You have something to say,
Something happened.
Maybe in your life or inner world.
You realized something new, or old, or different.
And now you want to share it with the family, maybe the world.
You want to write that essay that perfectly and poignantly says what you want it to.
You want to capture the moment, share the wisdom, or maybe laugh at the folly.
You sit down to write and…
You don’t know where to start the story
How much background do you need?
Does it flow?
Does it make sense?
How do you get from point A to point B - you know they’re connected, but writing that connection, is tricky.
Do the words sound pretty?
You want to be vulnerable, but not TMI and you're just not sure how to package it all.
Maybe you’ve written essays before but every time you sit down to write it feels like the first time and you’re starting from scratch.
Or you thought your essays were gold - relatable - deep - unique - insightful, but you’ve gotten only rejection in response.
So you decide maybe writing essays isn’t for you, you’ll just tell a friend, or maybe just keep it to yourself.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Imagine being able to confidently inscribe your thoughts and experiences in a compelling manner that touches others and makes them experience the world through your eyes for just a moment.
Have I read your mind? Then Let’s Get Personal is for you.
You’ve probably read my essays in Mishpacha magazine. My style is straightforward and vulnerable, with a touch wry humor.
I sound confident, maybe even cocky now, but I wasn’t so clear on my style and approach for a looooong time.
I always wanted to share my thoughts - but pen to paper was a hot mess. I tried too hard, didn’t have a clear point, meandered my thoughts, didn’t actually write anything people wanted to read, just what I wanted to say - and deservedly, got nowhere.
Through slow and evolving progress, I went from pecking out essays once in a blue moon, to the ability to write one on demand.
And guess what, you can do it too.
(ok, maybe not write on demand)
And it doesn’t have to take years, just 4-5 weeks of structured and focused lessons and deliberate practice.
Giving yourself the gift of self-expression.
And the gift of you for generations to come.
Your ability to write a compelling essay is not just a neat party trick, but a way for you to affect your family, your descendants, and the world at large.
No. that last statement is not hyperbole.
Everything You Need to Know (and more!)
Wherever You Go, There You Are - Developing Your World View as an Essayist
Sharing is Caring - Navigating the fine line between Vulnerability and TMI
Fitting in -The structures of the essay, the many ways to approach them, and how to decide which one to use!
Paragraphs and Lines - How to actually write and essay, how long should it be, how to start, what to include?
What Are You Saying? - Distilling and focusing on your point.
Why Do I Love It? - How to deconstruct essays so you can template it and write like a pro!
Pretty Prose - How to construct beautiful sentences and know when to use them (and when to kill your darling)
Editors Do’s and Don’t - What they love and hate, and look for in essays.
And so much more!
(much like your essay)
Hour-Long Classes
Beginners is 4 classes
Advanced is 5 classes
Live classes (via Zoom) are
Beginners: Monday @ 1:30 PM EST
Advanced: Monday @ 8:30 PM EST
Followed by 30 minutes of Q & A
Course Starts: November 18th
Recordings: (If you can't make it live, cuz, life)
Classes are recorded to watch at your convenience.
Don't worry about missing the opportunity to ask questions live, you can always do that in the Slack group
You'll have access to the course a year after it concludes
Weekly Assignments:
Assignments are designed to develop the skill you are currently learning
Targeted reading to develop your writing muscle and skill
Community:
Join your cohort’s exclusive Slack chat group to build a community and friendships with other writers, from lending support, giving advice, offering feedback, and getting it all back in return.
Support:
Dedicated Slack "Office Hours" to answer all your writing questions and receive feedback
One audio-based personal feedback from Esther on an essay
15% off Coaching Sessions (for those looking for more support and feedback)
Bonus!
Q & A Session with Family First managing editor, Miriam Milstein.
Get big and little picture view of editing a magazine.
Ask all your questions, get all your answers!
All you gotta do is click!
4/5- hour long classes ($347 value)
Q & A sessions ($147 value)
1 - Personal Feedback ($47 value)
Targeted Writing Assignments ($47 value)
Checklists, Guidelines and Templates ($47 value)
Exclusive Slack Community ($147 value)
(Total Value: $782)
"Esther is an outstanding teacher. With structured lessons and precise feedback, my essays have gone from pretty good to publishable."
Passaic, NJ
"I have gained so many skills! I am so much more confident in my essay-writing abilities now."
Baltimore, MD
"I wrote two essays during our time together."
Passaic, NJ
"Was super enjoyable and taught me so much!"
Lakewood, NJ
"I definitely am writing more and learned tangible tools."
Chicago, IL
"LGP fun and you will learn how to produce more quality writing!"
Lakewood, NJ
Don't Love It?
It's for anyone with a story to tell.
The beginner track helps you find your voice and confidence in sharing your stories with loved ones. Think of writing down family stories, being able to write that memory for an anniversary gift, or sharing your family's core values and identity in a compelling way.
The advanced track is perfect if you're aiming to get published, and want a systematic approach to creativity and writing instead of davening for inspiration.
The live classes run for 5 weeks. The course is designed to be completed within that timeframe including completing an essay (or even more than one!)
It's a course for people with a story they want to tell.
So basically every human being - IF they want to share aspects of their life and inner world.
There are two tracks Beginners for non-writers and Advnced for those already writing.
If you're not sure which track is right for you, just email me and we'll figure it out together.
Slack is a private, secure communication app that we’ll be using to keep our class connected throughout the course. Think of it like a virtual meeting room, where you can ask questions, share thoughts, and stay in touch with both me and your fellow classmates.
It’s easy to use and only for our course members—you won’t be bombarded with random messages or have to worry about being in a public space.
Slack helps us build a supportive community while keeping everything organized in one place, so you can focus on your writing without distractions.
If you’re not familiar with Slack, don’t worry! I’ll guide you through it
You can even access it from your phone or computer, so it’s easy to fit into your day.
If that's your goal - very possibly! It's happened for previous LGP participants!
Want to stay in touch?
(all you gotta do is submit your e-mail address and I'll take care of the rest)