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Posing Naked on the Page
Find the courage to reveal your stories.
If you’re ready to sculpt your life’s stories into powerful art, but you can’t seem to find the courage or your voice, you’re in the right place.
In this weekly three-month class, we’ll learn, work, and listen together in an intimate group to master not only the words on the page, but the inner work that the personal essay requires.
In an age of increasing disconnection and digital noise, authentic personal stories stand out. They create moments of genuine human connection, reminding us of our shared experiences.
You’ll Walk Away With
You’ll leave with a polished essay ready to submit and a newfound courage to tell your story.
Let’s dive in together, with all our hearts.
When we share our truths:
+ We find our own voice and clarity
+ We help others feel seen and understood
+ We transform the individual into the universal
You’ll learn from expert guest speakers, with writers and editors for publications such as HuffPo Personal and Electric Lit.
Why This Class Is Will Change Your Writing Life
A Guide who’s
been there
Dive into the world of the personal essays with a writer with two different million-reader viral essays at top-tier publications such as Elle, Yoga Journal, and Marie Claire.
Star Guests
Hear from fantastically talented essay writers, including Michelle Fiordaliso and Edgar Gomez, and editors such as HuffPo Personal’s Noah Michelson.
Personalized
Feedback
Hone your work with edits from your peers as well as the class leader. Improve your editing skills by workshopping the writing of your peers.
Intimate
Class Size
Only 20 seats available. This means more attention, more feedback, and deeper connections. Everyone in the class will come to know your work, and you will know theirs.
Inner Work
Tackle the courage to be seen, the fear of writing about others, and the shame that keeps you from embracing visibility. This is where your voice will find its power.
Community +
Connection
Join a community of writers eager to support, challenge, and inspire each other, with relationships that will last far beyond the classroom.
Topics Covered in Class
→ Understanding the essence of vulnerability in storytelling
→ The craft of personal essays
→ Understanding your perspective
→ Structure and arc
→ The power of specificity
→ The research of Brené Brown
→ What do you owe others?
→ Getting your work out in the world
→ The why of the personal essay
→ What personal essays have to give
→ Picking what to write about
→ Developing a unique writing voice
→ Description, dialogue, and scene
→ Balancing detail with universality
→ Integrating reflection to provide depth and insight
→ The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known
→ Getting your work out in the world
→ Exploring avenues for publication
Meet Your Guide (teacher/host)
Author of two essays that have gone viral to more than two million readers each.
+ BlogHer Voices of the Year award winner.
+ Anthologized along with work by Roxane Gay, Ashley C. Ford, Mindy Kaling, and Audre Lorde.
+ Nominated for Best of the Net.
+ Included in round-ups from Memoir Monday.
+ Contributor to a 2021 Washington State Book Award-winning anthology.
+ Coach to 100+ writers.
WITH PERSONAL ESSAYS IN:
Learn From the Best
Guest Speakers
Edgar Gomez
Essayist and Author
Author of the memoir High-Risk Homosexual, which received a 2023 American Book Award. His work has been in The LA Times,Poets & Writers, Lithub, New York Magazine, and more.
@SocialHandle
Edgar Gomez
Essayist and Author
Author of the memoir High-Risk Homosexual, which received a 2023 American Book Award. His work has been in The LA Times,Poets & Writers, Lithub, New York Magazine, and more.
@SocialHandle
Edgar Gomez
Essayist and Author
Author of the memoir High-Risk Homosexual, which received a 2023 American Book Award. His work has been in The LA Times,Poets & Writers, Lithub, New York Magazine, and more.
@SocialHandle
Edgar Gomez
Essayist and Author
Author of the memoir High-Risk Homosexual, which received a 2023 American Book Award. His work has been in The LA Times,Poets & Writers, Lithub, New York Magazine, and more.
@SocialHandle
Hear it straight from the students.
From the famous class exit survey
Student Work
by Jasmine Vallejo-Love
A class steeped in vulnerability,
teasing out our hidden truths.
Every color, socio-economic status,
religious or spiritual belief.
Every shape, size, hair type.
All the diversity of what it is to be a woman
sits before me. I am awed by its power,
by the strength imbued in each of us,
the resounding roar of this collective.
Let us share our stories loudly,
proudly and with abandon.
Let our voices expand and explode minds,
may our words reach inside of human hearts
and turn them inside out.
Details
We begin April 24th
Thursdays from 12-2pm EST.
First six weeks will be focused on education and the second six weeks will be workshopping.
Need-based funding opportunities! One full scholarship and a partial work-study are available. Payment plans also available.
Session Dates
All classes are on Thursdays from 12-2pm EST
Apr 24: Class 1: Why We Risk Exposure: Vulnerability as Connection
May 1: Class 2: Finding Your Authentic Voice
May 8: Class 3: Crafting Vulnerable Narratives
May 15: Class 4: The Intimate Details: Setting and Specificity
May 22: Class 5: Writing About Others
May 29: Class 6: Sharing Your Vulnerable Work
Workshop Dates
Detail here
June 5: Class 7
June 12: Class 8
June 19: Class 9
June 26: Class 10
July 3: Class 11
July 10: Class 12
July 17: Reserve date (in case of a skipped week)
Purchase Now
PAY IN FULL
Save $??? when you pay in full today (best value)
$1,197.00
PAYMENT PLAN
Pay only $$109.50 today then just 11 more monthly payments of $109.50
$109.50 x 12
Online writing coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Some writers come in with a book underway. Others are starting from scratch. We’ll help you clarify your goals and build from wherever you are.
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Right here. Many of our writers are just beginning to share their work. We’ll support you with confidence-building, clear strategy, and optional publishing guidance when you’re ready.
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We offer weekly payment plans to make the help you need more accessible. You’ll get the full program experience while breaking the cost into manageable chunks.
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It's not a problem at all. You can reschedule easily with at least 24 hours’ notice. We build in flexibility because we know you’re juggling a full life.
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Absolutely. This isn’t technical writing or ghostwriting support. It’s for people writing what they care about — essays, non-fiction books, and stories that matter.
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Item description
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Send us a note! We’ll get back to you with answers, real talk, and no pressure.
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We open enrollment a few times a year. Once you’re in, you’ll have an orientation and get access to upcoming events and community spaces, so you can start writing.
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We meet at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT, 7 days a week
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This program supports whatever time you can realistically give. Some writers show up for 15 minutes a day; others dive in for hours. We’ll help you build a sustainable practice that fits your life — not the other way around.
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Life happens — we get it. Most offerings are recorded, and we have asynchronous ways to stay connected and supported even when you can’t be there live.
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You’ll get more done than you thought possible, build a consistent writing habit, and finally start thinking of yourself as a writer — because you’ll be acting like one.
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Yes — and essays, nonfiction books, hybrid pieces, and even “I’m not sure what this is but I need to write it.” If you’re writing from real life, we’re here for it.
Purchase Now
PAY IN FULL
Save $??? when you pay in full today (best value)
$1,197.00
PAYMENT PLAN
Pay only $$109.50 today then just 11 more monthly payments of $109.50
$109.50 x 12