as well as meditation and reflection
- Write and revise four to six essays of roughly 500-1000 words each
Course Structure
This workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures along with a writing assignment that will be submitted to the instructor for private review. Student work will also be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises. (1.2 CEUs)
| Workshop length: |
6 weeks |
| Textbook(s) to purchase: |
None required. |
| Course Developer: |
Carolyn Walker |
| Tuition: |
$250.00 |
Workshop Outline
Session One: What's It All About?
Are essays also stories? In this session the student will be presented with an overview of the personal essay, its various types and styles, and its components. Some discussion will also be devoted to the topic of Creative Nonfiction and its place in literature.
Writing Assignment: 1) Choose a "first" in your life-a first kiss, a first communion, a first parking ticket, a first marriage, etc.-and write up to 500 words describing what happened and how you felt about it at the time it was happening. 2) Write an additional 250 words discussing how you feel about that same experience now, through the lens of hindsight.
Session Two: Characters, Friends, Relatives & Readers
The essayist sometimes walks a delicate balance when he or she incorporates real people in his or her work. Do essays have characters? Where do our obligations lie, with those close to us, or with our readers? How do we deal with their reactions? This session will explore author integrity and the techniques used to put real people onto the page in fair and honest ways.
Writing Assignment: 1) In 250-500 words, write a description of someone you know, exploring the person's positive and negative traits. 2) In 250-500 words write a description of yourself, exploring your positive and negative traits.
Session Three: Where Did That Happen & Who Said What?
Does place, or setting, matter in the personal essay? How does it inform experience and tone? What if you can't remember what a place looked like, or everyone who was there? What about conversation? What are composite characters and compressed time, and should they be used? What role does imagination play in the personal essay? In this lesson we will look at the importance of setting and dialogue in the personal essay.
Writing Assignment: Using the same person you wrote about in session two, write a 500-750 word essay about an interaction or encounter you had with that person. Include as much real dialogue as you can remember, as well as details about the setting.
Session Four: The Art and the Craft of It. What's in a Word?
In this session we will examine the importance of word and language choice. Why is tone important? What is a digression and how can it help? Why are surprises in writing a good thing for writer and reader? What is texture or layering? What is authorial distance? How do our choices inform the direction of a piece?
Writing Assignment:1) Taking advantage of what you have learned in the lessons thus far, write up to 500 words on the topic of your choice. 2) Once you have finished Part 1 of this assignment, go back and look for the single sentence that surprises you with its beauty, strangeness, or uniqueness. Now branch off with an additional 250 words, a digression, using that exact sentence or idea as your lead.
Session Five: Aw, Do I Have To?
Sometimes, the hardest part of writing an essay is pushing it through a level where it hurts. How does a writer decide what to leave in and leave out? What is meant by 'tension on the page'? How can a writer recognize and take advantage of it? What happens when a writer has reached a point where he or she must explore a painful or embarrassing memory or experience? How is the essay affected if the writer chooses not to explore the "hard parts"? What is 'emotional truth' and why does it matter?
Writing Assignment: Using one of the essays you began in the class, or writing a new essay, explore a topic, emotionally and intellectually, that you find uncomfortable or difficult. If you are unable to address the "hard parts" for some reason, write about what makes the assignment difficult for you and your reasons for avoiding the "hard parts". If you are pressed for an idea, write about your most embarrassing moment. Write up to 1,000 words.
Session Six: Hindsight and Revision
An important ingredient in any essay is the author's reflection. What is meant by 'reflection' or 'meditation on the page'? How many voices does it take to write an essay? Why do authors need to revise, and how does an essay change through the revision process? In this session you will explore the importance of "re-visioning" your work.
Writing Assignment: Revise one of the essays you began in the class, adding or lengthening your authorial reflections. Revise your essay for clarity and impact, for an essay that totals no more than 1,500 words.