Telling the Story of You: Personal Essays for College Applications and Beyond with Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons

Each year The Center for Fiction offers KidsWrite Fellowships for young adults in need of financial assistance. To apply to be a 2022 Summer KidsWrite Fellow, please click here. The deadline to apply for a KidsWrite Fellowship is 11:59pm ET on June 15, 2022.

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The challenging part of personal writing is learning how to describe yourself. Take the first step with this interactive workshop that tackles how students can capture their “I character” on the page. Over the course of two weeks, participants will receive individualized guidance as they find, draft, and revise a personal essay that opens a window into their unique character for college admissions officers.

Week 1 features generative exercises and reading example essays to help students identify a stand-out story and mine their memories for vivid, sensory details that create an emotional connection with the reader.

Week 2 focuses on revision as students swap stories, reading each other’s drafts aloud to share their life experiences and practice providing specific, beneficial feedback to their peers.

Students will leave the workshop with a solid draft and a revision plan to polish their essays. More importantly, they will be equipped with literary tools to elevate the impact of their words as they transition to writing at the college level.

Designed for young writers, ages 13-18.
Capacity: 12

Note: Please include the following information about the student taking the course in the “Notes” field at checkout: student’s name, grade level, and email address.