Class Description

Every single day there are moments that could inspire a personal essay: the kindness you see shown by a store clerk to a senior, the anger you feel at someone tailgating you on the road, the moment when your curious grandchild asks when you’re going to die. These are moments that cause you to pause, reflect and learn - the basis of a solid personal essay. In this six-hour intensive you’ll learn how to identify these pivotal moments, find the epiphanies therein, and write about them in a way that resonates with readers. Because the best personal essays don’t just relate something that happened to you — they engage the reader with vivid details and deep sharing, and can have a lasting impact. In this class, which is suitable for beginners, you will learn how to mine your memories and experiences to find the stories most worth sharing, and get started on an essay. Class will include lecture, brainstorming, sharing, and writing. Students will learn: - How to choose a topic (and topics to avoid) - The 5 elements of a good essay - How to structure your essay with an outline - The importance of perspective - Discovering your voice - Refining your approach - who are you writing for? Are you being authentic? - What to do with your essay - submit it? Share it? Turn it into a book? Instructor bio: Jane Ganahl has been a journalist, author, event producer, teacher, animal activist and more in the Bay Area for decades. In 1999 she co-founded the Litquake literary festival with Jack Boulware. She is the author of one book (Naked on the Page) and the editor of the anthology Single Woman of a Certain Age. She has contributed personal essays to six published anthologies, including The Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives. During her six years as a Sunday columnist at The Chronicle (writing the "Single Minded” feature), she penned more than 300 essays. She has also had essays published in Harper’s Bazaar, Spirituality & Health, Good Housekeeping and more. Additional info about her here: https://janeganahl.com