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THE 10-DAY
MFA

I'm Ready

don't have an mfa?

Even if you have been writing, the feeling of not having an MFA to put on your CV has always felt... icky. 

The problem? You feel like you might not be able to get there without having received an MFA—or any formal writing education at all. The author's bios you see at the back of your favorite books frequently mention an MFA, and you worry that if you don't, you won't have what it takes to write the book of your dreams. But you can't bear to walk away from that very dream—so, what next?

I received an MFA from one of the top three MFA programs in the country. I've also been on the other side as a visiting professor at an MFA program. I'm confident that the things that I feel were most important to my writing practice over ten years from the date of my graduation would surprise you... and I want to share them.

I’m bringing all of my learnings and first-hand experience to bear to host my first on-demand class designed to springboard you right into working on your first book: The 10-Day MFA.

And yet, taking my 10-Day MFA program will give you the boost you need when you're already working with limited time and energy, and would rather not begin by going down a dead end. Starting with the confidence and instruction that you'll receive from this class will also fuel you as you hunker down to write, knowing that you have a solid scaffolding for your dream essay collection or memoir.

Let's do this!

No—a formal writing education is not required to publish an extraordinary work of personal nonfiction.

Meet the teacher

Hi, I'm Esmé, and I'm obsessed with teaching personal nonfiction to writers living with limitations.

I won the Graywolf Nonfiction Prize for my essay collection, The Collected Schizophrenias, which also went on to win the Whiting Award and to become a New York Times bestseller. I've been a visiting professor at the San Jose State MFA program, and have taught hundreds of students the art of personal nonfiction writing; I also wrote The Collected Schizophrenias while coping with an assortment of debilitating chronic illnesses.

I'm here to help you crack through your blocks and find a more exhilarating way to write while living with limitations.

foUNDER of the unexpected shape™
devastatingly fond of potato skins
@esmewwang on instagram

I designed the free 10-Day MFA just for you.

Here's what you get.

I know what you need, friend. An exciting writing life is within reach.

How to read like a writer. You've been told over and over that to be a writer, you need to read, read, read. But what exactly is it that you're supposed to read? And how, exactly, are you supposed to be reading it? I'll provide a list of books that you can learn from (and nope, they're not all by dead white men, I promise) and go over how to approach reading nonfiction for your own benefit. 

How to build community as a writer. In my own MFA program, I found that it was the connections I made that were most important—and not connections to agents or editors, but connections to other students. I'll talk about how to do this either locally or online, and some of my tips & tricks of how to make solid bonds to benefit both yourself and others.

How to critique and get critiqued. It might feel terrifying to put yourself out there—to get critiqued—but after I teach you about the critique process, as well as some ways to help you to both GIVE and RECEIVE the best feedback possible, you'll feel much more comfortable and be much more prepared.

What will the 10-Day MFA cover?

How to think of yourself as a writer and give yourself time as a writer. Now that we've been through some of the nuts and bolts, what does it mean to get over the imposter syndrome that often comes with not being in an MFA program? In this lesson, I'll tell you how to begin thinking of yourself as a writer in your mind and soul.


How to talk about your work. Maybe you've published a few pieces here and there. Maybe you're working on a book. Or maybe you haven't started writing much at all. Given all of that, how do you talk about your work, or the work that you plan to do? Do you dread the question, "What is it that you do?" and its follow-up, "Oh, what do you write about?" I'll tell you how to approach these questions in a way that feels comfortable and true to yourself.


"I find her to be a smart and insightful teacher and appreciate her teaching style, which is patient, approachable, and calm... I always prefer quiet power over noisy, frenetic instruction."

"Esmé’s classes are among my favorite to take for a few reasons. First of all, I am a fan of her writing and trust her expertise. This is the initial hook. However, I find her to be a smart and insightful teacher and appreciate her teaching style, which is patient, approachable, and calm. Her assistant Chloe, who attends and helps facilitate all of the sessions, has a similar energy, so they complement each other well. I always prefer quiet power over noisy, frenetic instruction. In addition to the general atmosphere of the teaching, the courses are always well-prepared, organized, and professional. They have a system, and it works.” 

Sara V.

“Esmé is exceedingly knowledgeable and her teaching style is the perfect blend of calmly explaining every step of the writing process so you won’t be left confused and answering additional questions."

“Esmé is exceedingly knowledgeable and her teaching style is the perfect blend of calmly explaining every step of the writing process so you won’t be left confused and answering additional questions. She also puts much thought into every answer instead of giving a quick reply—I felt seen, taken care of and special, even though it was a group workshop.” 

navina b.

"You brought me new ideas in approaching my essays and I want to thank you for that. You're an excellent teacher and I look forward to attending more of your workshops!"

Cheryl w.

“I now see inspiration everywhere, as well as many new opportunities to make my personal writing more accessible."

"I’m familiar with using index cards to structure writing, but Esmé’s class is so much more than that. I now see inspiration everywhere, as well as many new opportunities to make my personal writing more accessible. (Especially important to me as I write about trauma.) Esmé’s teaching style is very engaging and encouraging. I’m thrilled with all I’ve learned in Indexing as Creative Discovery and plan to attend more of Esmé’s classes.” 

mary m.

It's been your biggest dream to be a writer...

but you can't decide if you need to have an MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in order to do it And I can help you do something about that in a free 10-day series of classes. (Really.)

The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open • The Doors Are Open •

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How does it work?

01

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Ready?

Sign up and gain access to The 10-Day MFA program via email, as well as a subscription to the Academy Bulletin—a newsletter made for ambitious writers living with limitations.