Writing About History: Philip Roth Personal Library Writing Workshop
For more information, please email Joshua Prager at jprager@npl.org or call 973.733.3614.
Beginning on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 6:00–7:30 p.m., Philip Roth Personal Library historian Joshua Prager will lead a seven-part writing series titled Writing About History.
This workshop will teach participants how to uncover compelling stories from the past and bring those stories to life on the page. Topics will include developing ideas, structuring narratives, conducting research, interviewing sources, writing, and editing. Participants will gain practical tools for transforming historical material into engaging and meaningful work.
The sessions will be:
Week 1: The idea
How do you choose your story?
Week 2: The structure
How do you organize your story?
Week 3: Research
How can the library be your partner?
Week 4: Documentation
Is there some text or image that supports your story?
Week 5: Interviewing
Who knows your story? And how will you talk to them?
Week 6: Writing
How can you use words, sentences, and paragraphs to make folks want to read your story?
Week 7: Editing
How should you change what you wrote to make it better?
