“Art is a microscope which the artist fixes on the secrets of his soul, and shows to people these secrets which are common to all.” — Leo Tolstoy With the notion of essay as microscope, we’ll focus on developing your work-in-progress through close reading of published essays and discussions on what they can teach us …

In this advanced workshop, experienced students working on personal essays and memoir chapters will receive guidance, support and feedback. We’ll continue to shape experiences and their meanings on the page; discuss higher level elements of craft and structures; and create strategies for revision. We’ll also use prompts, exercises, and discussions based on readings by notable …

Personal essays are perhaps the genre that has the largest array of publication possibilities. Literary journals, newspapers, magazines, alumni publications, and more all publish this form. That’s the good news! The challenge: finding the right publications for your story, along with submission guidelines, pay rates, and style preferences. In this seminar, you’ll learn where to …

Co-led with Lisa Colburn, a certified Journal to the Self® instructor. Journeys, relationships, hardships, love, and loss—these are just a few of the subjects personal essays explore. In this workshop we’ll examine essays from magazines and newspapers to illuminate the ways imagery, dialogue, scene, and crafting an “I” narrator transform a personal experience into a …

For beginners interested in learning the basics of travel-writing and writers looking to sharpen their skills, this workshop will help participants experiment with various forms of travel writing, from news items to round-ups, reviews, and personal essays. We’ll begin by examining work in major newspaper and magazine travel sections, as well as travel publications and …

Journeys, relationships, hardships, love, and loss—these are just a few of the subjects personal essays explore. In this workshop we’ll examine essays from magazines and newspapers to illuminate the ways imagery, dialogue, scene, and crafting an “I” narrator transform a personal experience into a compelling story. You’ll generate new material each week through in-class exercises, …

This workshop is for writers with some experience writing personal essays. We’ll use readings on craft and notable essays as our guide to examine scene setting, imagery, narrative balance, and crafting an “I” narrator to create compelling stories from personal experiences. You’ll generate new material through in-class exercises, plus receive feedback on two essays. In …

In this workshop, we’ll use essays from magazines and newspapers as our guide to examine the ways voice, scene, setting, and characterization transform a personal experience into a compelling story. You’ll generate new material through in-class exercises, plus write and workshop two 1,000-1,500 word essays. NOTE: CLASS FULL. Please subscribe below to hear about new workshops.  …

This one day American Society of Journalists and Authors’ conference features tracks for both experienced and novice independent writers; plus sessions on writing about politics and government, finding your niche, social media tips, and writing for consumer publications, associations, and trade organizations. I’ll be moderating the Mid-Atlantic Life panel and discussing story needs with editors …

A broad look at the various places travel stories can go, plus where to find (or how to put together your own) detailed writer’s guidelines, and then use that information to write a pitch letter that best sells your story. The Writer’s Center | Bethesda location Date: June 3, 2015 Time: 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.