{"product_id":"the-braided-essay-nonfiction-writing-workshop-online","title":"The Braided Essay: Weave Multiple Threads 8-Week Writing Workshop (Zoom) with Jonathan Russell Clark starts on Monday, September 21st, 2026","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Monday, September 21st, 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, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Eastern\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e🌍 Class Start Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles: 4:00 PM \/ Chicago: 6:00 PM \/ New York: 7:00 PM\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNow Enrolling! Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInstructor Jonathan Russell Clark has been publishing for more than a decade. His writing has appeared in the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times, LA Times, Esquire, Washington Post, Literary Hub, Vulture, Boston Globe, Rolling Stone\u003c\/em\u003e, and dozens of other publications. He is also the author of three books: TIMECODES: THE CONVERSATION (forthcoming 2026), SKATEBOARD (2022), and AN OASIS OF HORROR IN A DESERT OF BOREDOM (2018). He holds an MFA from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.\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 writing workshop is designed for essayists at any level who want to expand their structural range and tackle the pleasures and challenges of the braided form. Whether you're new to the essay or a practicing nonfiction writer looking to push your work in new directions, this course will give you the tools, the prompts, and the community to do it.\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]\"\u003eGreat essays often occur at the intersection of multiple subjects. In this 8-week online writing workshop, Jonathan Russell Clark will guide students through the process of weaving together seemingly unrelated threads into a cohesive, surprising, and resonant braided essay. You won't begin with a plan — that's the point. Each week, you'll draft, discover, and gradually find the connections between your two assigned subjects, guided by close readings of essays that demonstrate both successful and unsuccessful approaches to the braided form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe workshop structure combines craft discussion with hands-on peer workshopping. Each week, the class will examine a published essay alongside student work, building a vocabulary for what makes the form sing. Workshops are intimate and focused: every student will workshop their essay — or whatever portion they've produced — with the full class and receive written feedback from Clark. Beyond the weekly Zoom sessions, Clark will also meet individually with each student twice during the course: once at the start to discuss intentions and approach, and once after the essay draft is submitted to discuss revisions and next steps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis creative writing course emphasizes surprise, possibility, and the productive discomfort of not knowing exactly where you're going. By working with materials that don't obviously connect, students learn to discover meaning rather than impose it — one of the most valuable skills any nonfiction writer can develop.\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 produce a working draft of a complete braided essay, developed and revised across the full eight weeks. Each student will workshop their essay with peers and receive written comments from the instructor, as well as two one-on-one sessions with Clark for individualized guidance. Students will leave with a finished draft, a set of structural techniques applicable to future nonfiction projects, and greater confidence in their ability to work across disparate ideas and tones.\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]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReadings may include essays by:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLilly Dancyger, \"Looking at an Eclipse\" Zadie Smith, \"Meet Justin Bieber!\" Eula Biss, \"Time and Distance Overcome\" Chuck Klosterman, \"T Is for True\" Jonathan Russell Clark, \"Control the Echoes\"\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-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 1: Introduction — After a brief introduction to the braided essay form, students will each pick or be assigned two subjects that will anchor their essays. Topics may be selected at random or chosen by the student; instructor encouragement leans toward assignment, but student comfort is respected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 2: Workshop #1 — Discuss Lilly Dancyger's \"Looking at an Eclipse\" + the mathematical approach to essay structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 3: Workshop #2 — Discuss Zadie Smith's \"Meet Justin Bieber!\" + finding connections between disparate subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 4: Workshop #3 — Discuss Eula Biss's \"Time and Distance Overcome\" + the infinite possibilities of space breaks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 5: Workshop #4 — Discuss Chuck Klosterman's \"T Is for True\" + the joy and pain of research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 6: Workshop #5 — Discuss Jonathan Russell Clark's \"Control the Echoes\" + balancing tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 7: Workshop #6 — The pain and joy of revision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 8: Final meeting — Discuss how tackling this project has informed your writing practice moving forward.\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\"\u003eA completed working draft of a braided essay, developed and revised across eight weeks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eWritten feedback from the instructor on your essay draft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTwo one-on-one sessions with Jonathan Russell Clark for individualized guidance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTechniques for structuring essays around multiple narrative threads, including mathematical approaches to organization and the use of space breaks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eStrategies for finding and deepening unexpected connections between disparate subjects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGreater confidence in approaching structurally complex nonfiction projects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\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 $545 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: Jonathan Russell Clark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBegins Monday, September 21st, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Mondays, 7:00 PM Eastern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $545 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48101085020408,"sku":null,"price":3614.0,"currency_code":"DKK","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/JonathanRussellClarkHeadshot2026.png?v=1773436512","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/en-dk\/products\/the-braided-essay-nonfiction-writing-workshop-online","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}