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Skillshare

Writing Personal Essays: Craft a Powerful, Unique Piece in Three Steps

via Skillshare

Overview

Learn to use your personal experiences as the foundation for powerful, affecting essays in this three-step class on personal writing!

Join author and columnist Meghan Daum to learn her process for writing personal essays that give voice to the things we struggle to express. Through examples and exercises designed for writers of all levels, Meghan reveals a simple framework for writing about the most powerful and mundane moments of your life with honesty, humor and craft. 

Designed for aspiring and working writers of all levels, this 50-minute class will cover:

  • Choosing personal experiences that will connect with readers
  • Finding a hook that elevates your story into a universal truth
  • Striking the right balance between vulnerability and control
  • Overcoming doubts and blocks in the face of fear 

Additionally, Meghan walks through several writing projects of her own, sharing her thought process and reflections on the experiences that shaped her life – and tangible tips and tricks for translating them to the page!

Whether you’re drafting a personal essay, polishing a memoir, or wondering how best to share a memorable experience, by the end of this comprehensive class you’ll have a roadmap for crafting powerful pages and taking risks to grow as a writer and a person!

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • The Power of Personal Essay
  • The Three Steps to a Strong Essay
  • Case Study: "Invisible City"
  • Step One: Finding Your Stories
  • Step Two: Adding the Bigger Picture
  • Step Three: Discovering the Hook
  • Revising Your Draft
  • Taking Risks
  • Final Thoughts
  • Explore More Classes on Skillshare

Taught by

Meghan Daum

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