Write Your Essay Collection In 6 Months!

‘All writing is about seeing new things and investigating them. Sometimes it’s about seeing new things in old things.”

 – Deborah Levy, Real Estate

DATES: 

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PDT): 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM / Chicago (CDT): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM / New York (EDT): 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM / London (BST): 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM / Berlin (CEST): 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Monthly Writing Sessions

12.07.2026 4-6PM BST

What's a good idea?

Introduction To Literary Essay Writing Part I

Writing Exercises

Recommended Reading List

09.08.2026 4-6PM BST

Pitch your project

Writing Exercises & Group Feedback

13.09.2026 4-6PM BST

Structure & Form

Introduction To Literary Essay Writing Part II

Writing Exercises & Group Feedback

11.10.2026 4-6PM BST

Finding Your Voice & Style

Introduction To Literary Essay Writing Part III

Writing Exercises & Group Feedback

08.11.2026 4-6PM GMT

Editing your Work

Writing Exercises & Group Feedback

08.12.2026 4-6PM GMT

How to write an expose?

Writing Exercises & Group Feedback

Q&A: Next steps and reflection on your progress

FINAL DRAFT SUBMISSION of your work until 21.12.2026. You will receive written feedback till 31.01.2027.

Including:

• ✧ Monthly group sessions on craft and guided writing exercises

• ✧ 2 × 1:1 mentoring sessions with Sophia Hembeck within the six month period  (30 minutes each)

• ✧ Exclusive Recommended Reading List

• ✧ Insights into the publishing world and how to make a living as a writer

• ✧ Written feedback on final draft submission

Are you ready to take your ideas or a collection of unfinished essays and transform them into a polished and completed essay collection?

Throughout my life, I have relied on essays as a means of discovering my own thoughts and beliefs. There is something captivating about the essay form that continually draws me back. I am enamored by their fluidity, the way they allow me to confront conflicts on the page, and the opportunity to explore new and experimental structures. Each time I complete a book of essays, I am genuinely amazed by the knowledge I have gained: not only about writing and craftsmanship but also about myself and the unforeseen journey that the essays have taken me on.

DO I HAVE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL WRITER TO TAKE PART?

No. I offer an alternative approach to compiling an essay collection that is not only more effective but also provides a sense of community.

With six monthly writing sessions and two one-on-one mentoring sessions, it’s an incredible opportunity to get to know yourself better as a writer and finish with a draft or a complete essay collection at the end.

The group is intentionally small to be able to tend to everyone’s needs. Writing about your own life is intimate and a smaller group enables a more supportive environment. If you feel called to finally use those ideas and drafts to transform them into a polished and completed essay collection, then this is for you. Beginners as well as established writers are welcome.

By working alongside a group of talented peers and under my guidance as a published essayist and experienced mentor, you will spend 6 months delving deep into the process of constructing your story from the ground up.

In addition to comprehensive lessons on the technical aspects of essay writing, such as structure, theme, voice, and point of view, this course will include interactive workshops that actively engage you and address any questions you may have.

Together, we will examine published works by esteemed authors like Deborah Levy, Joan Didion, Lydia Davis, Olivia Laing, and Jia Tolentino, studying the creation of some of the most original and renowned essay collections.

Throughout the course, you will also gain valuable insights into the world of publishing, offering you accessible information that is crucial for success. I will provide you with a behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to create an essay collection, equipping you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the publishing industry with confidence.

Together, I will help you to craft an extraordinary essay collection that showcases your unique voice and perspective.

The instructor: 

Sophia Hembeck is a writer, visual artist & cultural critic. She has published three books: Things I Have Noticed, 2020, Things I Have Loved, 2023 & Things That Are Different Now which are compromised of her essays and short prose as well as artwork that she specifically created for the books. Her essays have appeared in off-chance, Koralle Magazin,  Missy Magazin, Almost Magazin & Culture Vulture.  In her weekly substack The Muse Letter she wonders about the meanderings of life. She’s a fierce advocate for literary essays and teaches essay writing classes for writers of all levels. She holds a M.A. in Playwriting & Dramaturgy (Szenisches Schreiben, UdK Berlin) and has been teaching creative writing classes since 2020. She is represented by Zoe Martin from JE Literary Agency in Berlin.

Testimonials: 

"Joining Sophia's essay class was definitely one of my better ideas this year. Sophia creates an atmosphere of creativity, trust and honesty during the sessions, which makes it really easy to dive in and show up fully - even as a rather introverted person. Apart from the great insights and theoretical details we discussed in the group, my personal highlight was the encouraging and empowering feedback that really made a huge difference in my writing and helped me to create something I am proud of."

(Ines Wotsch, enrolled in the spring/summer class 2025)

"Sophia's class was an amazing investment. It offered a safe space to explore writing seriously. The best part was walking away with a small community of writers & more confidence in my ability. Would highly recommend to any writer, especially if they're just starting out!"

(Ana Vasileiou, enrolled in the spring class 2024)

“Sophia's class is a breath of fresh air. The sessions are inspiring, nurturing and informative, and her advice is broad (and highly knowledgable) yet tailored to the individual and their specific writing goals. Her enthusiasm for her craft is infectious, and she genuinely wants to see us succeed with our writing. I highly recommend it!”

(Lucy Siddall, enrolled in the autumn/winter class 2023-24)

“This writing class not only provides a great structure, but also accompanies you in a step-by-step approach through the process of writing. Above all, it helps you to take your ideas and writing plans seriously.”

(Fabian Hartje, enrolled in the autumn/winter class 2023-24)

“The essay class is a great way to motivate yourself, find a sense of community and get some invaluable insights into the writing process and how others deal with its challenges. I'm glad I am a part of it. Getting to know so many other inspiring writers, each with their own stories to tell, is probably the best bit. I can't wait to read the end result of everyone's labour.”

(Tun de Jong, enrolled in the autumn/winter class 2023-24)

“I came to Sophia's workshop by way of Instagram and her memoir "Things I have loved", which was a thing I loved! So, I jumped at the chance to join her workshop. I found the first session super informative and generative, particularly the breakdown of different essay structures and ideas for prompts. The second session was amazing; hearing the submissions from the other participants and giving and receiving feedback - was pretty inspiring. I enjoyed the experience so much that I signed up for the June Session: "Writing Our Hearts Out", and June cannot come fast enough. I'd recommend Sophia's workshops to anyone curious about starting a writing practice or to more established writers looking for a welcoming place to exchange ideas.”

(Becky Cawley-Hassall, enrolled in the spring/summer class 2024)