Do you enjoy sharing your viewpoints? What do you think of, say, global warming or the latest water-cooler TV show or the forgotten value of handkerchiefs? No topic is too major or minor to warrant exploration. There are many places to air your views—magazines, newspapers, websites, blogs, books—and many forms to encapsulate them.
People will be eager to hear you out…if you know how to elucidate your thoughts better than the average loudmouth on the bus. Here you’ll learn about the leading forms of viewpoint writing—personal essay, lyric essay, op-eds, reviews, and others—as well as writing craft and how to market your work.
Whatever you have to say, we’ll show you how to say it effectively and compellingly.
A personal essay is similar to a memoir; both incorporate elements from the writer’s life. But a personal essay focuses more on the viewpoint, and a memoir focuses more on the story. Gotham also offers courses on Memoir Writing and an Intensive on Personal Essay Writing.
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of essay/opinion writing craft and gets you writing an essay or opinion piece (or two). Course components:
Essay & Opinion I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Students must be 18 years or older.
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course helps you sharpen your skills at essay/opinion craft and work toward completion of one or two essay or opinion pieces. Writers often repeat Essay & Opinion II to continue their projects. Course components:
Prerequisite: Essay & Opinion I (10-week), or the equivalent.
Intensives are fun, fast crash courses.
Two-day Zoom Intensive
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The Zoom Intensives are taught via the Zoom videoconference platform.
Essay & Opinion Intensive topics include: personal essay, reviews, op-ed pieces, voice, purpose and meaning, getting published.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a Zoom Intensive one time.
One-day Intensive
Place & Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The NYC One-day Intensives are taught in-person.
Essay & Opinion Intensive topics include: personal essay, reviews, op-ed pieces, voice, purpose and meaning, getting published.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a One-day Intensive one time.
