# Event Details - **Event Name**: Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 14 Jan, 2026 at 04:00 pm – Wed, 28 Jan, 2026 at 06:00 pm - **Event Description**: We are excited to offer a three-week intensive course in personal essay writing with author Jane Ganahl.About this EventWe are excited to offer a three-week intensive course in personal essay writing with author Jane Ganahl. Please note the sessions will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on three consecutive Wednesdays: January 14, January 21, and January 28. The total cost for the three-week session is $300, and is limited to eight people.About the WorkshopEvery day there are moments that could inspire a personal essay: finding your late mother’s favorite shoes, being asked by your curious grandchild when you’re going to die, walking past a restaurant and smelling the pungent aroma of a birthplace you have not seen in decades. These are moments that cause you to pause, reflect and learn: the basis of a solid personal essay. In this three-part introductory class, you’ll learn how to identify these pivotal moments, find the lessons therein, and write about them in a way that resonates with readers. Because the best personal essays don’t just relate something that happened to you: they draw the reader in with deep sharing and offer a new perspective. The goal of this course is to write an essay—or at least get a solid first draft done—in three weeks!Students will learn:- How to choose a topic (and topics to avoid)- The five elements of a good essay- How to structure your essay with an outline- The importance of perspectiveAbout the InstructorJane Ganahl is a writer, teacher, and co-founder of the Litquake festival. As a Hearst newspaper journalist for many years, she wrote the “Single Minded” column for the Chronicle, which led to her memoir, Naked on the Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife. She was also the editor of the anthology Single Woman of a Certain Age. Her essays have appeared in five different anthologies and in the magazines Spirituality & Health, , , Huffington Post, Bazaar, and Salon, among other places. She is also a crazy cat lady, with a small nonprofit that tends feral colonies on the San Mateo County coast. Read more at janeganahl.com.The workshop will take place in a second floor office at 1047 El Camino Real which is directly across the road from Kepler’s Books. Please note that there is no elevator in the building. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/menlo-park/pivotal-moments-a-personal-essay-writing-workshop/100001975643170907 - **Event Categories**: workshops, art, literary-art, festivals, health-wellness, nonprofit - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 315.99, max: 315.99, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Menlo Park - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: 1047 El Camino Real - **lat**: 37.4530851 - **long**: -122.1825428 - **full address**: 1047 El Camino Real, 1047 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/3f5da236a31043b0b2883ea447379c8903b00e88970dd9407caf787aa828d349-rimg-w1200-h1267-dc151614-gmir.jpg?v=1764312530 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop being held? - **A:** Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop takes place on Wed, 14 Jan, 2026 at 04:00 pm to Wed, 28 Jan, 2026 at 06:00 pm at 1047 El Camino Real, 1047 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop? - **A:** Tickets for Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop are priced at USD 316 per person. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailabilityWorkshop AdmissionUSD 316 + USD 16 feeAvailable - **Q**: Who is organizing Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop? - **A:** Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop is organized by Kepler's Literary Foundation. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Menlo Park, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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We produce over 150 programs each year bringing celebrated writers, artists, and original thinkers to engage with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.Your ticket purchases and donations support our ability to provide outstanding literary programming for the readers and writers in our community. It also enables us to bring exceptional writers to underserved schools, put books in the hands of children who often don't have books at home, and offer free admission to students and their teachers to our literary events." } ] } ] ```