Class

Crafting Story in Personal Essay

We all have stories to tell. But could we be telling them more effectively?

It's easy for personal essay writing to get stuck in the abstract world of reflection or bogged down in accounts of events. While reflection and scene are important tools, an engaging story is what gets readers feeling connected, excited and invested in the journey on the page.

So: how do we "craft a story" when we're writing about our real-life experiences? Through craft lecture, discussion, in-class writing and workshopping, this double-session class will explore the answers to this question. In our first session, we'll talk storytelling skills like strong openings, escalating tension and surprise, then discuss personal essays and memoir excerpts by contemporary writers including Terese Marie Mailhot, Melissa Febos, and Roxane Gay.

In the second session, we'll apply what we've learned through workshopping up to 5 pages of each student's work. Sharing pages for workshop is optional. Students who submit pages for workshop will receive verbal feedback from peers and the teaching artist.

Students will leave this class with practical tips and tools to craft personal essays that create higher emotional impact for the reader and, therefore, better chances of publication (if desired!).

All classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.