Andrea A. Firth
Writer, Editor, Educator
Co-Founder, Diablo Writers' Workshop
Editor at the Brevity Blog
Contact: andrea@andreaafirth.com
Join me for the
Wednesday Co-Write
9:00-10:15 am PST
FREE on Zoom
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New Classes!!!
See what I've got planned for Spring
Next
April 25, 2024
3:00-4:30 pm PST
FREE on Zoom
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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. Her writing 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.
New Classes
Finding Your Essays Heartbeat--April 2024
I'm teaching this workshop for the fine folks at Write or Die throughout the month of April.
Enroll Anytime Here.
Here's how it works:
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Each week you will receive 2 lessons via email, plus 2-3 readings (short but still craft fantastic).
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I'll take you on a deep dive into what makes a personal essay work. We'll cover ideas, memory, structure, dialogue, point of view, meaning making, craft, revision and more.
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We'll also work through a six-step prompt that will guide you to get all of the key parts of your essay on the page in a single sitting.
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With your essay well underway, we'll look for the heartbeat–what it’s about and how it connects—and learn how to finetune the storytelling with good writing craft.
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Take on the lessons when it works for you. Ask questions and get answers using the course comment thread. And we'll meet up virtually on April 27th for a Q&A too.
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The first two weeks are free. Receive the entire course (all 8 lessons) for just $10.
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And, here's Lesson #1, Tapping Memory and Generating Ideas for Essays. Check it out.
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The Essay Workshop--on Zoom
May 7, 14 and 21 & June 4, 11 and 18
(No Class May 28)
6 Tuesdays/$385
9:30-11:30 AM PST
This generative course is designed to move your personal essay from a nascent idea to a smooth (yup, not rough) draft.
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Generate and develop new essay ideas.
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Write a complete draft of your essay following an in-class prompt.
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Learn how to refine your writing--moving your draft from rough to smooth.
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Participate in a fun, supportive and constructive workshop.
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Receive written feedback and line edits from me.
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Review published essays for craft. Note that this course is focused more on writing than reading, and giving and getting good feedback.
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Ideal for writers both new to the form and those who have written personal essay. Workshop experience is helpful. Max 9 writers.
Wednesday Co-Writing
Inspiration. Motivation. Community
9:00 am - 10:15 am PST
FREE. On Zoom
Every Wednesday!
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.
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Submit It Now!
Time and support to help you get your work out to lit mags
Next Session: April 25, 2024
3:00 - 4:30 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.
FREE Meet Ups on Zoom
Selected Essays and Journalism
Secret Words
Dorothy Parker's Ashes, January 2024
Broken Glass
Dorothy Parker's Ashes, January 2023
Unpacking Mom
Allium, A Journal of Poetry & Prose, Fall 2022
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Fear of Infinity
Please See Me, April 22, 2022
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Capturing the Final Moments of Pregnancy in a Picture
Motherwell, August, 2021
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A Coyote in the Midst
The Coachella Review, Winter 2020
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Old John
eMerge Magazine, Summer 2020
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The Pandemic's Quiet Victim: Our Planet
The Bold Italic, July 2020
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Is Video Gaming A New Addiction?
Oakland Magazine, October 2018
Journalism, Craft and the Writing Life
What Columbo Taught Me About Writing Essays
Brevity Blog, March 27, 2024
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The Future of CNF Writing, Editing and Publishing
in a World with AI, Interview w/Sil Hamilton
Brevity Blog, Part 1, August 21, 2023
Brevity Blog, Part 2, August 24, 2023
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Crónica: The Platypus of Prose
An Interview w/Javier Sinay
Brevity Blog, September 11, 2023
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The Hard as F--- List and Breakfast Sandwich
The Sub Club Newsletter, June 24, 2023
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Watch Out for the Unexpected
Brevity Blog, October 14, 2022
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Exploring the Possibilities of Artificial
Intelligence in Creative Nonfiction Writing
Brevity Blog, February 1, 2023
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Winning at Battleship and Lit Mags--It's a Process
Write or Die Magazine, March 23, 2023
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Flash: The Art and Craft of Writing Short
A Q&A with Grant Faulkner
Brevity Blog, February 15, 2023
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How the Literary Journal Landscape Is
and Isn't Changing
Jane Friedman's Blog, April 26, 2022
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You Always Remember Your First
Brevity Blog, April, 2022
Seven Drafts, an Interview with Allison K Williams
Catapult, December 1, 2021
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What Do I Call This? How to Title a Personal Essay
Brevity Blog, September, 2021
Tomato Ready: Publishing, Patience and Pleasant Surprises
Brevity Blog, June, 2021