FULL/WAIT LIST ONLY
A Two-Session Intensive Workshop
November 21 & December 5, 2020
The process of crafting compelling and readable personal essays doesn’t have to feel never-ending. In fact, sometimes the best way to get an essay in great shape is for a writer to impose clear boundaries on their time.
This intensive workshop will help move participants’ personal essays from draft stage to submission stage over the course of two classes. Combining both in-class workshopping and individual critiques, this course is designed to furnish writers with practical editing strategies and structural notes that enable them to give their essays a professional polish. Attendees will leave with both a revised personal essay and editing skills that will embolden them to complete future essays with increased confidence.
Prior to the first session, participants will submit a personal essay of up to 2,500 words. Ryan Britt, author of the essay collection Luke Skywalker Can’t Read (Plume, Penguin Randomhouse, 2015) and senior editor at Fatherly, will offer personalized critiques of each essay. During the first session, participants’ essays will be discussed in a traditional in-class workshop approach. Prior to the second session, each participant will submit a revision of their essay. During the second session, the class will discuss the revised essays. Options and venues for publishing essays will also be touched on in session two.
+ SUBMIT After registering, participants are asked to submit a personal essay draft of up to 2500 words by no later than 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12. Please take this deadline seriously as MWPA likely cannot to accept late submissions and excess words will be cut. Please note that these manuscripts will be distributed in advance via email to the other workshop participants. Please email the manuscript to hannah@mainewriters.org with the subject line: “BRITT WORKSHOP MSS.” Please use standard formatting (1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman). *Word docs (ideally) or PDFs only, please.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online, using the video meeting platform Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, November 19, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, MWPA’s Hannah Perry will offer a test session on Zoom. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the test session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Ryan Britt is the author of the non-fiction books Phasers On Stun! (forthcoming 2022) and Luke Skywalker Can’t Read (2015), both published by Plume Books/Penguin Random House. He has written for the New York Times, Vulture, Inverse, SyFy Wire, Tor.com, StarTrek.com, and elsewhere. He is also an editor at Fatherly. Ryan lives with his wife and daughter in Portland, Maine where he teaches creative non-fiction for the Maine Writers and Publisher’s Alliance. He is represented by the Fischer-Harbage Literary Agency.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via PayPal. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at hannah@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information. Please note that mail delivery to the MWPA office is currently experiencing extensive delays, so please email hannah@mainewriters.org first if you would like to register by mail.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on November 9 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION