# Event Details - **Event Name**: Pivotal Moments: A Personal Essay Writing Workshop - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 29 Jul, 2026 at 04:00 pm – Wed, 19 Aug, 2026 at 06:00 pm - **Event Description**: We are excited to offer a four-week intensive course in personal essay writing with author Jane Ganahl.About this EventWe are excited to offer a four-part intensive course in personal essay writing with author Jane Ganahl. Please note the sessions will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 on four consecutive Wednesdays: July 29, August 5, August 12, and August 19. The total cost for the four-week session is $400, and is limited to 9 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 four-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 four 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.ACCESSIBILITY: We never want cost to be a barrier to admission for our community. Please email events [at] keplers [dot] org if you would like to attend this event but cannot afford a ticket. To request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for this event, please email events [at] keplers [dot] org at least one week prior to the event.REFUND POLICY: We are not able to offer a full refund up to 30 days before the event.We want Kepler’s to be a welcoming and comfortable space for everyone. If you are feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms, please stay home. Thank you for helping us create a safe and considerate environment for our community. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/menlo-park/pivotal-moments-a-personal-essay-writing-workshop/100001988449641405 - **Event Categories**: workshops, art, literary-art, festivals, health-wellness, nonprofit - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 2 hours - Location: 1047 El Camino Real - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 420.99, max: 420.99, 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/events3/banners/c448f36aab198c8bbe24ef310426842975e71a538eecf062c64093d1a360a35f-rimg-w1200-h1267-dc151614-gmir.jpg?v=1778487444 ## 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, 29 Jul, 2026 at 04:00 pm to Wed, 19 Aug, 2026 at 06:00 pm at 1047 El Camino Real, 1047 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, United States. - **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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