Andrea A. Firth

Writer, Editor, Educator

Co-Founder, Diablo Writers' Workshop

Editor at the Brevity Blog
Contact: andrea@andreaafirth.com

Join Me for
Submit It Now!
Thursday
January 26
Details Below

Bio

Andrea A. Firth is a writer, editor, and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is cofounder of Diablo Writers’ Workshop where she teaches creative writing, provides editorial consulting, and supports a vibrant writing community. She is also an Editor for the Brevity Blog. Andrea received her MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Saint Mary’s College of California where she also teaches design thinking and life design. Her focus is personal essay, and in 2021 she was a finalist for the Missouri Review's Perkoff Prize. She was a longtime contributor to Oakland Magazine and has published hundreds of articles in news outlets and magazines. Inspired by a handful of old family photos, Andrea is working on a collection of essays, Examples of her recently published work are listed with links below.

Meaning Making and the Personal Essay

Tuesdays 9:30 - 11:30 am PST FULL

Tuesdays 3:00 - 5:00 pm PST FULL
February 7 thru March 14

6 weeks/$350/on Zoom

The art and craft of the personal essay pivots on the question--What does it mean? Essay, as a genre, opens the door to exploration, investigation and questioning. What does my personal experience mean in the context of the rest of the wide world? Probing for answers and making connections is what brings meaning to essay making. Each week we'll read and discuss thought-provoking essays and through freewrites and facilitated workshops, we'll see how our personal experiences intersect with society and the environment and discover what that means. You will receive supportive feedback from your peers and written feedback from me. Open to creative nonfiction writers of all levels--some workshop experience is ideal.

Join the Wait List in case a spot opens up--it happens.

Wait List

Wednesday Co-Writing
Inspiration. Motivation. Community

9:00 am - 10:15 am PST

FREE. On Zoom

Spend an hour writing in community. I alternate co-hosting with my colleague Janine Noel. After a brief check in, you'll get down to writing (audio muted, camera on or off). Generate new work or revise a work-in- progress. We will provide a prompt each week for those looking for a start, but this time and space is for you to write what you choose. No need to register in advance.

Zoom Link

Submit It Now!
Time and support to help you get your work out to lit mags

Every 4thThursday,
Next session: January 26th
3:00 - 4:15 pm PST
FREE. On Zoom.

Gather with other writers and dedicate an hour to submitting your writing to lit mags. After a brief check-in, I will introduce you to a great tool or resource to make the submission process easier and more fun. From there you will get to work and I will be available for questions. At the close we’ll see how the hour went and celebrate hitting SUBMIT. No advance registration needed.

Zoom Link