5 Sessions, Tuesdays from September 16 to October 21, 7-9pm EST

*no class on Tuesday, September 30

8 Students Max

$350

Enroll in this class.

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!

Enroll in this class.

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.

Student Testimonials

In 4 sessions I can’t believe I crafted 3 decent essays, ones I’m going to develop further. Got solid feedback, some valuable advice on what else to read, and came away with a far clearer view of my project and where it’s headed. Terrific instructor, terrific class. — former Co-Lab student

Brian is such a thoughtful, enthusiastic, experienced instructor. He facilitated each session with consistency and fluidity to meet the needs of the team. Brian modeled feedback for us very well and did a great job of demystifying the writing world from his seat. I’m glad I took this course. – former Creative Nonfiction Foundations student

I appreciated all the reading we did. It gave the essay as a literary form context. Brian is an incredible instructor who provides thoughtful feedback and facilitates real discussion. He and has an ability to relate to every person in the room (zoom) which is not easy to do! I felt at ease and believe others did as well. — former Co-Lab student

Brian is a caring, kind, and intuitive teacher. In addition to being genuinely excited about writing and teaching it as a craft, he's responsive to questions and generous with his time. I learned a lot in the nonfiction class I took with Brian, and left with a deeper understanding of how to create emotional connections with a reader, follow the arc of a narrative, and choose details that move the story forward. – Luna Adler

I came in wanting to produce at least two chapters from my next haiku book, but instead I got the tools I needed to write an entire next book—one that is going to be challenging, but that I'm going to be really proud of. In Brian's class, I felt like I “leveled up,” learning creative strategies to organize and make my work more readable and interesting. I gained an excitement and enthusiasm for writing that I didn't have before - an energy that I plan to keep flowing now that the class is done! – Kristen Lem, author of Haiku to Fall in Love To