Feature Writing: First-Person Stories and Essays

Personal essays have been a part of journalism and nonfiction literature for generations. But recently, the heightened interest in creators, and the growth in outlets for personal expression, have caused a boom of first-person storytelling. From TikToks and tweet threads to essay collections and podcasts, first-person stories are dominating our cultural conversations. But what does it take to tell your own story well? How can you use the tools of journalism to report on yourself and contribute to the larger conversation? In this course, students learn the elements of successful first-person writing and develop their own style and voice. In analyzing others' work and writing their own short and long form essays, students learn how to weave reporting with first-person narrative storytelling. Writers we read and discuss include Jennifer Senior, Cathy Park Hong, and Kiese Laymon.