Essay Architecture

Upcoming Sessions

Summer Syllabus Kickoff (Essay Club)
Reading

Summer Syllabus Kickoff (Essay Club)

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MONDAY, June 15th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Unlike a book club, an essay club has no homework. They're short enough that we can all jump on a call and read together, swarm a gDoc in unison, and then talk it over. This summer starting June 22nd, I'll be hosting a weekly reading session on Mondays at 7pm ET. We'll cover DFW, Leslie Jamison, Emerson, Sontag, Meghan O'Gieblyn, Montaigne, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, E.B. White, Jo Anne Beard, Didion, and Chesterton. For each one I'll present visual annotations and diagrams so you can see the Essay Architecture patterns in context. These readings will be part of Essay Club, but all are welcome to join the kickoff session, and I'll share the full syllabus at the end of the call. We'll cover: - How should an essay writer read? - Mortimer Adler's different types of reading (analytical vs. syntopical) - Reading exercises - How to become fluent in a pattern language (or anything) - A tour through some classic essay writers How Essay Club works: we meet Mondays at 7pm ET for reading sessions, Fridays at 3pm ET for feedback on your own drafts, and we coordinate async through our own forum. Each month we set our publishing goals, and all strive to finish by the 1st. We'll have a Q&A at the end of the session.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, June 19th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: David Foster Wallace
Reading

Essay Club: David Foster Wallace

MONDAY, June 22nd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, June 26th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Leslie Jamison
Reading

Essay Club: Leslie Jamison

MONDAY, June 29th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “The Empathy Exams” by Leslie Jamison. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Publish party!
Publishing

Publish party!

THURSDAY, July 2nd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

This is the real deadline! Publish by July 1st and join this call to have others in the club read and comment on your work. We'll be reading for the full hour.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, July 3rd · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reading

Essay Club: Ralph Waldo Emerson

MONDAY, July 6th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, July 10th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Susan Sontag
Reading

Essay Club: Susan Sontag

MONDAY, July 13th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Notes on Camp” by Susan Sontag. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, July 17th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Meghan O’Gieblyn
Reading

Essay Club: Meghan O’Gieblyn

MONDAY, July 20th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Homeschool” by Meghan O’Gieblyn. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, July 24th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Michel de Montaigne
Reading

Essay Club: Michel de Montaigne

MONDAY, July 27th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “On three kinds of social intercourse” by Michel de Montaigne. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, July 31st · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Virginia Woolf
Reading

Essay Club: Virginia Woolf

MONDAY, August 3rd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Street Haunting” by Virginia Woolf. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Publish party!
Publishing

Publish party!

MONDAY, August 3rd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

This is the real deadline! Publish by August 1st and join this call to have others in the club read and comment on your work. We'll be reading for the full hour.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, August 7th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: George Orwell
Reading

Essay Club: George Orwell

MONDAY, August 10th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, August 14th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: E.B. White
Reading

Essay Club: E.B. White

MONDAY, August 17th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, August 21st · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Jo Anne Beard
Reading

Essay Club: Jo Anne Beard

MONDAY, August 24th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “The Fourth State of Matter” by Jo Anne Beard. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, August 28th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Joan Didion
Reading

Essay Club: Joan Didion

MONDAY, August 31st · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “Goodbye To All That” by Joan Didion. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Publish party!
Publishing

Publish party!

WEDNESDAY, September 2nd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

This is the real deadline! Publish by September 1st and join this call to have others in the club read and comment on your work. We'll be reading for the full hour.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, September 4th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: G.K. Chesterton
Reading

Essay Club: G.K. Chesterton

TUESDAY, September 8th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

Join us to read “On Lying in Bed” by G.K. Chesterton. The session includes a quick presentation giving context on the work, 25 minutes of analytical reading time, a breakout room to talk through your reactions, and then a group discussion on the patterns. You'll leave with practical writing/editing concepts to try, along with a recommended reading list of more essays from the author.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, September 11th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, September 18th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, September 25th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

Join to exchange drafts, talk through ideas, or focus on writing. Join before :10 after the hour. We'll be in breakout rooms for 40 minutes. We close with a group discussion, and sometimes have an optional after-hour hangout.

Publish party!
Publishing

Publish party!

THURSDAY, October 1st · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

This is the real deadline! Publish by October 1st and join this call to have others in the club read and comment on your work. We'll be reading for the full hour.

Past Sessions

Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, June 12th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Essay Club: Feedback Friday
Feedback

Essay Club: Feedback Friday

FRIDAY, June 5th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, May 29th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, May 22nd · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Essay Club: Joan Didion
Reading

Essay Club: Joan Didion

MONDAY, May 18th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

THURSDAY, May 14th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Essay Club: Paul Graham
Reading

Essay Club: Paul Graham

MONDAY, May 11th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, May 8th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Publish Party!
Publishing

Publish Party!

MONDAY, May 4th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, May 1st · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
All-Club Meeting
Reading

All-Club Meeting

MONDAY, April 27th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, April 24th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, April 17th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, April 10th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
All-Club Meeting
Reading

All-Club Meeting

MONDAY, April 6th · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, April 3rd · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Publish Party!
Feedback

Publish Party!

THURSDAY, April 2nd · 7:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, March 27th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, March 20th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, March 13th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended
Weekly Working Session
Feedback

Weekly Working Session

FRIDAY, March 6th · 3:00 PM (1 hour)

0 attended

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