Los Feliz Writers Fest 2026: Personal Essay Writing Workshop

Thursday, Aug 20

7:00pm – 8:30pm

Hosted by

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0/52 spots left

https://losfelizlitfest.org/schedule/

Join us for a personal essay writing workshop facilitated by Tracy Chabala! In this workshop, you’ll learn: (1) what makes a great personal essay, (2) how to pitch your essay to editors at publications, (3) what makes a pitch stand out to editors. You’ll also write a scene from your personal history! __________________ Join us for a personal essay writing workshop facilitated by Tracy Chabala! Tracy Chabala is the former Lifestyle Editor at Shondaland, where she commissioned and edited hundreds of personal essays. She’s authored dozens of personal essays, with bylines in VICE, Salon, and Shondaland, and coaches professional writers one-on-one with their narratives. She holds a BA and MA in creative writing from USC. In this workshop, you’ll learn: (1) what makes a great personal essay; (2) how to pitch your essay to editors at publications, and (3) what makes a pitch stand out to editors receiving dozens of submissions. You’ll also write a compelling scene from your personal history to help you access your authentic voice and identify impactful sensory and emotional details that will make your writing pop. AND you'll have the opportunity to share your work with a small group of participants if you so choose. This will be a supportive and safe space for writers of all levels of to connect with one another through storytelling. Please support the local business hosting us by purchasing something as that's why our event is FREE <3 WHAT TO BRING Bring a journal and/or your computer to take notes, write, and read PDFs. WAITLIST The Los Feliz Writers Festival is a free community resource for any and all writers in Los Angeles. We are thrilled by the overwhelming response and number of RSVPs we’ve gotten so far. If you are on the waitlist, you are welcome to show up to the event anyway, you may not have a seat or materials but are welcome to stand and participate. We will only turn away writers if we are absolutely at capacity. ADA & ACCESSIBILITY Wheelchair accessible. No stairs. Outdoor venue with fans. Chairs are provided, and people are not expected to stand. Two bathrooms are gender-neutral. Amplified sound will be provided for this event. Wear layers if temperature sensitive. Use scent-free materials and be aware of fragrance sensitivity. PUBLIC TRANSIT & PARKING Street parking only. Meters are free after 8pm. Valet and paid parking lots are also available. _______ Check out the full schedule of events! We have 13 events taking place August 19-23 all over Los Feliz!! This event is 2 out of 13!