Writing Co-Lab

You did it before, let’s do it again: Come in with nothing but your ideas and willingness to write, and leave with four short essays ready to show the world. The discipline of writing every week will strengthen your writerly muscles, while the energy in the class will be supportive and enthusiastic. You can and will write better, sharper essays than you did before, and while that work won’t always be easy, it will be rewarding. Please note that this class is designed for the experienced essayist who is looking to reinvigorate their zest for writing, recommit to their work, and further develop their craft. If you’ve taken an essay class before (especially one with Brian) you’ll be fine!

There will be an assigned essay to read each class, which we’ll discuss in order to illuminate or illustrate some aspect of the writer’s craft. You’ll receive prompts to help spark your writing, though those are always optional. Because of the built-in time constraints of the class, the pieces you produce will be short and easily-digestible (under 2k words). Every student’s work will be discussed in micro-workshopping sessions, and the instructor will provide written feedback after the class as well. Because we’re all experienced writers here, time will be spent discussing the challenges of writing and publishing, so if you have questions about how to further develop your writing craft or career, this class can help. Together, let’s build our confidence and skill, and get some great writing done!

About the Instructor

Brian Gresko (they/he) is a writer, illustrator, and literary journalist based in Brooklyn, where they co-run Pete’s Reading Series, the borough's longest running literary venue. Their most recent book is You Must Go On: 30 Inspirations on Writing & Creativity. Their work has appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine, Slate, The Atlantic, Longreads, The Rumpus, and many other publications.