When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
- Communicating ideas in a clear way is a crucial life skill no matter which field you work in.
- Writing personal essays can help perfect your storytelling and presentation skills.
- Below are 15 online classes, books, podcasts, and resources to start with.
Everyone has a story, but not everyone knows how to tell their story. One place to start is finding the perfect container for your experiences and insights. Enter: the personal essay.
Well-crafted essays mark the difference between a meandering group of paragraphs and a clear, resonant idea. Almost every occupation can benefit from stronger communication, research, and persuasion skills — all of which can be sharpened from essay writing classes.
Think about the application prompts you’ve muddled through or the chances for publication you’ve felt too intimidated to attempt. The confidence to explore a topic, land on a perspective, and express it effectively is universally valuable, whether you’re writing a personal statement for college, crafting a cover letter for a new job, or giving a presentation at work.
The essay writing resources below range from 200-page books to eight-week online courses. Some require submitting original work to receive feedback, while others are prompts meant to inspire new ideas.