Saturday, December 13th, 2025

The class will meet live via Zoom, 2:00PM - 4:00PM Eastern

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Instructor Elizabeth Austin’s writing has appeared in TIME, Harper’s Bazaar, Narratively, McSweeney’s, Ms. Magazine, Brevity, and The Sun, among others. She is co-editor of the forthcoming anthology, Root Cause: Stories of health, harm, and reclaiming our humanity in an epidemic of loneliness. Elizabeth holds an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with her two children and their many pets. She writes a newsletter about her family’s post-cancer life and is currently finishing her memoir about her struggle with alcoholism during her daughter’s three years in leukemia treatment.

During this intensive 2-hour workshop, writers will dive into the art of unforgettable essay endings, transforming uncertain conclusions into powerful final statements. 

Every essay deserves an ending that delivers impact, but writers often struggle with conclusions that feel rushed, repetitive, or unsatisfying. This hands-on workshop demystifies the craft of writing compelling essay endings through practical techniques students can apply immediately to their own work.

Participants will discover why strong endings matter, explore six distinct types of effective conclusions, and analyze published essays to understand what makes final paragraphs memorable. Through guided exercises, peer feedback, and individual practice time, students develop the confidence to choose the right ending approach for different types of nonfiction writing.

From personal narratives to argumentative essays to literary nonfiction, this course provides concrete strategies for creating conclusions that reinforce the piece's message and leave a lasting impression long after the reader has left the page.

We'll review common pitfalls like summarizing or introducing new information, while mastering techniques such as the circle back, the zoom out, and the resonant image.

By the end of this intensive session, students will have revised an existing essay ending and gained a toolkit of approaches for crafting powerful conclusions in all their future writing.

Target Audience: Beginner writers working on personal essays, memoirs, opinion pieces, flash and literary nonfiction, and feature articles

Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with essay structure and completion of at least one full-length essay

In-Class Reading Will Include: The Fourth State of Matter - Jo Ann Beard (The New Yorker), Swerve - Brenda Miller (Brevity), The Pain Scale - Eula Biss (Seneca Review)

Course Outline:

Hour 1: Foundation and Analysis * Opening (10 min): Introductions and diagnostic writing exercise * Why Endings Matter (15 min): Discussion of reader psychology and essay structure * Six Ending Types (25 min): Detailed breakdown with examples and discussion * Pitfalls to Avoid (10 min): Common mistakes analysis with examples.

Hour 2: Practice and Application * Hands-On Practice (20 min): Write multiple endings for provided essay excerpt * Discussion (15 min): Key takeaways from practice exercise * Individual Work Time (20 min): Revise your own essay ending * Peer Feedback & Wrap-Up (5 min): Share revisions and closing thoughts. Q&A.

Course Takeaways:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the key functions of effective essay endings.
• Recognize and avoid common conclusion mistakes.
• Apply multiple ending techniques to their own work.
• Evaluate and revise ineffective endings in their writing.
• Provide constructive feedback on others' conclusions.
• Choose appropriate ending styles for different types of essays.

Can't Make It Live?

No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This one-time seminar will be conducted live via Zoom. The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

Tuition is $75. 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.

• Instructor: Elizabeth Austin
• Saturday, December 13th, 2025
• The class will meet live via Zoom, 2:00PM - 4:00PM Eastern
• Tuition is $75.

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this class.