Writing a Personal Essay

Overview

This course covers the personal essay and memoir, asking learners to bring their own experiences onto the page. Planning, structure and concrete detail are the main threads, with the goal of making a true story readable for someone who was not there.

Who it suits

Writers working on a personal essay or the early chapters of a memoir will find the course most relevant. It is also useful for people who want to find a distinct voice before deciding what kind of longer work to produce.

Key ideas

• Narrative structure as the backbone of a personal piece
• Detail as the means by which a reader is drawn in
• Voice as something developed through drafting and revision