writing Your Modern Love
Tips and Tricks for a passionate, publishable essay
$59 / a self-guided class
This self-guided class offers simple tools to help you write, edit, and submit a publishable Modern Love essay.
Despite being by far the most popular personal essay column in the world — spawning countless memoirs, a TV show, and a popular podcast — the NYT’s weekly Modern Love column is one of the writing world’s only true meritocracies.
The editor, Dan Jones, definitely doesn’t care who you are — he just wants the best story, told in the best way possible. As a result, Modern Love has become a dream publication for many writers.
Writing a Modern Love does NOT need to be incredibly difficult, either. I probably spent 10 hours on mine. And if you publish one, it will change your life.
Benefits of Publishing a Modern Love Essay
Modern Love is the the most widely read personal essay column in the world. Congratulations, you’re now popular.
Many book deals have resulted from Modern Love columns. I know several writers who were offered publishing contracts for memoir shortly after their Modern Love published. No pitch needed. In one case, a writer had never before published prose. Still got a book deal.
You’ll get other writing opportunities from publication. You’ll probably be asked to write essays and articles in online and print magazines and newspapers.
The Modern Love podcast is one of the most well-listened-to podcasts in the nation. If your essay is selected, it will be read aloud—sometimes by celebrities—for a large audience.
It’s a personally rewarding experience that often helps readers struggling with similar issues, offers insights into common human experiences. You’ll receive emails from strangers around the world who are impacted by your words and thoughts.
How to Write a Modern Love Essay
Writing a great Modern Love column can be surprisingly straightforward if you have the right tools and techniques.
After reading hundreds of Modern Love columns over the years, reading essays about the column, publishing my own Modern Love, gathering all of the editor Dan Jones’ advice to writers, and talking with past contributors, I’ve distilled the essential elements of a successful Modern Love essay into a simple, comprehensive, self-guided class.
Limited time offer: register now and You Will receive a link for $35 off Peter’s popular
Personal Essay Masterclass
Modern Love Tip:
Writing a Modern Love is not about HOW you write your essay, but WHAT you choose to write about.
With that in mind, we’ll put extra focus on finding and assessing story ideas.
Structure of class:
Introduction: Welcome video
First writing prompt
Material sourcing guide
Second prompt
Structuring your essay
Self-editing your essay
Prompts to help with editing
Guide to submitting your essay
Farewell video message
Participants in this class will also have access to an exclusive online space for sharing essay ideas and trading work.
TESTIMONIAL
Rebecca Morrison:
“Peter Mountford is a fantastic teacher. I've taken two of his classes and each time my writing has improved. He provides thoughtful and challenging materials in his classes that push students to think about how to elevate their writing. Since working with him, I've been able to fine-tune my essays and get them published in several national publications.“
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do this class on my own time? How long do I have access to the class materials?
You can work on this class whenever you want, at whatever pace works for you, and the materials never expire. Once you have registered, you gain access to the course materials, and you can work through them at your own pace and return to them whenever you want. There’s also a private Facebook group that students have access to, where they can trade ideas, and drafts and form writing groups.
How do you write a Modern Love Essay?
Search for the right story in your life to tell. This step is often the hardest part for most people. This story must be told in 1,500 to 1,700 words, so it can’t be incredibly complicated but still feature a narrative arc. The best Modern Love story makes writing and editing much easier to accomplish.
What Are Good Subjects for a Modern Love Essay?
Good subjects include relationships with past or current romantic partners or familial relationships. Unfortunately, the subject of pets isn’t encouraged, and it can be challenging to write about friends, coworkers, and acquaintances.
How Hard is it to Get Accepted by Modern Love?
Statistically, it’s harder to get accepted by Modern Love than Harvard University. However, universities are well-known for bending the rules for athletes, legacy admission, and other special, well-off people. But if you write a strong Modern Love column, you have a good chance of acceptance, no matter who you are or your past publishing credits.
How do I know if My Essay is Publishable?
One simple test: Are you able to explain the essay’s premise in a way that sounds exciting and compelling to a stranger? Take a look at any recent Modern Love essay headline and description, and you’ll see how simple yet intriguing these can be. After you’ve written a draft, you can take classes to refine your work, hire a coach or developmental editor to review the essay or ask well-read friends to review the piece and provide critique.