Take a deep dive into the craft of writing fiction. With a particular focus on short fiction, this class will explore key craft elements such as characterization, setting, tone, conflict, and structure through reading, discussion, and generative writing exercises. This is a craft and generative writing class, not a workshop. Students will be invited to […]
read moreThe “Zero Draft” is you, the writer, telling yourself the story —a rough, fearless first version where you discover your characters, shape your plot, and uncover what your story really wants to be. In this 10-step class, you'll break the writing process into clear, achievable milestones. You’ll learn how to build strong story structure, craft […]
read moreThis class will take a deep dive into American poetry of the 20th century and explore how poetry has transformed along with our country. Part history class, part literature analysis, part writing workshop, this class will leave you with knowledge of a wide range of poets and movements that we will use to inspire your […]
read moreReframe your narrative around grief to create new holiday traditions and memories. Writing can spark positive memories and meaning around loss. Using short readings and prompts, we’ll move from memory to the page, exploring how loss has reshaped your traditions. This is a generative workshop; we’ll be writing as we go. You’ll leave with helpful […]
read moreCelebrate the poet Emily Dickinson by reading some of her poems, eating her famous cake, and writing poems of your own. We'll also look at some of Dickinson's manuscripts and letters, and we'll consider how her writing process and life experiences shaped her poetry.
read moreWhy do folktales and fairy tales have such a remarkable staying power? Author and mythographer Marina Warner suggests that it’s “because the meanings they generate are themselves magical shape-shifters, dancing to the needs of their audience.” In this class, we’ll read and discuss fairy tales, both traditional and revisionist. We will then reimagine them, as […]
read moreDive deep into the realm of images to discover new possibilities for your poetry and prose. In this workshop, we'll tap into memory, imagination, description, observation, and discovery, through a number of playful, strange, and thought-provoking writing activities. These exercises will inspire new work and offer fresh ways of looking at your works in progress, […]
read moreCelebrate and observe the natural world through writing. We’ll explore what others have written about nature and write new poems inspired by your experiences. Plan to read poems, create new work and engage in readings and discussions.
read moreYou’re likely working on a book-sized project when your ideas feel too big to fit into your head. In this one-off class, we’ll discuss strategies for organizing and structuring large narrative projects like memoirs and novels. For creative thinkers, too much planning can feel constraining—but it doesn't have to be! In this class, we’ll practice […]
read moreDickinson once wrote that "Nature is a haunted house–but Art–is a house that tries to be haunted." Come explore some poems that make space for ghosts, monsters, and other such spooky creatures, and write some haunted poems of your own.
read moreThis six-week personal essay class will walk you through the process of writing, revising, and submitting an essay to the New York Times' Modern Love essay column. Discussions of published essays from the column and writing advice from the editor Daniel Jones will create a foundation for writing your own Modern Love style essays. Prompts […]
read moreThis one-session workshop class is for fiction writers (new or long-term) looking to try out the workshop experience, get fresh feedback on their work, and make new connections in the process. Students will submit and read each other's work prior to class.
read moreDo you love to tell stories? In this class you will write and illustrate your own tales inside a handmade book! We will learn how to bind a book, how to use a variety of drawing materials, and how to craft an exciting story with words and images. We'll help each other turn ideas and […]
read moreEdgar Allen Poe is an American horror icon and influence to many, even a young Edogawa Ranpo. Born Taro Hirai, Ranpo was a writer and critic who shaped the scene of Japanese mystery and thriller fiction. Learn about and read both of their works in converstion with each other, and put in the context surrounding […]
read moreLet's practice breaking out of the repetition of our own minds, interests, concerns, and write into new places. Students will be given weekly prompts to explore outside of their frame of reference and then write about it for workshop.
read moreLearn about the some of the most famous ghost stories in Japan, the context in which they were written, and what cultural fears they reflect, as well as how these tales have continued to thrill new readers over the centuries. You will leave class with a primer of Japanese kaidan, or tales of the supernatural […]
read moreExplore the dark self, what Carl Jung called the “shadow” part of our psyche. Sometimes we see it in our dreams, sometimes it appears in dark imaginings. We’ll learn what the shadow can add to our creative writing by experimenting with timed writing, dream journals, guided imagery and Active Imagination.
read moreConfessional poetry is a mid-century movement in American poetry that pioneered autobiographical, free-verse poetry. In this class, we will read from the great confessional poets, discuss craft, and workshop poems. You will be expected to write poems in between classes, as we will use class time for reading and workshop.
read moreA course for poets that want to try out poetry slam competitions. Throughout the weeks poets will analyze, write, perform "slam poems" with National Poetry Slam Champion and inaugural poet laureate Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems.
read moreGot ideas for a science fiction or fantasy story but aren’t sure how to approach it? Have you wanted to try exploring these imaginative genres but need a push to get started? Looking for like-minded folks with whom to share work and explore ideas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is […]
read moreThomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the first year of law school.” You’ll work with writing prompts and timed writing exercises, and […]
read moreThis class focuses on basic tips for revising poetry, giving and receiving constructive poetic feedback, and how to further revise a poem after a group workshop. First, we'll get inspired by topics or prompts discussed in class and revise poems you have been working on to get them workshop-ready. Then, workshop your poem among peers […]
read moreThe “Zero Draft” is you, the writer, telling yourself the story —a rough, fearless first version where you discover your characters, shape your plot, and uncover what your story really wants to be. In this 10-step class, you'll break the writing process into clear, achievable milestones. You’ll learn how to build strong story structure, craft […]
read moreExplore short story fiction writing by studying narrative craft elements like story, plot, character, scene, structure, archetypal patterns and dialogue. We’ll examine professionally published pieces and your own work. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to begin a story based on a word or an idea. You’ll also understand how to evaluate […]
read moreDive into screenwriting in this seven-week class exploring the core elements of storytelling: character, conflict, and climax. This class breaks down the essentials of a compelling script, exploring how to craft memorable characters, create dynamic conflict, and build tension to a powerful climax. You'll have the chance to develop your ideas from concept to outline, […]
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