Historical Nonfiction: Research-Based Writing With Hadley Meares
In this four-part workshop, learn to write your own historical essay through a research-based lens.
Course Description
Have you ever wanted to write a history of personal interest in a 1200-word, Atlas Obscura essay–type format, but didn’t know where to begin? Perhaps you’ve always wondered about the deeper story behind an old family recipe, a run-down building on your block, or a specific moment in time. This four-part online writing workshop with historical journalist Hadley Meares will equip you with the tools you’ll need to start researching and writing.
Over the course of four sessions, you’ll learn how to begin your quest, conduct research, and shape your original project. Along the way, you’ll participate in group exercises and get personalized feedback from Hadley and your fellow participants. By the end of the course, you’ll be well on your way to writing a compelling, nonfiction history that is personal to you and your interests.
Syllabus at a Glance
There are four total sessions included in this purchase, each lasting for 1.5 hours with a week between each session.
Summer Section A: Meets Saturdays beginning July 17
Session 1 (Saturday, 7/17, 3–4:30 PM ET): Finding your voice and your inspiration
Session 2 (Saturday, 7/24, 3–4:30 PM ET): Research methodologies from home
Session 3 (Saturday, 7/31, 3–4:30 PM ET): Essay format and shaping your narrative
Session 4 (Saturday, 8/7, 3–4:30 PM ET): Story sharing and feedback
Summer Section B: Meets Wednesdays beginning August 18
Session 1 (Wednesday, 8/18, 7–8:30 PM ET): Finding your voice and your inspiration
Session 2 (Wednesday, 8/25, 7–8:30 PM ET): Research methodologies from home
Session 3 (Wednesday, 9/1, 7–8:30 PM ET): Essay format and shaping your narrative
Session 4 (Wednesday, 9/8, 7–8:30 PM ET): Story sharing and feedback
Summer Section C: Meets Thursdays beginning August 26
Session 1 (Thursday, 8/26, 7:30–9 PM ET): Finding your voice and your inspiration
Session 2 (Thursday, 9/2, 7:30–9 PM ET): Research methodologies from home
Session 3 (Thursday, 9/9, 7:30–9 PM ET): Essay format and shaping your narrative
Session 4 (Thursday, 9/16, 7:30–9 PM ET): Story sharing and feedback
Summer Section D: Meets Sundays beginning September 19
Session 1 (Sunday, 9/19, 3–4:30 PM ET): Finding your voice and your inspiration
Session 2 (Sunday, 9/26, 3–4:30 PM ET): Research methodologies from home
Session 3 (Sunday, 10/3, 3–4:30 PM ET): Essay format and shaping your narrative
Session 4 (Sunday, 10/10, 3–4:30 PM ET): Story sharing and feedback
Summer Section E: Meets Wednesdays beginning September 22
Session 1 (Wednesday, 9/22, 7:30–9 PM ET): Finding your voice and your inspiration
Session 2 (Wednesday, 9/29, 7:30–9 PM ET): Research methodologies from home
Session 3 (Wednesday, 10/6, 7:30–9 PM ET): Essay format and shaping your narrative
Session 4 (Wednesday, 10/13, 7:30–9 PM ET): Story sharing and feedback
Between Sessions
Students will be given optional assignments to complete between sessions, including brief writing prompts and exercises crafted to help aid in research and writing. You can spend as much or as little time on assignments as you'd like—this class is what you make of it!
Pricing Options
If you are unable to pay the ticket price for this course, a limited number of no-pay spots are available to increase accessibility for students, regardless of economic situation. Please note that this option is first-come, first-served, and reserved for those who would not otherwise be able to take this course. To learn more about our approach to pricing, including no-pay options, please visit our FAQ page.
Atlas Obscura Online Courses
Our online courses offer opportunities for participants to emerge with new skills, knowledge, connections, and perspectives through multi-session classes designed and taught by expert instructors. Courses can take one of two forms: Seminars are intimate, interactive classes—capped at nine to 20 students—exploring topics and crafts through discussion, workshops, assignments, and in-class activities. We also offer lecture series that can be attended live, or viewed a time that works for you for up to one week after they’ve aired.
To learn more about our current course offerings, please visit www.atlasobscura.com/online-courses.
For answers to commonly asked questions, check out our FAQ page here.
Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite that will provide access to the class meeting. Please save the confirmation email as you’ll use it to access your course via Zoom on each scheduled date and time.
Hadley Meares is an LA-based historical journalist, tour leader, talking head, and the host of the history podcast Underbelly LA. She is a frequent contributor to Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, Curbed, HISTORY, LAist, Los Angeles Magazine and Atlas Obscura, among other outlets.
This is an interactive, small-group, seminar-style course that meets over Zoom. Students may be invited to participate in discussions, workshop their projects, and receive feedback from the course instructor.
In most cases, instructors will use Google Classroom to communicate with students outside of class. While students aren’t required to use Google Classroom, instructors will be using this platform to post resources, discussion questions, and assignments, when applicable.
We provide closed captioning for all of our courses, as well as transcripts upon request. Please reach out to us at experiences@atlasobscura.com if you have any questions, requests, or access needs.
There are 22 spots available on this experience.
