An Introduction to Personal Essays: Curiosity Over Catharsis

$70.00 $80.00

This class will be taught over Zoom on Saturday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

In this two-hour seminar and generative workshop, students will gain a foundational understanding of the personal essay form. We will discuss two myths about the genre—that our story must have an obvious “ending,” and that we write essays to achieve “catharsis”—in order to develop a more sustainable writing practice, one built not only on the story of our own lives.

The problems—or expectations—of “endings” and “catharsis” are obstacles to successful essay writing. We must dismantle these roadblocks by redefining a personal essay as an intellectual journey, rather than a chronological one; and pursuing curiosity rather than seeking release from trauma. Why do this? It is unsustainable for personal essayists to use only themselves as their subjects. This is labor for which, in the current literary market, we are underpaid. Furthermore, there is a bottom to that emotional barrel. Instead, rather than write solely ‘about’ our experiences, we must write ‘through’ them as lenses onto the world beyond our personal bubbles, thereby relieving us of being an essay’s sole subject. 

This class is for writers who are new to personal essays, or looking to reinvigorate their essay practice. No prior writing experience is required; a history of reading personal essays is recommended. We will start with a seminar that includes excerpts from optional readings and opportunities for group discussion. Then we will do a writing exercise that generates essay ideas by centering curiosity and excitement, rather than personal trauma and catharsis. We will end with a short Q&A, time permitting.

This class will be taught over Zoom on Saturday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

In this two-hour seminar and generative workshop, students will gain a foundational understanding of the personal essay form. We will discuss two myths about the genre—that our story must have an obvious “ending,” and that we write essays to achieve “catharsis”—in order to develop a more sustainable writing practice, one built not only on the story of our own lives.

The problems—or expectations—of “endings” and “catharsis” are obstacles to successful essay writing. We must dismantle these roadblocks by redefining a personal essay as an intellectual journey, rather than a chronological one; and pursuing curiosity rather than seeking release from trauma. Why do this? It is unsustainable for personal essayists to use only themselves as their subjects. This is labor for which, in the current literary market, we are underpaid. Furthermore, there is a bottom to that emotional barrel. Instead, rather than write solely ‘about’ our experiences, we must write ‘through’ them as lenses onto the world beyond our personal bubbles, thereby relieving us of being an essay’s sole subject. 

This class is for writers who are new to personal essays, or looking to reinvigorate their essay practice. No prior writing experience is required; a history of reading personal essays is recommended. We will start with a seminar that includes excerpts from optional readings and opportunities for group discussion. Then we will do a writing exercise that generates essay ideas by centering curiosity and excitement, rather than personal trauma and catharsis. We will end with a short Q&A, time permitting.

About the instructor

Matt Ortile is an editor and writer who has taught creative writing seminars for the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, Poets & Writers, Kundiman, PEN America, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and elsewhere. He is the author of the essay collection The Groom Will Keep His Name and an editor for print and digital at Condé Nast Traveler, and was previously the executive editor of the literary magazine Catapult prior to its closure. 

Testimonials

“I love working with Matt Ortile because he knows that ‘personal essay’ doesn’t mean ‘exploitative tell-all circa 2011.’ He knows it means a rigorous work of art. He takes it seriously, helping an author sound, not like him, but like themself on their very best day.” —A. E. Osworth, author of AWAKENED and WE ARE WATCHING ELIZA BRIGHT

“Matt Ortile is the editor of my dreams. He knows how to tell a good story and doesn’t keep his wisdom to himself. He will treat your work with care and respect, provide you with actionable feedback, casually offer nuggets of genius that will make you nod and snap your fingers, but my favorite gift of his is this: He will make you excited to write.” —Edgar Gomez, author of ALLIGATOR TEARS and HIGH-RISK HOMOSEXUAL

“Matt is a generous, thoughtful editor. He encourages my weird ideas and encourages me to make weak ones stronger, and helps me give the reader everything they need in a piece. Working with Matt, I find new ways to make my writing sharper and deeper, and our collaborations always leave me excited to write more.” —Jaime Green, author of THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE; and series editor of the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthologies

“I don’t have an MFA, and so for years, I held myself back from pursuing my dreams of becoming a creative nonfiction writer. But I realized, after working with Matt Ortile, that the most important lessons of the MFA can happen in your working relationship with an editor. Matt was able to see the potential for a published piece when I had just a kernel of an idea—a tweet, in fact! The way he shepherded me through the publication process helped me develop my confidence as a writer. As an editor, he was lovingly rigorous. In the end, my piece he edited not only got published, it ended up becoming my most viral piece ever. I can’t wait to work with him again.” —Anthony Ocampo, author of BROWN AND GAY IN LA and THE LATINOS OF ASIA; and professor of sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona