Instructor Elizabeth Teets is an Oregon-born writer, comedian, screenwriter, and fashionista. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Repeller, Catapult, Reductress, and more. Elizabeth lives in Los Angeles, where she is waiting for her group chat to respond, and is the editor of the film anthology Isn't She Great: Writers on Women Led Comedies from 9 to 5 to Booksmart.

Instructor Samantha Mann is a Brooklyn-based writer covering queer life, popular culture, mental health, and motherhood. She is a contributing writer for Vogue and The Cut. She has written for the New York Times, Elle, Today Show, Huffington Post, Bon Appetit, Bustle, Washington Post Magazine, Romper, BUST, and others. Her essay, "The Orgasm Gap and DJ Khaled," was featured in Roxane Gay's newsletter, The Audacity. Samantha is the author of the essay collection, Putting Out: Essays on Otherness. In 2023, Putting Out was added to CLMP's recommended reading list for Women's History Month. Samantha edited and curated the anthology, I Feel Love: Notes on Queer Joy. Buzzfeed Book Review said, "This is the perfect collection for readers looking to appreciate and celebrate the many talented writers within the LGBTQIA+ community." Her sophomore collection, Dyke Delusions, debuts June 2025 with Read Furiously.

Who is this class for?

This personal essay writing workshop is designed for writers ready to transform lived experience into compelling, publishable work. Whether you're working on standalone essays, developing a memoir project, or simply want to deepen your nonfiction craft, this intensive is for you. All levels welcome: from emerging writers to those seeking to refresh their practice.

What to expect:

Personal Essay Bootcamp is a full-day immersive online writing class that blends generative writing, craft instruction, revision techniques, and industry insight into one transformative Presidents Day retreat. You'll spend the holiday doing what you love—writing—guided by two accomplished essayists whose work has appeared in major publications from Vogue to the New York Times.

The day begins with Elizabeth Teets leading you through generative prompts designed to mine your life for essay material, followed by dedicated writing time to develop new pages. In the afternoon, Samantha Mann will guide you through a craft workshop focused on writing the sensory world and exploring different essay formats—helping you find the right container for your story.

You'll also participate in a revision seminar on crafting scenes that seduce the reader, learning how to create immersive sensory experiences while braiding in a larger thesis. The day concludes with a pitch workshop and an industry Q&A covering personal branding, publishing pathways, and your burning questions. This creative writing course offers rare access to two working writers who know the landscape of publishing personal essays today.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will generate new essay material through guided prompts and dedicated writing time. You'll explore multiple essay formats and identify which container best serves your story. Within two weeks after class, you will receive written feedback from both Elizabeth and Samantha on your work—personalized guidance to help you move your essays toward publication.

COURSE OUTLINE

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Mine Your Life – The Art of the Personal Essay (Elizabeth Teets) Generative prompts designed to excavate essay material from lived experience.

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Write Time / Lunch Dedicated time to develop new pages and let ideas simmer.

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Craft Workshop (Samantha Mann) Writing the sensory world and exploring essay formats—review three different containers and discover how each could be useful depending on your story.

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Writing Break Continue developing your work independently.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Revision Workshop – Writing Scenes That Seduce the Reader (Samantha Mann) Learn to create sensory experiences that keep readers engaged. Focus on taking readers into your unique world while braiding scenes with an overarching thesis.

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Pitch Better Workshop (Samantha Mann) Craft compelling pitches for your essays.

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Personal Branding & Industry Talk (Elizabeth Teets & Samantha Mann) Insights on building your platform and navigating the publishing world, plus open Q&A.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Fresh essay pages generated through guided prompts
• Understanding of multiple essay formats and how to choose the right container for your story
• Techniques for writing sensory, immersive scenes that engage readers
• Revision strategies for braiding scene with thesis
• Pitch development skills for submitting your work
• Industry insights on personal branding and the publishing landscape
• Written feedback from both instructors within two weeks of class