Storytelling that Sparks Conversation
You have a million ideas for writing projects, but how do you get them out of your head and onto the page?
Through readings, exercises, prompts, and guided feedback, learn how to use narrative and feature writing techniques in that essay or op-ed or newsletter you've been meaning to write, share work, and receive feedback in a group of professional peers.
As Bret Stephens argued in a recent NYT column, don't let AI do all the work for you: "It undermines not only our individual ability to write but also a society’s collective ability to reason, a culture’s inner capacity to create and everyone’s reason to care," he wrote recently. Put another way, don't use an escalator when you should make a habit of taking the stairs.
Over the 4 weeks, we will analyze 4 short pieces (a personal essay, an op-ed, a piece of criticism, and a hybrid work) to understand how authors connect with audiences, establish their authority on a topic, and drive conversation with a unique angle.
Breakdown of sessions
-Analyze and discuss published piece of writing
-Generate ideas and deploy narrative techniques through prompts and exercises
-Share work and receive constructive feedback
What you'll get
-Narrative techniques to apply to your own writing
-Momentum and support from a group of fellow creative professionals
-Language for how to discuss and critique writing
-A bank of ideas you can return to
-A sampling of open calls from magazines and literary outlets accepting short nonfiction pieces
Saturdays in Sept & Oct in SoHo
September 19, 26, October 3, 10
11am - 1:30pm
Optional individual critique of a piece of writing (additional $75 via Venmo)
This class is taught by Corinne Lestch, founder of The Off-Site Writing Workshop, a coaching + editing service for senior executives who want to write and publish thought leadership through op-eds, essays, and books.
Corinne's writing has appeared in Bloomberg Law, Publishers Weekly, The London Reader, The Washington Post, and many other outlets. She has taught at the School of the New York Times, Columbia University, Borough of Manhattan Community College, and Rikers Island.