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How to Write a Personal Essay

Overview 28 Lovely Attendees
Alena papayanis author photo  1
Your Host

Alena Papayanis

Writer and Professor.

Toronto, ON, Canada

Alena Papayanis is a queer writer and essayist, professor, poet, content creator, and podcaster based in Toronto. Her essays focus on queerness, coming out ā€œlater in life,ā€ love, and people-pleasing. Alena’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New Quarterly, HuffPost, Chatelaine, Refinery29, Xtra Magazine, FASHION, The Globe and Mail, and The Toronto Star. In 2024, one of her essays was long-listed for The International Amy McRae Award for Memoir.

About this FieldTrip

Attendees will learn 5 basics steps/advice on how to get started in writing personal essays, from generating essay ideas, to where to begin and end an essay, to some basic craft suggestions around the art of personal essay and writing in general.

Through looking at examples of essays, and prompts to help attendees generate their own essay ideas, attendees will end the field trip with the confidence to get started in their own personal essay writing journey.


Agenda

  • Identifying your story

  • How to start writingĀ 

  • Why you need to read

  • How to revise your work

  • What's next?


What to know or bring

  • A pad of paper or something to write on, pen or paper


What to expect

Lecture format!

This is a more traditional format where participants absorb information through presentations and talks.

It will be recorded!

The recording will be shared within 24 hours in the follow up email for a 4-day window, and available at the top of this page. Make sure to register for access!

Learn more about FieldTrips

Alena papayanis author photo  1
Your Host

Alena Papayanis

Writer and Professor.

Toronto, ON, Canada

About Alena Papayanis

Alena Papayanis is a queer writer and essayist, professor, poet, content creator, and podcaster based in Toronto. Her essays focus on queerness, coming out ā€œlater in life,ā€ love, and people-pleasing. Alena’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New Quarterly, HuffPost, Chatelaine, Refinery29, Xtra Magazine, FASHION, The Globe and Mail, and The Toronto Star. In 2024, one of her essays was long-listed for The International Amy McRae Award for Memoir.


Attendees

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susan a.

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Lydia W.

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A S.

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Rebecca H.

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Michelle W.


How to make the most of FieldTrips

The FieldTrips experience is defined not only by what the host has to share, but also by how we show up individually and collectively. The way we show up impacts our capacity to be moved, inspired, and activated.

Show up fully

Get ready to be immersed! Engage with smiles, nods, waves, emojis. Share in the chat. Get cozy. Turn off notifications. Sip your favorite beverage.

Stay curious

Wear your beginner’s hat. Go with the flow. Welcome the stumbles and fumbles. Congratulate yourself for trying. Keep going!Ā 

Celebrate your host

Our hosts are members of the CreativeMornings community—just like you! Everyone comes to this with different backgrounds—a lot of our hosts have never done anything like this before! And we love that! Cheer them on when something goes awry and when it goes perfectly.

Support each other

We’re all figuring things out in real time. Celebrate, rather than critique emerging ideas. Cheer each other on as you try new things.Ā  Try ā€œYes! Andā€¦ā€ in conversation.

Not vibing?

It’s 100% okay when a FieldTrip does not resonate with you. Pop out quietly and try another experience later. Fill out the survey with your feedback (no dms to host or chat commentary, please.)