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Personal Essay Boot Camp
Personal essays are one of the best ways to break into top magazines
Course DetailsFrom Anna Quindlen to Adam Gopnik, the work of personal essayists is increasingly filling the pages of newspapers and magazines, offering readers a tantalizing glimpse of inner worlds, and, in the process, casting a light on the larger world around them. 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 (2-4 page) opinion and slice-of-life pieces appropriate for The New York Times op-ed page, and moving on to longer, reported pieces written in the first-person. We will read and discuss student work in class and prepare it for pitching.
By the end of class, you will have: Students who have taken this class have been published in: The New York Times, Modern Love, Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Self, Runner's World, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more Admission Requirements: Please submit a letter of interest, (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words). Related CoursesTell me when courses like this are scheduled. The Secrets of First-Person Writing (Video) ONLINE
Instructor BioHelaine Olen's Courses No courses available at this time. ![]() Testimonials Helaine was generous with advice and anecdotes and she offered valuable information. Her take on the different forums for writing was intelligent, and her advice to participants on specific works and submissions made me wish for a longer workshop. -- M-J Haronian"I would like to thank Helaine so much for her help. I learned an enormous amount from the class, which has given me the confidence to pursue freelance work." -- Pauline Pechin "Helaine's class was instrumental in my transition from specialized press to mainstream media pieces. Her insight, feedback, and tips gave me the know-how and confidence to take my niche writing to the main stage." -- Lindsey Goodwin "Helaine was a very encouraging and open-minded teacher. She gave very thoughtful feedback on my work." -- Christina Morgan "Helaine was very professional, well prepared, and shared so much good advice with the class. I truly learned a lot about writing. I would not hesitate to take another of her classes and highly recommend her to anyone." -- Anne Blume Futtrup "Helaine works hard to engage her students in a spirit of writer camaraderie which she considers an essential tool for sanity and success in the current, inclement environment." -- Donald Schwartz |
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-- M-J Haronian




