It's all in my head but I want non-fiction
Introducing: The Sunday Essay Club
Six years ago, I was standing in a bookshop in Edinburgh, drawn to a slim book, unpretentiously sitting on the shelf. I read the first page and felt myself falling. Fast. Most of the time you don’t know exactly at what point in your life something changes but when you do: it’s pretty evident.
The book I held in my hands was called Things I Don’t Want To Know by Deborah Levy. I took it home and finished it later that very night. I just could not stop myself. Six years later, reading and writing non-fiction, essays, memoir, hybrid poetry, genre bending diary-esque work is perhaps the greatest love of my life so far.
When I sat on the beach a couple of weeks ago and read Sarah Manguso’s thoughts on why she kept a diary for three decades: I got it. I too don’t want to wake up one day at the end of my life and realise I missed it.
I too need to understand myself through words on the page.
My love for essays, in all their facets, is limitless.
Which is one of the reasons why I love teaching how to craft them. To me it’s not just about “is this great literature or not?”, it’s also about “what are you finding out about yourself? How honest are you with the reader? How honest are you with yourself?”
So after teaching “How To Write An Essay Collection In 6 Months” for the last two years, I decided I wanted to try something new, something that goes a bit deeper that adds another layer to the offering.
Introducing: The Sunday Essay Club
A monthly drop-in class for writers to read, dissect, and draw inspiration from iconic essays. We study form and voice in the first hour, then write through guided prompts in the second.
Each session centers around one iconic essay.
The first hour begins with a brief lecture introducing the author and contextualizing the work. We read closely and discuss technique — structure, tone, movement, voice — to understand what makes the piece work and how it can inform our own practice.
In the second hour, we write.
You’ll be guided through focused exercises and prompts designed to help you apply what we’ve discussed — whether you're working on personal essays, narrative nonfiction, or developing your voice on the page. Prompts are generative, flexible, and rooted in craft.
Reading material is provided one week in advance.
All levels welcome.
📅 Upcoming Dates (2025):
Sunday, May 25, 4-6 PM
Sarah Manguso
Essay: "Keeping Time"
Sunday, June 29, 4-6 PM
Audre Lorde
Essay: "The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House"
Sunday, July 27, 4-6 PM
Rebecca Solnit
Essay: "Men Explain Things to Me"
Sunday, August 31, 4-6 PM
Zadie Smith
Essay: "Fail Better"
Sunday, September 28, 4-6 PM
Eileen Myles
Essay: "The Importance of Being Iceland"
Sunday, October 26, 4-6 PM
Kristin Dombek
Essay: "The Selfishness of Others"
If this resonates with you or if you’re simply curious to learn something new.
I think for anyone who wants to improve their writing, who wants to commit to their practice and get more words on the page: this is it.
I’m really looking forward to this x
What a lovely idea ❤️