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Personal Essay Boot Camp
Course DetailsFrom Anna Quindlen to Adam Gopnik, the work of the personal essayist is increasingly filling the pages of newspapers and magazines, offering readers a tantalizing glimpse of inner worlds, and, in the process, casting light on the larger world around us. But what separates a compelling personal essay from mere navel gazing? This class will explore the basics of writing and selling first-person narratives, starting with short (2- to 4-page) opinion and slice-of-life pieces appropriate for The New York Times op-ed page, and moving on to a longer, reported piece written in the first-person. We will read and discuss student work in class and prepare it for pitching.
By the end of class, students can expect to have: To apply, you must submit a letter of interest, which includes a brief work history, and a writing sample of 2,000 words or less. | ||
Instructor BioDavid Hochman's Courses No courses available at this time.  Testimonials Even a seasoned essay writer can benefit from David Hochman's insightful comments and advice. The class was highly beneficial and resulted in my sale of a humorous commentary to Public Radio International's Weekend America -- Wendy Dale, author and journalist"I found Boot Camp invaluable in helping me sharpen my skills as a freelance writer and as an on-staff editor. I forced me to look at the entire process - from story idea to final draft -in a whole different way, and I got lots of practical tips that I can use on the job every day." -- Doug Newcomb, executive editor, Mobile Entertainment "David's class was amazing. He is a talented writer and excellent teacher with a "tell-it-like-it-is" approach. I took away a lot of good information on both the writing and business sides of the freelance world. I think his class has given me the tools to (hopefully) fast-forward my freelance career. I also had a lot of fun in class which made me look forward to showing up for class each week." -- Lizbeth Scordo, freelance writer, Boot Camp for Journalists alum "David was great. He's smart, charming, open-minded, and helpful. His stories were fascinating, he had excellent insider tips, he was complimentary without pandering to anyone, and gentle when giving feedback that might be tough to handle. He encouraged an atmosphere of student contribution, which helped to develop our critical skills. At the beginning of the class, I didn't know how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an article. Now I have a foundation to build on." -- Rick Danenberg, screenwriter "David is knowledgeable, credible, friendly, warm, and generous. He genuinely wants to help us and to see us succeed." -- Maureen Kingsley, Personal Essay Boot Camp alum "If you love to write and want to break into the magazine industry, Travel Writing Boot Camp is a good place to start. You'll learn industry basics like pitching to an editor, fashioning an article for travel readers, and how to use LA as your exotic travel destination. More than this, though, you will have the opportunity to learn from your writing peers and all under the instruction of David Hochman, who allows you to breathe through the whole process of learning. The class is hard - as any writing and critiquing class can be - but it will give you the tools you need to survive in the world of magazine journalism." -- Carol Turpen, author and journalist |
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