Tag: Writing Class

  • 3-WEEK WORKSHOP | Crash Course in Flash Nonfiction: Unlock the Power of Writing Short

    3-WEEK WORKSHOP | Crash Course in Flash Nonfiction: Unlock the Power of Writing Short

    April 23 @ 7:00 pm – May 7 @ 9:00 pm EDT

    Flash nonfiction is a powerful form for personal stories. Learn how to write punchy, poetic flash essays that make a lasting impact on readers. 

    [Limited to 20 students]

    For Creative Nonfiction, Flash Nonfiction, Literary Nonfiction

    Live On Zoom | Thursdays, April 23 – May 7, 2026 | 7-9 pm eastern

    Flash nonfiction is the art of telling true stories from one’s life with power and brevity (in 1,000 words or less). During this three-week generative workshop, participants will learn the craft of writing flash nonfiction narratives, write new drafts, and receive feedback to practice what they’re learning. 

    Together, we’ll explore examples of expertly crafted flash nonfiction narratives and define what makes them effective. You’ll learn how to make your personal stories connect with readers by using theme and plot, compression and layering, and images and lyricism. Discover what editors look for when selecting flash nonfiction pieces for publication, and write your own powerful pieces. 

    This course will include readings, writing prompts, in-class writing time, writing homework, and Q&A. You’ll receive instructor feedback on two flash-length narratives. 

    Over these three weeks, you will …
    • EXPLORE the key elements of flash nonfiction and how they work together to create powerful essays
    • LEARN to create emotional resonance so that readers will be thinking about your piece long after they read it
    • EXPLORE tips for writing engaging and powerful flash nonfiction that literary magazine editors will love
    • DISCOVER how to use compression, layering, and lyricism to make each sentence pop
    • WRITE flash nonfiction that’s powerful, punchy, personal, and poetic
    Schedule
    • Week 1. Make it Powerful: Theme, Plot, & Research 
    • Week 2. Make it Personal: Voice, Vulnerability & Emotional Intensity
    • Week 3. Make it Punchy: Compression, Lyricism, & Form 
    This course is for intermediate writers who 
    • Want to generate new flash nonfiction work 
    • Want their flash nonfiction pieces to grab the attention of editors and readers
    • Want to write more powerfully when writing short
    • Seek to increase the impact of their prose
    • Hope to publish flash nonfiction pieces in literary magazines

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    Think you might miss a class? No worries, replays will be available. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

    Bethany Jarmul is an Appalachian writer, poet, writing coach, and workshop instructor. She’s the author of a poetry collection, Lightning Is a Mother, and a mini-memoir of flash nonfiction pieces, Take Me Home. Her work has been published in more than 100 literary magazines, including Brevity, River Teeth, and Chestnut Review. Her writing was selected for Best Spiritual Literature and Best Small Fictions, and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, The Best of the Net, and Best Microfiction. Twice, she earned first place in Women On Writing’s quarterly flash essay contest. Connect with her at bethanyjarmul.com or on social media: @BethanyJarmul.

    Testimonials from past students:

    “I love taking webinars taught by Bethany Jarmul and always get so much out of them. Bethany has a strong record of publication success and is skilled at sharing her techniques. In her webinars, which are both affordable and easy to sign up for, Bethany provides a huge amount of valuable information and writing strategies in clear, concise, easy-to-follow presentations.” – Beth Mulcahy 

    “Bethany’s workshops are helpful, worthwhile, and enjoyable. She is well organized and her workshops include step-by-step, actionable strategies that help writers take their craft to another level. The techniques I learned in her workshops helped to generate more writing in different genres and improved the quality of my writing overall. I’m always happy to attend one of her classes.”  – Angelle McDougall

    “Bethany is prepared, specific, and encourages questions. I’ve attended several of her webinars, even in a genre I don’t normally work in, and found myself stretching into this new area. Highly recommend her work and her webinars.” – Mare Biddle 

    “Bethany is a wonderful presenter. So grateful for how generous she was with examples, her own writing, suggestions for submissions, suggestions for continued diving into the craft…all in.” – Robin Perry

    “Bethany is a wonderful presenter, speaks clearly and with enthusiasm. VERY present.” – Winnie Ganshaw

    THE FINE PRINT

    We understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers.

    Before the first class, you may request a refund (less a $25 processing fee).

    After class begins, you may request a refund for the remaining value of the course (less a $25 processing fee).

    No credits or refunds will be available after the 1st class.


    Questions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com

    Registration Info
    $125 Early Bird | $175 Cost of the Event
    Register
    Event Organizer

    Bethany Jarmul

    View Organizer Website

    Location

    Zoom

  • 8-WEEK WORKSHOP | Finding and Telling Your Personal Story: A Crash Course in Writing Your Personal Narrative

    8-WEEK WORKSHOP | Finding and Telling Your Personal Story: A Crash Course in Writing Your Personal Narrative

    March 5 @ 1:00 pm – April 23 @ 4:00 pm EST

    Write with purpose. Find your story’s core.

    [Limited to 12 students]

    For Personal Essay, Book-length Memoir, Creative Nonfiction

    Live On Zoom | Thursdays, Mar 5 – April 23 | 1-4 pm Eastern

    In this 8-week writing workshop, you will practice writing drafts and parts of a personal narrative, be it personal essay, book-length memoir or works of creative nonfiction. Emphasis will be placed on focusing your story around a central question, drama, conflict, tension, emotional “heat” and an undercurrent or “inner story”; developing your story and narrative “engine”; understanding the role of scene, narrative summary and reflective voice; exploring formal possibilities to structure your story; looking at chronology and point of view; examining “truth” in memoir; and practicing revision strategies to improve your work.

    In class prompts will give you a chance to try out techniques and ideas. Short readings will be mined for craft and inspiration. You will have at least one short personal narrative workshopped in the course and receive feedback from your fellow writers and the instructor, along with an additional opportunity for feedback on revisions.

    Class includes in-depth exercises, prompts, readings, instructor feedback, office hours, and Q&A.

    Over these eight weeks, you will …
    • EXPLORE narrative structure for their personal narrative
    • LEARN the fundamental building blocks of personal narrative
    • UNDERSTAND and DEVELOP the central heat and tension of their story
    • DISCOVER how to focus the scope of their personal narrative
    For writers who:
    • Want to find shape and structure for their personal stories
    • Are stuck on “what my personal story is about”
    • Need improvement in writing scene, narrative summary, and reflective voice
    • Are beginner or intermediate

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    Think you might miss a class? No worries, replays will be available. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

    ETHAN GILSDORF is a writer, teacher, performer, and the author of the Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Esquire, Wired, Salon, O the Oprah Magazine, Brevity, Electric Literature, Poetry, The Southern Review, among other publications, and named “Notable” by The Best American Essays. He teaches workshops in essay, creative nonfiction, and memoir at GrubStreet in Boston, where he leads the Essay Incubator program, and at LitArts RI. He is also on the faculty of the Solstice MFA Program at Lasell University.

    Testimonials from past students:

    “His enthusiasm for the craft is contagious, his experience is impressive, and his teaching style is highly engaging.”

    “One of, if not the best teacher I’ve ever had in my life. … I would probably rearrange my entire schedule so I could be in his class again.” 

    “Ethan Gilsdorf is the real deal: a great writer and also a great instructor, two skill sets that sometimes do not overlap. He’s smart and organized, and has extraordinary classroom management skills.”

    “I got more out of your 6 week class than I did out of some of my semester long MFA classes.”

    “Nurturing and challenging … You are masterful at creating an atmosphere for both. I loved the class, and I can’t wait for the next one!”

    THE FINE PRINT

    We understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers.

    Before the first class, you may request a refund (less a $25 processing fee).

    After class begins, you may request a refund for the remaining value of the course (less a $25 processing fee).

    No credits or refunds will be available after the 4th class.


    Questions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com

    Registration Info
    $625 Cost of the Event
    Register
    Event Organizer

    Ethan Gilsdorf

    View Organizer Website

    Location

    Zoom

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  • SEMINAR |The Self-Editor’s Toolkit: 10 Tools, Tips and Techniques to Develop Your Memoir or Personal Essay

    SEMINAR |The Self-Editor’s Toolkit: 10 Tools, Tips and Techniques to Develop Your Memoir or Personal Essay

    June 28, 2025 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT

    The triumph of finishing a draft is soon overtaken by wondering, Now what do I do? Get the practical and creative tools you need to deepen and polish your work to its greatest potential.

    Nonfiction and Memoir

    Live on Zoom | Saturday, June 28 @ 2:00-5:00 pm  EDT

    After the joy of creating comes the picky process of self-scrutinizing, taking stock, and tuning up–essential steps in the writing process. Shifting from generative to reflective mode can be tough, but there are simple, straightforward methods to refresh your perspective and gain entry into what’s already on the page. 

    In this three-hour seminar, learn 10 techniques that creatively (and sometimes stealthily) re-engage you with the work, including scaffolding, housekeeping, reverse outlining, perhapsing, tic lists, set design, flow checks, and runway time. You’ll practice some of these methods live, then pick from the toolbox to build a personalized action plan for revising your work that suits your writing style.

    Using big-picture inventories and line-level search-and-destroy tactics, deep conceptual inquiries and thoughtful worksheets, you’ll gain greater clarity about how to refine language, structure, characterization, and more, and a new enthusiasm for self-editing.

    In this insightful Three-hour live seminar, you’ll learn to:
    • APPROACH your work with fresh perspectives
    • CLARIFY your aims for the work 
    • APPLY simple techniques and inventories that instantly elevate your prose 
    • BRING more dimension and depth to your work 
    • PLAN a clear and understandable revision process for your draft
    This seminar is ideal for writers who want to refine, strengthen, and deepen existing CNF and memoir drafts.

    Closed captioning is available. ✔
    All registrants receive the recording. ✔

    ABOUT YOUR Instructor

    Lise Funderburg studied at Reed College and the Columbia University School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Threepenny Review, Philadelphia Inquirer, National Geographic, Salon, The Nation, More, and The Chattahoochee Review.

    Her latest book is Apple, Tree: Writers on Their Parents (University of Nebraska Press, 2019), a collection of all-new work by 25 writers, which Publishers Weekly deemed a “sparkling anthology” in its starred review. Her previous book was Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home (Free Press, 2008), which was chosen as the Drexel University Freshman Read in 2012. Pig Candy fits into several genres—including narrative nonfiction, memoir, travelogue, and biography—but essentially, it’s a book about life, death, and barbecue.

    Testimonials from past students:

    “Great job of presenting new strategies to keep me writing!”

    “Very well organized and illuminating.”

    “I really, really felt comfortable with Lise as a person guiding us…she was so relatable, warm, and committed to offering helpful advice.”

    “Lise helped me find my voice when I dove into writing to process some difficult and painful life experiences. She patiently walked me through early drafts that read more like diary entries than memoir, and through her wise counsel, I found a road map to give voice to my experience and rediscover the joy of writing.”

    “She created a wonderful roadmap to follow!”

    “THANK YOU!!! Loved this very thoughtful, inspirational, and informative presentation.”

    THE FINE PRINT

    We understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers.

    Before the class, you may request a full refund.

    Please keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins.

    Questions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com

    Registration Info
    $75 Cost of the Event
    Register
    Event Organizer

    Lise Funderburg

    View Organizer Website

    Location

    Zoom

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