Writing the Long Personal Essay

Harvard Extension School

CREA E-71

Section 1

CRN 17411

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This is an intensive creative writing workshop for students interested in writing long-form personal essays. One of the most popular types of nonfiction, the personal essay combines storytelling and reflection to uncover deeper truths about the human experience. In the first half of this course, we analyze a wide range of outstanding personal essays. In the second half, we use what we have learned—about voice, scene, exposition, structure, and stakes—to produce new work. For their final project, students draft, workshop, and substantially revise a single long (5,000-5,500 word) standalone personal essay.

Registration Closes: August 28, 2025
Credits: 4

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Term

Fall Term 2025

Part of Term

Full Term

Format

Live Attendance Web Conference

Credit Status

Graduate, Undergraduate

Section Status

Open

Instructor Info

Brian Pietras, PhD

Preceptor in Expository Writing, Harvard University


Meeting Info

T 5:10pm - 7:10pm (9/2 - 12/20)

Participation Option: Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: August 28, 2025

Prerequisites

An introductory creative writing course or permission of the instructor.

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time. See minimum technology requirements.

Tuition

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All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
17411 1 Online Synchronous Brian Pietras Open T 5:10pm - 7:10pm
 Sep 2 to Dec 20

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