Best Online Personal Essay Classes of 2024
These personal essay classes allow you to learn the technical tools and skills for sharing your life’s experiences and stories with a wider audience. I love teaching personal essay classes, and I’m always surprised that there aren’t more essay classes out there—so many people have wonderful stories that deserve publication.
The following classes are all smaller (not the enormous Coursera-style classes) that I feel more confident recommending. They’re taught by working professionals with knowledge of the writing craft and publishing, and/or offered by real, high-quality organizations.
Best Personal Essay Classes: Winter 2024 Edition
Here are the classes I selected after reviewing dozens online. Of course, it’s possible that I’ve missed one. I don’t vouch necessarily for these classes, but feel they meet a good standard mark for expectations, and listed in order of start date.
Always keep an eye out for the offerings from great places that offer writing classes like Hugo House, The Shipman Agency, and Craft Talks.
Writing & Publishing Magazine Articles
Dates: January 2, 2024
Where: San Diego, Writers Ink
Cost: $42
This is a one-day, two-hour class over live Zoom with Rebecca Chamaa. Despite the title, Chamaa will focus on personal essays and has experience in online essaying.
Learn more: Writing & Publishing Magazine Articles
Essay & Opinion Writing I
Start Dates: January 8 or January 16
Where: Gotham Writer's Workshop
Cost: $439
Jessica Ogilvie or Michael Dunphy teach these introductory-level 10-week workshops through New York City’s Gotham Writer’s Workshop. Ogilvie’s class is via Zoom on Monday nights from 6:30-9:30 ET starting January 8, 2024. Dunphy’s is online and asynchronous, starting Tuesday, January 16. You can also take the class as a 1-on-1 with either instructor for $1,795. Size limit: 16
Learn more: Essay & Opinion Writing I
Read more: “How to Intrigue Your Reader the Right Way”
Introduction to Personal Essay 6-Week Online Workshop
Start Date: January 8, 2024
Where: Writing Workshops
Cost: $495
Diana Spechler uses the platform Wet Ink to run this asynchronous, six-week online personal essay class. Students work when they can, while still hitting weekly deadlines. The instructor provides feedback on assigned writing activities.
Learn more: Introduction to Personal Essay 6-Week Online Workshop
Online Essays and the Persona Narrator
Start Date: January 9, 2024. 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: Writer's Studio San Francisco
Cost: $385
Alongside accomplished writer Gail Ford, read notable essayists’ published work to see how each used a “persona narrator.” Classes over six weeks take place over live Zoom on Tuesday nights between 5:30-7:30 pm PT. If you want to take intermediate-level courses at the Writer’s Studio, you have to first take three or more terms of a six-week class (like this one).
Learn more: Online Essays and the Persona Narrator (Ford) - Winter 2024
Personal Essay Masterclass
Dates: January 15, 2024 –March 15, 2024
Where: Mountfordwriting.com
Cost: $450
Peter Mountford (that’s me) manages an online class over 10 weeks. Together, we learn to come up with ideas (the hardest part), write clearly, and express ourselves through opinions and essays. Classmates comment upon each other’s work, and I contribute commentary as well. And at $45/week, one of the best bargains out there (maybe I should raise my rates?). There’s also a self-guided version of this class, which is only $150.
Learn more: Personal Essay Masterclass
The Why and How of Writing Your Life Workshop with Wayne Gregory
Dates: January 16, 2024–February 13, 2024
Where: Attic Institute
Cost: $274
Wayne Gregory teaches this five-week class that’s more memoir-focused, using Live Zoom sessions. The Attic Institute is a well-regarded Portland-based writer’s center.
Learn more: The Why and How of Writing Your Life Workshop w Wayne Gregory
Personal Essays from Start to Finish: 10 Essays in 5 Months!
Dates: January 16, 2024–May 28, 2024
Where: Writer's Center
Cost: $2,500
This 24-week class is a good fit for those looking for a significant investment in personal essays. Taking the course requires admission and an application with a personal essay writing sample. Instructor Hannah Grieco leads weekly classes, which are split evenly between Zoom and asynchronous meetings (12 Zoom, 12 asynchronous). Size limit: 15 students.
Learn more: Personal Essays from Start to Finish: 10 Essays in 5 Months!
Personal Essay I WRITING X 422.1
Dates: January 17–March 26
Where: UCLA Extension
Cost: $720
The well-regarded UCLA extension runs two sections of this 10-week class, taught by two different teachers. Brian Sonia-Wallace teaches a personal essay online Zoom session starting January 18 - March 21 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT). Victoria Zackheim teaches another asynchronous conducted through Canvas, starting January 17 - March 26. Size limit: 15.
Learn more: Personal Essay I WRITING X 422.1
Personal Essay Writing: How to Craft Stories That Sell
Dates: Jan 17–Jan 24, 2024
Where: Stanford Continuing Studies
Cost: $270
Amy Ettinger teaches this brief, two-week live Zoom-based online essay course. Review recent viral personal essays that led to book deals, and learn how to navigate difficult subject matter. Students are given a list of new-writer-friendly editors at publications. Size limit: 21.
Learn more about Personal Essay Writing: How to Craft Stories That Sell
Want to write now? Check out 30 Great Personal Essay Writing Prompts
Tiny and True: Creating Flash Essays With Mindfulness
Dates: February 6, 2024–March 12, 2025
Where: Writers.com
Cost: $395
Susan Barr-Toman leads classes taking place via online Zoom from 7-9pm ET. Flash essays encapsulate big ideas in under 1,000 words. This is a generative writing course, which means it focuses on creating new work, often in response to a prompt.
Learn more: Tiny and True: Creating Flash Essays With Mindfulness
Essay Writing: How to Find the Story in You – and Sell It
Dates: Open/Enroll Anytime
Where: Amypaturel.com
Cost: $325
Writer Amy Paturel teaches this online, text-based course on writing saleable essays. Every Monday for six weeks, you get a new lesson. You get a spreadsheet of 130 relevant markets, including editor contacts. My girlfriend took a group version of this class when she was first starting her writing journey, and said it was very nice.
Learn more: Essay Writing: How to Find the Story in You – and Sell It
How to Choose an Online Essay Writing Class
When choosing any online writing course, I suggest reviewing:
Costs: Course costs vary wildly, ranging from $42 to $2,500. On average, classes are about $69 per week. Consider what works for your budget, but also the value you’ll get out of it. Once you start getting feedback from an instructor, course costs go up, because it’s time and effort-intensive to read and offer feedback to people.
Weeks: Courses can be one-day sessions or last for up to 24 weeks.
Time: Some essay classes are asynchronous (you can complete the coursework anytime) while others ask you to be online in front of a Zoom screen at a certain time. Most online Zoom classes take place on weekday evenings, so make sure you double-check time zones.
Instructor: Review your instructor’s experience levels. Has this person had personal essays published in the type of publications you’d also like to appear in?
Pros and Cons of Peer Review: I maintain that writers learn a LOT from having to read and respond to classmates’ work. That said, it can be a ton of work, and it can greatly expand the effort required for a class. Then again, in group classes, you might make connections, and build relationships, or a writing group. If you just want instructor feedback and don’t have time to read everyone’s writing, consider doing a self-guided class with someone who accepts one-on-one clients as a writing coach.
Experience Required: Some creative nonfiction courses—like my own—are really intended for those with some experience with writing, while others are for those just starting out.
Personal Essay Focus: Personal essay courses can include more literary experiences, generative workshops to create new work, or a focus on publishing. Choose the one right for you.
Personal Essay Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money writing personal essays?
Yes, it’s common to get paid several hundred dollars or more for a personal essay, depending on the publication. Popular publications tend to pay more compared to literary journals, but hundreds of publications accept and pay for essays. Personal essay writers can also get paid if winning writing competition awards.
Can you make a Career out of writing essays?
Yes, some of the most financially successful essayists (David Sedaris, Roxane Gay) built followings over years and published collections of essays. However, it can take years to build a career. The process of pitching or sending essays around can be time-intensive. Selling enough essays to become independently wealthy may be more of a challenge.
Are online writing classes any good?
Yes, online classes can be just as good as an in-person class, when offered by a reputable instructor or writing center. When searching for an online writing workshop, look for small class sizes, an experienced writing teacher, and make sure the time commitment works with your schedule.