Acting & Performing Arts

Writing

Develop Comedy & Improv Skills

Edit Your Work & Get It Published

Hone Your Writing Process & Voice

Spark Creativity & Generate Ideas

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

Meet your new instructor: New York Times–bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris. David shares his thoughts on what you need to be a writer, how bad experiences become funny, and how everyone’s life is worth writing about. 

1. Introduction

Introduction

David teaches you how to ask better questions, let stories land in your lap, and not ruin the moment when an idea for a story is unfolding before you.

2. Observing the World

Observing the World

Using examples from his own writing, David shows you how to take ideas from your diary and start expanding them into an essay.

3. Turning Observations Into Stories

Turning Observations Into Stories

The opening line is everything. David talks through multiple failed openings to his essay “Understanding Owls” and discusses how he landed on the final, published version.

4. Breaking Into a Story

Breaking Into a Story

David gives you tips for making yourself relatable as a protagonist in your essays. He also covers how to structure the humor and content of your writing so that audiences can find something to connect to.

5. Connecting to Your Reader

Connecting to Your Reader

How do you put the people you care about in your essays without hurting them? David discusses this challenge and brings in his sister Lisa, who’s appeared in many of his essays, for an intimate conversation.

6. Writing About Loved Ones

Writing About Loved Ones

Starting with a diary entry, David reads multiple drafts of the beginning of what eventually became his New Yorker essay “Active Shooter.”

7. Story Evolution: "Active Shooter"

Story Evolution: "Active Shooter"

Get a behind-the-scenes look at David’s workshop process while he’s touring and watch as he tries a piece for the first time at a public reading in Cleveland.

8. Kitchen Sink Stories: Live in Cleveland

Kitchen Sink Stories: Live in Cleveland

Humor isn’t memorable when it doesn’t mean something. David teaches you how to turn your essay from a purely comedic piece into writing with meaning.

9. Ending With Weight

Ending With Weight

David shares his approach to rewriting, with an eye toward digging deeper into your stories and making the most of your funny moments.

10. Revision Philosophy

Revision Philosophy

David talks about how to learn from live readings, conduct readings of your own, and behave when your work is published in the world.

11. Growing as a Writer

Growing as a Writer

David shares some of his favorite stories and writers and explains how to learn from them.

12. David's Influences

David's Influences

To end, David gives you heartfelt advice about writing every day, not confusing writing with publishing, and just how possible it is to become a writer.

13. Conclusion: Two Groups of People

Conclusion: Two Groups of People

Watch a complete onstage reading of David’s essay “The Spirit World.”

14. Bonus Reading: "The Spirit World"

Bonus Reading: "The Spirit World"

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

variant_1

Enjoy 7 days free

The promo may be over, but your opportunity isn't. Dive into the full experience, worry-free, with our 7-day money-back guarantee.

The offer has ended

Amount charged now

Your 7-day free trial starts today

Pre-enroll now to save 15% on the Breakthrough Innovation Strategy course.

Save 15% on this course when you pre-enroll by October 22, 2025.

Turn bold ideas to business impact—pre-enroll by October 22, 2025 and save 15%.

Pre-enroll now to save 15% on our Leadership and Decision-Making Under Pressure course.

Save 15% on this course when you pre-enroll by October 1, 2025.

Lead and make decisions under pressure—pre-enroll by October 1, 2025 and save 15%.

From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Times

Wirecutter

Reviewed - USA Today

Scripting Your Own Success

Mindy Kaling

Achieve More With GenAI

Ethan Mollick

Allie K. Miller

Don Allen III

Manuel Sainsily

Teaches Creative Writing

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Writing Thrillers

Dan Brown

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Amy Tan

Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Tell a Great Story

Michael Lewis

Teaches Comedy

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Prepare to Be Unprepared

Amy Poehler

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Teach Developing an Original TV Series

The Duffer Brothers

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Reframe Your Thinking

Ava DuVernay

Using Humor to Make Your Mark

Kevin Hart

Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Billy Collins

Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Teaches Screenwriting

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

David Baldacci

David Baldacci Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

Teaches Writing

James Patterson

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Teaches Fiction and Storytelling

Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley Teaches Fiction and Storytelling

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Teaches Writing for Social Change

Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay Teaches Writing for Social Change

Teaches Investigative Journalism

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism

Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Judy Blume

Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Menu

Skills You'll Learn