Course Details

There is no such thing as the impersonal essay -- or at least there shouldn't be. In the era of the blog and with the rising importance of the op-ed page, the art of the personal essay has never been more relevant. Nor has it ever been more maligned. Often mistakenly relegated to the "personal memoir" ghetto, the essay form is as pliable as that of the short story. Not limited merely to personal experience, the essay achieves the personal by exhibiting a distinct point of view. In this intensive workshop, writers will be expected to read and critique the work of their peers, write weekly assigned short essays (600-800 words each week) and workshop one longer piece -- up to 2,500 words -- of their choice.

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (2,000 words or less).

• Your instructor's lectures are posted once a week: You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience. Supplemental material -- readings, examples, or handouts -- may also be available.
• Students post completed assignments on the course bulletin board, where the class gives feedback. Students ask questions, share resources, and support each other, creating a conversation that continues all week.
• A regular chat time allows your class to converse as a group via instant message. Transcripts are available when you can't attend, or if you want to review the discussion. 
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Instructor Bio

Ken Foster's Courses

Ken Foster is the editor of two anthologies, including Dog Culture. His collection of short stories, The Kind I'm Likely to Get, was a New York Times Notable Book. His work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney's, The Bark, The New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Believer. His latest book is a memoir, The Dogs Who Found Me. He has taught at The New School, Florida State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. He lives in New Orleans, with at least three dogs.

Testimonials

Ken is a gifted instructor and his talent for engaging students shines through the course structure. -- Kerry Rubinstein

"Taking Ken's class was the single best thing I have ever done to improve my writing. I felt my technical skills and my ability to select subject matter improve on a weekly basis." -- Dave Adamshick

"Ken is remarkably patient and very human, bringing out the best in his students, both as writers and critics. At the end of the class every one us wanted to continue studying with him." -- Linda Berris

"Ken is a thoughtful, engaged instructor who reads work with an eye towards not only quality but what you as a writer want to say. Assignments are well designed and structured and the feedback is always helpful and detailed." -- Joseph Childers

"Ken taught me how to analyze and edit my work so I can produce powerful, polished pieces." -- Joanna Kadish