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Writing Experimental Essays 4-Week Generative Zoom Workshop with Brittany Ackerman starts on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
$299.00

Writing Experimental Essays 4-Week Generative Zoom Workshop with Brittany Ackerman starts on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

Starts Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

Class will meet Weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 8:30PM EST for 4 Weeks

Note: If you can't attend live, this class will be recorded. 

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us. 

Instructor Brittany Ackerman is a writer from Riverdale, New York. She earned her BA in English from Indiana University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University. She has led workshops for UCLA’s Extension, The Porch, HerStry, Write or Die, Lighthouse Writers, and Stanford. She is a 3x Pushcart Prize Nominee, and her work has been featured in The Sun, MUTHA, Jewish Book Council, Lit Hub, The Los Angeles Review, No Tokens, Joyland, and more. Her first collection of essays, The Perpetual Motion Machine, was published with Red Hen Press in 2018, and her debut novel, The Brittanys, is out now with Vintage. She has a forthcoming novel with CLASH Books called The Style of Your Life. 

Who is this course for? Writers new to nonfiction who want a welcoming entry point into the personal essay, fiction or poetry writers curious about experimenting with nonfiction forms, and essayists looking to break away from traditional structures and discover fresh approaches. Anyone interested in storytelling through the lens of personal experience—whether for publication, self-discovery, or creative exploration.

The umbrella term of Personal Essay commonly refers to essays, op-eds, profiles, personal growth narratives, etc. All of these forms share the focus of perspective through the lens of a writer’s own life, often using first-person point of view to convey experience.

But there are so many more ways that we as writers can bend genre and shatter form in order to share our most transformative moments.

In this workshop, we will read writers whose work breaks the mold of traditional essay writing and work toward developing a few of our own uniquely voiced pieces. Whether you are working on a collection of essays or you are a first time essay writer, this space is open for you to explore a variety of shapes and manifestations in the realm of creative nonfiction.

Sessions will include readings shared via PDFs and in-class generative writing. We'll be reading Ross Gay, Gina Nutt, Matthew Newton, John Green, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and more.

WRITING GOALS

By the end of this course, writers will have explored a wide range of personal essay forms—from traditional narratives to experimental structures—while practicing authentic voice and perspective. Through generative exercises, readings, and revision, participants will draft and shape at least a few original pieces, experiment with bending genre, and begin cultivating a sustainable writing practice.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

This class involves first-blush feedback, reading, and sharing aloud.

  • A deeper understanding of the many shapes and possibilities of the personal essay.
  • Drafts of original writing that can be expanded into complete essays.
  • Practical strategies for revision and shaping raw material into polished work.
  • Experience experimenting with hybrid or unconventional forms of nonfiction.
  • A stronger sense of individual voice and perspective on the page.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1- Place as Person

Week 2- World of Wonders

Week 3- What a Delight!

Week 4- Elegies & Night Rooms

PRAISE FOR BRITTANY:

"Brittany is not only a phenomenal writer, she's also an open, impassioned, engaging teacher, mentor, and citizen of the literary community. There is zero pretension with Brittany, nor is there gatekeeping. She fosters a kind, constructive workshop environment, poses prompts so good they've spawned books, and curates unique, inspiring reading lists I've returned to again and again. I know she wants the best for all of her students, and her encouraging presence is something special. Take her next class! I promise you'll love it." -former student

"I am relatively new to nonfiction memoir and essay writing. Brittany has expanded my horizons exponentially, introducing me to creative prompts, and narrative techniques and styles. She taught me how to workshop the works of others and how to accept workshop critiques for my own work. And she helped us figure out where we go from here with our work. But mostly, she provided gentle, constructive encouragement. She created a class vibe that brought us close together and made us feel good about what we are doing." -former student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class starts on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026.

Class will meet Weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 8:30PM EST for 4 Weeks.

Note: If you can't attend live, this class will be recorded.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

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: Brittany Ackerman

  • Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

  • Class will meet Weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 8:30PM EST for 4 Weeks

  • Note: If you can't attend live, this class will be recorded.