I’ve been working with students over the past few days on their college essays—using shared Google Docs and Zoom calls. It’s always an interesting process, and this year is no different. Part of what makes these essays so meaningful is that we dig deep. Really deep. We look for those moments in life that carry…
Tag: essay writing
The Art of Getting Lost on the Page
If you’ve taken one of my personal essay classes, you’ve probably heard me say this more than once: Use your writing to discover something you didn’t know when you started. That’s not just teacher talk. It’s how the best essays—especially the personal kind—find their legs. Here’s the thing. When you sit down with the intention…
The Value of a Good Wander in Personal Essay Writing
I referenced this piece in a class I was teaching today. I think this applies to not just writing but life in general. A good wander serves many good purposes. Any of my personal essay students will tell you that I often say, “It’s important to use writing as a form of discovery.” I contend…
This Time of Year: Deadlines Looming
This is the time of year when I disappear daily into my office and don’t emerge until late evening. What am I doing? Working on Zoom with high school seniors who are writing their college essays, community college kids applying to their first choice universities for transfer, and college graduates applying to various post-graduate programs…
Flash Essay: Late Night, Class Preparation, and Two Sweet Dogs
It is 12:43 in the morning. The night is quiet. The dogs are sleeping at my feet. I have been preparing for the personal essay writing course that I am teaching for the next five weeks through Story Circle Network. I have been reading and getting ready for the past several days, but tonight was…
20 Minutes a Day 