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Writing the Modern Love Essay – Fall ’26
Craft a love story that resonates and learn to submit with confidence.
Do you have a love story (romantic, familial, or unexpected) that changed how you see the world? Are you ready to transform a pivotal relationship into an essay that connects with readers everywhere?
This six-week generative class helps you craft a compelling Modern Love essay worthy of submission to The New York Times‘ iconic column or other top-tier publications. Led by Mark McDevitt, whose own Modern Love essay was selected for the “Best of” anthology, this course examines the elements that make love stories resonate: emotional truth, narrative tension, universal themes, and surprising moments of insight.
Through guided prompts, craft discussions, and close reading of published essays, you will explore diverse approaches to the genre—from essays about marriage and divorce to stories of friendship, family dynamics, and self-discovery.
You will learn to identify your unique angle, structure your narrative for maximum impact, and refine your essay through revision. Weekly writing assignments keep you generating fresh material while building toward a complete, submission-ready essay.
Whether you’re writing about a first love, a last goodbye, or a relationship that defied easy categorization, this class provides the tools, community, and momentum to help you shape your experience into a story that matters. You leave with a polished draft and the confidence to submit your work to Modern Love and beyond.
Join us to discover the essay that only you can write—and share your love story with the world.
Price range: $250.00 through $275.00
"A good personal essay offers the reader a chance to peer inside another person’s head and live vicariously through them, if only for a moment. I like to think of the personal essay as a 'mini memoir.' Like a memoir, a good essay can travel far, and sometimes stay with you forever."
Mark McDevitt is a writer and screenwriter with the Writers Guild of America. His written work has appeared in The New York Times (Modern Love, “Best of” Anthology), The Sunday Independent, The Examiner, Giant Magazine, Body + Soul, The Iconoclast and many others. He has written over a dozen feature film scripts and more than a few TV pilots and treatments. In 2007, he was a finalist for the Disney Fellowship in writing, and is a three-time semifinalist for the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting awarded every year by AMPAS. He is passionate about biography and history, and believes that inside every person is a natural-born storyteller, just waiting to be released. Together with his wife, he is the co-author of the book Painting With Scissors. They live in Fair Haven, New Jersey, with their two young sons. You can find him at markmcdevitt.net.
In his article “How to Write a Personal Essay with Style and Substance,” Mark shares invaluable insights into focusing on transformation, starting with action rather than setup, thinking in scenes, and finding the universal in specific details. Read it here. Mark shares invaluable insights like focusing on transformation, starting with action not setup, thinking in scenes, and finding the universal in specific details.
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Project Write Now offers no refunds or credits once registered, except in the unfortunate case a class or event is cancelled. We reserve the right to change instructors if necessary. We reserve the right to cancel, postpone, or reschedule any class, workshop, or event because of low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us at info@projectwritenow.org or call 908.675.0467 for more information. Please note that when you register for a class you are reserving one of a limited number of spots available. Your registration also counts toward our consideration of class minimums.
Our organization was founded to help amplify the voices of those who are often not heard—including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other historically marginalized groups. We have witnessed how writing and sharing stories has the power to effect change by generating greater love, compassion, and empathy in the listener. In all of our programs, we provide an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming environment. We do not tolerate writing and/or behavior that perpetuates harmful stereotypes or fuels hate. Failure to align with our philosophy can result in your removal from class.