Writing Essays for Magazines

The personal essay is one of the most intimate and electric forms of writing we have—where craft meets vulnerability and truth meets structure. But turning a lived experience into something that moves readers (and grabs the attention of editors) takes more than courage. It takes strategy, clarity, and a deep understanding of what makes a personal experience worth sharing. 

In this four-week generative course, led by widely published writer Jessica Ciencin Henriquez, we’ll explore how to shape your experiences into publishable essays that feel both personal and universal. Each week, will focus on a core element—voice, structure, ethics, and finally, the art of the pitch. Essayists of all stripes will find guidance in this course, and we’ll arm you with the know-how and tools you need to place your work in magazines, including outlets like The New York Times or The Guardian.

You’ll learn how to identify what your story is really about, what to include (and what to leave out), how to structure for resonance, and how to pitch your finished piece to the right editor at the right publication.

We’ll be joined by guest editors Jessica Reed (The Guardian), Daniel Jones (Modern Love, The New York Times), Jen Ortiz (The Cut), and Jennie Tung (Oprah Daily)—each bringing an insider’s view of what makes a submission stand out. Whether you’ve been writing essays for years or are ready to finally send your work out into the world, this course will help you refine your voice, strengthen your storytelling, and navigate the publishing process with confidence.

In this course, students can expect to:

• Understand what makes a personal essay both intimate and universal—and why that matters.

• Clarify the emotional and narrative purpose behind your own stories.

• Learn how to write with integrity and honesty when your characters are real people.

• Learn how to shape and structure an essay so that it resonates with readers and editors.

• Discover where your unique voice belongs within the current magazine landscape.

• Pay closer attention to the specific columns and narrative spaces in a given magazine, so you can pitch and submit accordingly.

• Get a look at actual pitches that resulted in assignments and/or publications.

• Gain the confidence and tools to pitch your work strategically and professionally.

• Leave with a refined essay draft, a clear sense of direction, and a shortlist of publications ready for submission.

This is not a workshop in the traditional sense; it’s a conversation about the intersection of art and industry. You’ll study a variety of personal essays that have landed in large outlets, analyze what makes them work, and apply those techniques to your own writing. Each week will offer space to refine your voice, deepen your understanding of craft, and strengthen the emotional and structural core of your essay-in-progress. There’s no peer feedback, but you’ll generate plenty of new material through customized prompts and weekly assignments.

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez

Jen Ortiz

Jessica Reed