An essayist is a writer who specializes in essays: thoughtful pieces of writing that explore ideas, experiences, or observations. Unlike novelists who create fictional stories or journalists who report breaking news, essayists take time to examine a subject from different angles, sharing their personal perspective and insights.

When you read an essay by someone like E.B. White (who wrote Charlotte's Web but was also a famous essayist), you're seeing how one thoughtful person makes sense of the world. Essayists write about everything: nature, friendship, books, cities, childhood memories, or big questions about life. Their goal is to help you think about something in a new way, drawing on facts and information to illuminate larger ideas.

The essayist's craft involves clear thinking and clear writing. A good essayist notices details others might miss and finds ways to make readers care about subjects they might have overlooked. Michel de Montaigne, who helped shape the modern essay form in the 1580s, wrote pieces with titles like “On Friendship” and “On Sadness,” thinking through these topics on paper and inviting readers to think alongside him.

When you write an essay for school exploring your thoughts on a book or an idea, you're practicing the essayist's art yourself.