Reading for Writers: Henrik Karlsson

Most writers read a lot. But reading isn’t enough; you need to study great writing.

Henrik Karlsson is one of my writing role models. His writing is simple, yet dense. The ideas themselves are original. And there are many quotable lines in his pieces. I'll often read a Karlsson piece and not only be captivated by the storytelling and prose, but walk away with a perspective shift too.

This workshop is a chance to analyze and understand how he does it.

What’s the structure of the workshop?

We'll study one of his most popular essays: Sometimes the reason you can't find people you resonate with is because you misread the ones you meet.

Together, we'll break down the storytelling structure, the literary techniques, and the format. We’ll reverse-engineering what turns a good idea into a piece of writing people can't stop reading and sharing.

You'll leave with:

A clearer sense of what makes a great personal essay

A method for using personal stories to carry a broader message

An understanding of how to shape a personal essay for Substack and online readers

Who is this for?

Anyone who writes personal essays

Writers on Substack or anywhere online

Anyone who wants to get better at nonfiction writing

Details

This is an in-person workshop in NYC. We're keeping it intimate at 15 people.

Spots are limited.

If you're serious about your writing, you won’t want to miss this!

About the Facilitator

James Q is a former computer engineer turned writer and community organizer. He left his job in tech to pursue writing and community full-time. He’s been writing online since 2020 and now writes personal essays about becoming, relationships, and creativity on his Substack. Through Olive Tree Writing Club, the community he founded, he's hosted over 100+ writing events in New York City.

Personal Website | Substack

What's OTWC?

Olive Tree Writing Club is a New York City-based writing community founded on the belief that writing is thinking. Since 2022, they've hosted 100+ events for 1,000+ writers, spanning weekly writing sessions, workshops, retreats, and community gatherings.

Website | Substack | Instagram

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