How to write better personal essays

Personal essays can be one of the most difficult, intimidating forms of storytelling. Here's some help from a top-notch editor.

Workshop alert! Join me and Kaitlyn Arford of Freelance Opportunities on May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern for an in-depth tutorial on how to use social media to find more freelance work and build a sustainable — and profitable! — business. There is SO much out there for those who know where to look, and Kaitlyn is the best in the biz at digging up those opportunities. Click here to register, and remember that paid subscribers get free access (for details on that, see the middle of this post). See you May 7!

Hello friends!

Today I want to give all of you a little gift: Below is a full video workshop on writing better personal essays. My guest is Matt Ortile, former executive editor of Catapult and one of the best editors — of personal essays or otherwise — I know. This is one of my absolute favorite conversations about writing I’ve ever had in a workshop.