Living In Drafts – 8-Week Essay Writing Workshop | TUESDAYS
Tue 21 Apr
|Online Workshop
In this eight-week creative writing workshop, you'll learn how to live inside the drafting process—to write without overthinking and finally finish a piece.
Time & Location
21 Apr 2026, 19:00 BST
Online Workshop
About The Event
Who is this class for?
This online writing class is for writers of all levels who want to finally start—and finish—an essay/memoir draft.
Whether you're new to nonfiction, stuck in ideas without structure, or sitting on half-written pieces, this course is designed to help you move out of perfectionism and into momentum.
If you’ve ever struggled to get past the beginning—or to call something “done”—this class will support you in developing a sustainable drafting practice.
What are the writing goals?
In this course, students will develop and complete one full essay draft through weekly writing exercises, prompts, and guided structure-building.
🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PST): 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM / Chicago (CST): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM / New York (EST): 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM / London (GMT): 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM / Berlin (CET): 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
CLASS OUTLINE
Week 1 — What Is a Draft? Beginning Without Knowing | GATHERING IDEAS
Welcome & introduction.
Mini-lecture: redefining the draft—process over perfection.
Writing exercise: compelling ideas, how to find them and where to start
Week 2 — Group Feedback | DISCUSSION
Sharing: each writer presents their ideas and thoughts on the essay(s) they want to write
Week 3 — Finding the Thread | THEMES
Mini-lecture: discovering what your essay is “about” while writing it.
Reading: The Wild, Sublime Body Learning how to be human by Melissa Febos
Writing exercise: identifying themes, patterns, and recurring images.
Week 4 — Group Feedback | DISCUSSION
Discussing student's work in progress
Sharing: one piece per writer & group feedback.
Week 5 — Structure Emerges | STRUCTURE
Mini-lecture: shaping a draft—order, pacing, and movement.
Reading: This Is The Life, Annie Dillard
Writing: assembling your material into a working draft.
Workshop: experimenting with arrangement and flow.
Sharing: one piece per writer & group feedback.
Week 6 — Group Feedback | DISCUSSION
Discussing student's work in progress
Sharing: one piece per writer & group feedback.
Week 7 — Ending a Draft | FINISH
Mini-lecture: what makes an ending feel earned (not forced). When is a draft “done”?
Reading: George Orwell, A Hanging
Writing: draft an ending or multiple possible endings.
Week 8 — Group Feedback | DISCUSSION
Group sharing: each participant reads from their completed draft.
Reflection: what you’ve learned about your process.
Closing thoughts & next steps for revision.
TAKEAWAYS:
Develop a sustainable drafting practice that prioritizes momentum over perfection
Learn how to start, sustain, and complete a full essay draft
Understand how essays take shape through accumulation, pattern, and discovery
Gain tools for moving through creative blocks, doubt, and unfinished work
Experiment with structure, scene, and reflection in literary nonfiction
Build confidence in sharing work-in-progress within a supportive writing community
Leave the course with one completed draft and clear next steps for revision
ONLINE CLASS STRUCTURE:
Instructor: Sophia Hembeck
Begins Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Class will meet weekly via Google Meet on Tuesday, 7:00–9:00 PM BST