{"product_id":"travel-essay-nonfiction-writing-workshop-online","title":"The Travel Essay: Writing Place with Purpose 4-Week Nonfiction Writing Workshop (Zoom) with Christina Berke starts on Monday, September 14th, 2026","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Monday, September 14th, 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Mondays, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Pacific\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAny questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eInstructor Christina Berke is a Chilean-American travel writer based in Los Angeles with an MFA in Creative Writing from UNLV and an M.Ed. from UCLA. She loves to travel and has been to 40 countries, 22 states, 4 continents, and numerous cities. She is the inaugural Carol Shields Prize Foundation Residency Fellow and the 2022 Katharine Bakeless Nason Contributor Award Recipient in Nonfiction at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Her work has been supported by Sewanee Writers' Conference, Hedgebrook, Storyknife, Vermont Studio Center, and Ragdale. Her writing is in \u003cem\u003eThe Sun, Lidia Yuknavitch's Khora, Pithead Chapel, Teen Vogue\u003c\/em\u003e, and elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is this class for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis online nonfiction writing workshop is for writers with wanderlust who want to turn their experiences into a memorable essay or memoir. Whether your journey spans continents or unfolds close to home, this course welcomes writers at the introductory and intermediate levels who are ready to write place with depth and purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to expect:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFor writers with wanderlust who want to turn lived experience into a memorable essay or memoir, this course explores how place shapes story, voice, and meaning. We'll move beyond postcard moments and surface-level description to examine how travel writing can reveal interior change, cultural tension, desire, loss, and belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThrough close reading of published essays, guided prompts, and craft discussions, students will learn how to write place as more than setting—using sensory detail, scene, reflection, and narrative arc to give travel experiences emotional and thematic weight. We'll look at questions of perspective, ethics, and power, and consider what it means to write about other places and cultures with curiosity, humility, and intention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis 4-week online writing class combines craft instruction, generative writing, and workshop elements to help you produce polished, purposeful nonfiction rooted in place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the writing goals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this course, students will draft a travel essay or memoir excerpt and receive instructor feedback on up to 5 pages. Writers will leave the course with a clearer sense of purpose on the page and practical tools for revising work that feels grounded, vivid, and alive—whether the journey spans continents or unfolds close to home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReadings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eReadings will include published travel essays selected by the instructor. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE OUTLINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 1: Why We Travel, Why We Write\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 2: Scene and Setting\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 3: Characters and Writing the \"Other\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 4: Revision Strategies\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE TAKEAWAYS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDraft a complete travel essay or memoir excerpt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLearn strategies for balancing scene and reflection in nonfiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDevelop revision techniques specific to place-based writing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eExplore ethical considerations when writing about other places and cultures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGain practical tools for using sensory detail, narrative arc, and thematic depth in travel writing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eReceive instructor feedback on up to 5 pages of work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTESTIMONIALS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Christina so thoughtfully curated this class and really opened my eyes to what is possible within the world of creative non-fiction. I left a better reader and writer, and now have a group of classmates to continue workshopping with in the months to come. This was an 8 week recharge for me as a writer.\" — Former Student\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"The instructor, Christina, runs a terrific workshop that includes prompts, lecture, readings. Never boring. The course materials are varied and captivating. I loved learning about--and working with--various sub-genres of creative nonfiction that were new to me. Highly recommend this instructor and the course. This was my first course with WritingWorkshops.com, and it was terrific. The instructor is excellent, smart, professional and knows her material well. I'm taking a second WW.com course now, which is also first rate.\" — Former Student\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"After taking this class, I feel more confident in writing overall. The professor really cared about creating a fun, healthy, and safe feeling environment for the class. The professor was very thorough with explaining assignments, as well as having clear instructions for each assignment.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"This was by far my favorite class this semester--I really liked that all the writing projects were all fun to write. Professor Berke always brought positive energy to the class and is always willing to help her students.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"This course taught me so much. I learned about new forms, styles, and formats of creative non-fiction that I feel like have given me a solid foundation to go forth and continue practicing the craft, and ultimately write my stories into their new, beautiful homes. I am also very grateful for the community space this course provided!\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"This was my first class and Christina made me feel so welcomed and really sparked wonderful discussions among the students. She inspired me to write more and I am really grateful she taught the class. She clearly enjoys the subject as well!\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Christina is a wonderful instructor. I appreciated her intentionality in her selection of readings, and the ways that she guided us in working through examples and applying the principles to our own creative work. The free-writing prompts were also thought-provoking and have given me a lot of material to work with as well.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Christina is kind, humble, and helpful. She clearly has a heart that wants to help writers emerge into the literary world. Her class was helpful for learning how to pitch to editors. I'm sending my first pitch this week, and her class gave me the confidence to know that I'm covering the basics in the pitch. It also feels like I have one more person rooting for me as a writer.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAYMENT OPTIONS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eTuition is $330 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInstructor: Christina Berke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBegins Monday, September 14th, 2026\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Mondays, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Pacific\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $330 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48045069598968,"sku":null,"price":284.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/travel-essay-nonfiction-writing-workshop-online-july-2026_a4f2207a-12cc-4387-8218-4f37bb21a814.png?v=1772649360","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/en-at\/products\/travel-essay-nonfiction-writing-workshop-online","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}