Teaching:
Upcoming classes in Boston:
>One night seminar:
Monday March 15
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Crash Course in Guerrilla Book Promotion
at Grub Street, Boston
$65/$50 members; Registration Deadline: March 10th; Level: Advanced
If you're about to publish a book, you've probably got questions about how to best publicize and sell it --- as well as wondering what to expect. In this seminar, Ethan Gilsdorf reports on the lessons learned from his 50+ city budget book tour and six month guerilla effort to promote his book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. Whether you have a big or small publisher, or chose self-publishing, there are both traditional and non-traditional methods to identify and reach your target audience and build an audience in various potential book-buying communities. We'll discuss setting up a promotional budget; creating a book tour (and not just at bookstores but other venues) and brainstorming special contests, promotions and giveaways unique to your book; establishing yourself as an expert and tying in your book to current events; using traditional media like print, TV and radio; and jumping on social media like Facebook and Twitter to develop a fan base and create buzz about your book. We'll also over what your publisher should do and what you can do (and how you can work with your publicist), and the problems that self-publishing creates. Finally, managing expectations is the crucial mental element to book promotion. Come with questions. at Grub Street, Boston
10 Sundays in Boston, 6pm – 9pm. Begins April 18th. Writing the first draft of your memoir can be daunting. Determining its scope, deciding what story to tell and, perhaps the most challenging of all, figuring out how to handle time, are no easy tasks. But guidance in a group setting of peers facing similar questions can help. This class will tackle these big pictures issues and pay close attention to the minutiae of good writing. Rather than being structured like a traditional workshop (where manuscripts are read and critiqued outside of the classroom for discussion the following week), in this class students will take turns sharing 5 page excerpts, which we will workshop in class "on the fly." In the remaining time, we will participate in some in-class exercises, examine some exemplary memoirs, and discuss craft issues such as: writing scenes vs. exposition, dealing with time and flashback, "character" development, and "truth" and memory as it relates to recovering and recreating the past. There is no work outside of class other than continuing to write, with the goal for each student to write 5 new pages or revise 10 pages each week, and develop a solid outline of the memoir in progress. On the last class, writers may hand in 20 pages of their work to receive a written critique from the instructor, with suggested strategies for finishing the manuscript. Designed for writers with some knowledge of craft of memoir who have either: A) begun at least three chapters of a full-length memoir; or B) begun at least three essays of a connected series of personal essays. Please come to class with 12 copies of "an elevator pitch" for your potential or existing memoir (compelling title and 150 word blurb that summarizes and encapsulates your work); a list of five memoirs that are similar to yours; and the first two pages (double-spaced) of your memoir/essay collection to the first class. Please note: this class is not group therapy; our focus will be on the craft of your work, not the identity of the author.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced; $455/$430 members ; Registration Deadline: April 14th
Writing Personal Essays and Op-Eds for Publication
6 Thursdays in Boston, 7pm – 10pm. Begins May 6th. This intensive new class is geared specifically for students wishing to write and get personal essays and op-eds published. Each week, we will examine work that appears in both local and national newspapers, magazines, websites and other media outlets (such as New York Times "Modern Love"; Boston Globe op-eds; NPR commentaries; parenting, cooking, and outdoors magazines, etc). Then, we write a personal essay or op-ed that adheres as closely to that publication's format and style. Depending on class size, we will either workshop each student's assignment each week, or take turns on a rotating schedule. We will do a few in-class exercises, and will also spend time learning how to pitch essays and op-eds to editors --- how to find the right market, write a cover letter, and position the writer as an "expert" in their chosen topic or angle. The goal: by the end of the course, students will write and revise at least three personal essays or op-eds and send them out for publication.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced; $305/$280 members; Registration Deadline: April 29th
6 Thursdays in Boston, 9:30am – 12:30pm. Begins April 15th. Want to write new poems, and try out new forms, styles and voices you've never tried before? In this low-pressure, free-wheeling class, we'll examine exemplary poems and poets --- both contemporary and from other eras, by Americans and Europeans as well as poets from Asia, South American and other places --- all chosen carefully for their ability to inspire. Then, beginning with in-class writing exercises and working at home between classes, we'll compose as many poems as we can that use this diverse selection of poets --- Pinksy, Li Po, Szymborska, Neruda, Zagajewski, Rimbaud, the "Beowulf" poet, Collins, Oliver, the Dadaists/Surrealists, and others --- as points of departure. Depending on class size, we will either workshop a poem from each student each week, or take turns on a rotating schedule; we may also "workshop on the fly." The pace of the class will be fast moving, the atmosphere experimental, playful and fun. Suitable for beginners looking for a sampler, or more seasoned poets looking to shake up things. The goal is to draft at least 12 rough poems and revise and finish 6 of them by the end of the class.
Level: All; $280/$255 members; Registration Deadline: April 9th
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About Ethan Gilsdorf as a teacher:
Ethan Gilsdorf teaches classes in poetry, memoir, personal essay, op-ed writing, reviewing, general journalism/feature writing, and the business of freelancing writing, for such institutions as Grub Street, Mediabistro, and Emerson College. He is also is co-founder of Grub Street's Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP) in Boston.
He has led poetry workshops for youths of all ages. He has also taught English composition and poetry at Louisiana State University, and has given lectures on poetry and poetry writing and given readings at numerous schools, summer programs and writers conferences, such as The Muse and the Marketplace, Wheaton College (MA), Marlboro College (VT), Boxboro Elementary School (MA), the Putney (VT) School Summer Programs, Oxbridge Summer Program (Paris), High Mowing School (NH), and Menlo College’s (CA) European study abroad program. He has volunteered in the Boston Public Schools system as a writing and English tutor/career enrichment speaker, tutor, guest lecturer and poetry workshop leader (Brighton High School, Monument High School, Madison Park High School, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, and elsewhere).
Kind things his former students have said about him:
"I am profoundly appreciative of the time and thought Ethan gave to my writing ... Reading his edits and speaking with him had the wonderful effect of inspiring me to write *more*..." -- Nancy U.
"I was so impressed with how engaging he was both as a writer and an instructor. He kept the class moving at a good pace, and he made it fun, even the scary workshopping, which can be so harsh. I felt like he set strong guidelines for workshopping which kept it from feeling personal, and he really stuck to the positive criticism and what would help and improve our writing. He was also very good at drawing out people like myself who don't speak as much, and got everyone involved. I loved the projects, and I am sad the class ended. I look forward to taking more classes with Ethan, as it makes me want to write."-- Karen L.
"Ethan Gilsdorf has an ability to make even dry facts entertaining. I found his seminar to be well-structured, informative and interesting, his teaching style honest and straightforward. His myriad experiences, handouts, and anecdotes made for a rewarding introduction to the field." -- Jessica Lee
"Ethan's practical teaching style made Arts and Culture Writing seem very accessible. In addition to talking about his own experience, he had us brainstorm story ideas from a press release to illustrate many of his points. He covered a wide range of material that was useful for both new and seasoned freelancers, and the packet of resources and story examples he provided will be invaluable." -- Julia Maranan
"I want to commend you on your seminar last night. For me, as an outsider to the writing community it was a revelation and also an eye-opener! ... You made everything clear and I was impressed by the usefulness of what you told us ..."-- Gerald Zeitlin
"A firehose of knowledge on the craft and business of feature writing."
"Ethan was a great instructor. He gave practical, constructive feedback from the perspective of a writer who know what editors look for, and took the time to give us meaningful feedback. ... This workshop gave me a very necessary kick in the ass to get my writing into high gear."
"[Ethan] had great energy and humor to sustain interest through the course of a big data dump. [He's] strong at bouncing off questions and ideas from the class. ... Thanks for a very useful class."
"Ethan did a terrific job with last night's seminar. He has a dry sense of humor and was human and versatile... both of which kept his multitudes of information engaging."
"The handout was terrific, a handbook, actually. He was very available in one to one and in group, generous about follow up if we wanted it. I [recommend] keeping him on your teaching staff."
"GREAT introductory course! ... Ethan's knowledge of the field is thorough..."
"Ethan's enthusiam for his subject is evident ... "
"Ethan has a nice blend of humor, genuine style and general experience."