Wondering and Wandering: Writing the Personal Essay 

SATURDAY, MAY 13TH
9:00AM-12:00PM CST
arts & literature laboratory

“Every person has within themselves the entire human condition.”
—Michel de Montaigne

How do we write a stirring essay from the raw materials of our own lives, desires, and curiosities? What tools do writers use to transform the mundane into the transcendent? In this class, we’ll dive into the rich realm of the personal essay, looking at a wide variety of pieces from other writers, deepening our own craft through guided exercises, and drawing fresh inspiration for our own work.

CLASS OUTCOMES:

In this three-hour class, you’ll:

• Understand the personal essay as a literary form

• Learn craft tools for shaping the details of your own life into an essay

• Read and discuss personal essays from other writers to learn what makes them work

• Harness your creativity and explore your life from new angles with guided writing prompts

• Create fresh new work

• Connect with a compassionate community of other writers