J. Berg (Joseph Berg) Esenwein

Born in 1867 and active through the first half of the 20th century, Joseph Berg Esenwein was an American writer, editor, and lecturer best known for books on writing and speaking. He worked not only as an author but also as a teacher of technique, explaining how stories, speeches, and articles could be shaped for real readers and listeners.

Esenwein wrote or co-wrote a wide range of practical guides, including works on story-writing, public speaking, photoplay writing, and children's storytelling. He is especially associated with clear, instructional books that aimed to make creative and professional writing more approachable.

That mix of literary interest and hands-on advice is what makes his work memorable today. Rather than treating writing as a mystery, he presented it as a skill that could be studied, practiced, and improved.