Text and Live Video
In these courses, you will join both live video meetings (usually weekly Zoom calls), as well as text-based course software for course content, writing assignments, and feedback.
Upcoming Courses
April Courses
From the Source: Journaling for Self-Knowledge and Creativity
with Amy Bonnaffons
Journal to discover yourself, find a wellspring of creativity, and produce publication-ready pieces.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
How to Craft a Poem
with Zining Mok
A poem can tell a story, communicate our innermost thoughts, and reveal what moves us most deeply. Craft poems that do all of this and more in this guided poetry workshop.
The Joy of Poetry: A Beginner-Friendly Workshop
with Joy Roulier Sawyer
Have you wanted to get into poetry, but don't know where to start? Learn the craft from the Joy of poetry herself in this welcoming workshop.
May Courses
Writing Our Grief: How to Channel Loss into Creative Expression
with Rudri Patel
Writing about grief is a powerful healing tool. Turn pain into power in this personal essay course, with instructor Rudri Patel.
Creative Nonfiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Personal Essay
Experiments in Poetry
with Elizabeth Winder
See poetry in a totally new light! Draw inspiration from the most radical, innovative, and imaginative poets in literary history, master their techniques, and write new exciting poems of your own.
Toying with The Truth: A Generative Nonfiction Workshop
with Shelby Hinte
Experiment with creative nonfiction forms and find the best way to tell your personal stories. Write a short piece each week, and choose one draft to polish.
Writing Circle Workshop: Moving Toward Creativity & Light
with Susan Vespoli
Connect with other writers, spark your creativity, and write light-filled poems in this writing circle workshop.
Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Use Story and Premise Development for Writing Success
with Jeff Lyons
The premise line is the only reliable tool that can tell you, BEFORE you start writing, whether or not your story will “work.” In this class participants will learn how to master the process of premise line development—the essential first step in any book or screenplay’s development process.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Stage and Broadcast
Six Flash Essays in Six Weeks
with Rudri Patel
Tell the stories of your life in 1,000 words or less in this generative flash essays workshop.
Telling the Stories Your Body Holds: Writing and Shaping Strong Personal Essays
with Sarah Herrington
Where do essays come from? In this course, they come from the body. Learn how to start—and finish—powerful essays that begin inside the self.
Five Styles of the Personal Essay
with Susan Pohlman
Craft powerful nonfiction essays! By exploring five exciting essay forms, you'll learn to bring the stories of your life alive on the page.
It Starts with Play: Get (Back) into Writing
with Janée Baugher
Harness the joy of creativity in this inspiration-focused class, where we'll uncover new ideas for writing projects and draft loads of new material.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
Get It Done: Fast-Draft Your Novel in 13 Weeks
with Troy Wilderson
Write a complete first draft of your novel in this 13-week intensive, where you'll learn everything you need to write a successful story.
June Courses
Finding Confidence in the Braided Essay: A Craft and Empowerment Workshop for Literary Nonfiction
with Margo Steines
Weaving your story with facts and research can help you craft a stronger essay. Tell your story with confidence in this empowering essay writing course.
The Body and Soul of Your Memoir: Shape, Focus, and Write Your Memoir
with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Unearth your memoir's soul (its main focus and calling) and body (its organization and structure) as you write toward a completed draft.
Call of the Weird: Poetry and Nature
with Caitlin Scarano
Turn your poetic lens towards the outdoors in this six week workshop, where we'll put to verse everything strange and wonderful about the natural world.
The Healing Power of Poetry
with Joy Roulier Sawyer
Poetry heals. Journey alongside several poets whose works resonate with a variety of healing themes, and learn how to use craft elements as healing tools.
Finding Inspiration in Dreams
with Amy Bonnaffons
Our dreams are fertile fields of inspiration, meaning, and creativity. Learn how to use your dreams as doorways to future writing.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
Observing What’s Vivid in Prose and Poetry
with Marc Olmsted
Learn how to spotlight beauty through fresh, vivid, and surprising language, in this four week mindfulness writing course.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
Story Lab: The Story-Subplot Connection
with Jeff Lyons
Subplots are key to maintaining narrative pace and tension in a story. Drive your story forward with this deep dive into the elements of good storytelling.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
Stringing the Beads: Craft Your Personal Essay
with Joanna Penn Cooper
Harness the freedom of the personal essay in this 4 week course, where we'll shape our ideas, thoughts, and obsessions into compelling nonfiction pieces.
July Courses
Beginner’s Mind: A Mindful Approach to Personal Essays
with Susan Barr-Toman
Write true and meaningful personal essays with the tools of mindfulness. We'll discover new insights in our work as we center ourselves, confront our inner critics, and write mindfully.
Opening the Door to Poetry
with Jude Nutter
How do we use poetry to express life's marvelous complexity? Learn how to control language beyond the "ordinary" and discover the many possibilities of poetry.
Both Fish and Fowl: The Prose Poem
with Anna Scotti
A successful prose poem reads like a magic trick. Learn how to wield the powers of poetry in the context of prose in this comprehensive prose poetry course.
Plot Your Novel with the Three-Act Structure
with Denise Santomauro
The 3 act structure gives us the scaffolding we can hang our stories off of. Come away from this class with a fully plotted novel and a plan to write it.
The Lyric Essay: Invitation to Play
with Elizabeth Winder
Create dynamic, genre-bending works of musical prose in this playful and exploratory lyric essay workshop.
Writing Mindfulness: Sensual World/Poetry Mind
with Marc Olmsted
A four-week class, melding the language mind with the sensual: How to turn detailed observation into a poem. With Marc Olmsted.
August Courses
Writing Chronic Illness
with Margo Steines
Creative nonfiction offers a container for the sharing and exploration of illness. Tell the story of your body in this healing-oriented workshop.
Creative Nonfiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Personal Essay
Rapid Story Development: A Master Plan for Building Stories That Work
with Jeff Lyons
In this 10 week story writing class, Jeff Lyons pairs the Enneagram with story development techniques to revolutionize your writing practice.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Short Story
The Deep Dive: Poem As Self-Discovery
with Meghan Sterling
Through poetry, we can access our deepest truths. Use the poem as a roadmap to self-discovery in this 6-week poetic deep-dive.
Warp and Weft: Weaving Free Verse Poetry from Life
with Anna Scotti
Weave everyday events into deftly-written free verse poems in this generative, creativity-centered poetry workshop.
Where the Diary Ends and the Essay Begins
with Shelby Hinte
Start a diary practice and turn it into a mode of writing personal essays in this generative journaling workshop.
Long Night’s Journey into Day: Writing Poetry Through and About Serious Illness
with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Poetry can help us integrate and learn from our experiences as patients, survivors, and/or caregivers. Join a supportive community, explore poetic and healing traditions, and spark powerful poems into being.
Write Your Novel in 16 Weeks!
with Briana Una McGuckin
In this generative novel writing course, we'll go from writing a strong beginning to writing "The End" on your novel's first draft.
September Courses
A Writerly Life: Develop a Writing Routine that Works for You
with Shelby Hinte
What does a writer's life look like? Build a productive writing habit in this course for writers of all backgrounds.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
Putting It All Together: Completing Your First Poetry Manuscript
with Caitlin Scarano
How do you put together a poetry book? From choosing a theme to ordering your poems, you'll end this course with a ready-to-publish manuscript.
October Courses
The Spirituality of Poetry
with Joy Roulier Sawyer
Let the spirit of language move through you. In this 6 week course, we will study, write, and share poetry about the sacredness of human experience.
January Courses
The Poetry of Play
with Joy Roulier Sawyer
Get playful in your poetry in this fun-focused workshop, where we'll experiment our ways into new and delightful poems.
Unscheduled Courses
*Private Class | Finding Confidence in the Braided Essay: A Craft and Empowerment Workshop for Literary Nonfiction
with Margo Steines
Weaving your story with facts and research can help you craft a stronger essay. Tell your story with confidence in this empowering essay writing course.
*Private Class | From Pitch to Publication: Writing Narrative Journalism
with Rudri Patel
Explore literary journalism as a powerful means to share fascinating characters, stories, and perspectives. Learn all you need to start pitching, landing, and writing reported essays and features.
*Private Class | Telling the Stories Your Body Holds: Writing and Shaping Strong Personal Essays
with Sarah Herrington
Where do essays come from? In this course, they come from the body. Learn how to start—and finish—powerful essays that begin inside the self.
*Private Class | Using Bullet Journaling to Achieve Writing Goals
with Rudri Patel
Looking to keep your writing goals organized? Make it happen in our bullet journaling course. Learn the art of the BuJo with Rudri Patel!
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
*Private Class | Write Your World: Express Your Creativity through Article Writing, Blogging, and Essays
with Rudri Patel
Want to write your world, your way? Join us for this six-week program on article writing, blogging, and essays.
*Private Class | Writing Our Grief: How to Channel Loss into Creative Expression
with Rudri Patel
Writing about grief is a powerful healing tool. Turn pain into power in this personal essay course, with instructor Rudri Patel.
A Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Writing Original Love Poems
with Lisa C. Taylor
How do poets write about love in fresh, surprising, original ways? Tackle the art of love poetry and write about all kinds of love in this generative workshop.
A Poet’s Calling Card: Writing and Composing a Chapbook
with Caitlin Scarano
The poetry chapbook gives poets the chance to make a small, artful collection around a poetic obsession. Learn how to craft yours in this 8 week chapbook intensive.
Advanced Fiction Workshop with Emily Adrian
with Emily Adrian
Build a feedback group and sharpen your novel or short stories for publication in this workshop-oriented fiction class.
Ambient Grief: Writing the Alteration
with Jacinda Townsend
How do we write about moments of painful transition, or grief that the world doesn't recognize as grief? Turn ambient pain into powerful words in this transformational personal essay workshop.
Branches of Creative Nonfiction
with Tess Fahlgren
What are the different types of creative nonfiction? From the personal essay to the hermit crab, learn the ropes of CNF in this 8 week class.
Claiming Our Stories: Autobiography, Memoir & Autobiographical Fiction
with Anya Achtenberg
Turn your experience into fiction, autobiography, or creative memoir. Bring forward stories with a powerful truth at their core. Instructor Anya Achtenberg.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Personal Essay, Short Story
Comics for People Who Can’t Draw!
with Aubrey Hirsch
Can't draw? No problem! In this workshop, learn how to tell complete stories in publication-ready comics, no matter your artistic background.
Crafting the Romance Novel
with Jeanne De Vita
More than happily ever after. Writing a romance novel is about more than just telling the story of how two characters meet, fall in love, and ride off into the sunset of happily ever after. A romance novel follows the same structure as powerful novels in other genres and employs the building blocks of great…
Creating Narrative in Comics
with Aubrey Hirsch
Art and storytelling have a rich relationship to one another. Explore that relationship in this class on writing narrative comics. Open to all artistic skill levels!
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Personal Essay, Short Story
De Novo: How to Build Your Own Fantasy or Sci-Fi World
with Elisa Bonnin
Create captivating worlds in this comprehensive worldbuilding course. You'll come away with fantastic settings that make your stories mesmerizing, believable, and real.
Death Riding Shotgun: How Awareness of Our Mortality Impacts Poetry
with Lisa C. Taylor
How can your own mortality inform your work? In this 6-week course, you'll use death to inspire and motivate your poetry writing.
Deep Waters: The Prose Poem Advanced Workshop
with Anna Scotti
Take the plunge in this advanced prose poetry course, where you'll write and revise short, powerful works of prose that hit like poetry.
Deepening and Organizing Our Stories: Memoir/Creative Nonfiction and Autobiographical Fiction
with Anya Achtenberg
For writers of memoir, creative nonfiction and fiction, with some experience. Particularly helpful to writers in the midst of a longer work.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Short Story
Fall (Back) In Love with Poetry
with Moriel Rothman-Zecher
Whether you're new to poetry or returning after a hiatus, rekindle the spark that puts verse to page in this exploratory poetry class.
Finding the Real Story: Essential Elements of Story in Fiction and Memoir
with Anya Achtenberg
Address the larger issues of writing story through a look at the essential elements of narrative in fiction and memoir.
First Pages That Will Pull Agents In!
with Troy Wilderson
Polish your opening pages in this novel intensive, where you'll make your first pages so perfect, your readers will need to know what comes next.
From Memory: Writing Fiction or Memoir from Lived Experience
with Chin-Sun Lee
In this class, you'll use a nearly infinite resource—your own memory—to craft compelling fiction or nonfiction stories.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Short Story
From Pitch to Publication: Writing Narrative Journalism
with Rudri Patel
Explore literary journalism as a powerful means to share fascinating characters, stories, and perspectives. Learn all you need to start pitching, landing, and writing reported essays and features.
From Writing Circle to Finished Poem: Turn Raw Writing into Poetry
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoGather together in a virtual writing circle, hit the mute button on your internal editor, and uncover inspiration to shape into poetry.
From Writing Circle to Poems in 6 Contemporary Forms
with Susan Vespoli
From the sonnet to the villanelle, turn your journal entries into formal poetry in this 6 week writing circle workshop.
From Writing Circle to Poems in 8 Contemporary Forms (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
with Susan Vespoli
From the sonnet to the villanelle, turn your journal entries into formal poetry in this 8 week writing circle workshop.
From Writing Circle to Poems of Kindness, Wonder, Connection & Joy (Mondays and Fridays)
with Susan Vespoli
Only 2 seats left!
Text and Live VideoExplore the power of joy, kindness, and community in this four week poetry workshop.
From Writing Circle to Poems of Kindness, Wonder, Connection & Joy (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
with Susan Vespoli
Explore the power of joy, kindness, and community in this four week poetry workshop.
From Writing Circles to Poems of Gratitude & Hope for the New Year (Mondays and Fridays)
with Susan Vespoli
Want to move forward into the new year with gratefulness and clarity for 2024? Join us for 4 weeks of writing about gratitude and hope.
From Writing Circles to Poems of Gratitude and Hope
with Susan Vespoli
Poetry is a powerful method for healing and happiness. Write poems about gratitude and hope in our intimate, live-video writing circles, with instructor Susan Vespoli.
How to Firm Up the “Mushy Middle” of Any Story
with Jeff Lyons
Ensure a strong middle throughline for any story. Say goodbye to the "mushy middle," and hello to stories that work.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Stage and Broadcast
How to Write Character-Driven Stories
with Lisa C. Taylor
Characters don't just drive the story, they are the story. Learn how to craft character-centered fiction and give life to the people on your page.
How to Write Great Stories
with Amy Bonnaffons
Learn how to combine character, setting, plot, and other elements of fiction to write powerful, compelling stories.
I’ve Drunk Your Poisoned Nectar: Writing with the Goddess
with Shankar Narayan
Dig deep into the rich mythology of South Asian goddesses to find new inspiration for your work in this generative, open-genre writing class.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Novel, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
In Bloom: Nature Writing Workshop
with Dana De Greff
Only 3 seats left!
Text and Live VideoWant to write about nature like Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, or Annie Dillard? Join us for this six-week nature writing course.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
Intro to Fiction Writing
with Donna Levin
What makes a good fiction story? Learn how to write compelling stories in this eight-week intro to fiction course, with Donna Levin.
Kickstart Your Novel
with Eman Quotah
How do novelists turn an idea into a published book? Gain the confidence to be a novelist in this transformational 3 hour workshop.
Look Again: Revision for Novel Writers
with Amanda Hosch
Most novels become great through the power of revision. Learn how to turn a rough draft into a swoon-worthy manuscript that readers and publishers will love.
Mastering the Manuscript: Completing a Full-Length Poetry Manuscript (from Start to Finish)
with Ollie Schminkey
In this generative course, you'll write the bulk of the poems you'll use in your full-length manuscript, and learn how to structure them into a collection.
Oral Storytelling Techniques for Writing Flash Nonfiction
with Corey Rosen
In this class, you'll harness the power of oral storytelling to craft exceptional pieces of written nonfiction.
Penning Passion: Finish the First Draft of your Romance Novel in Ten Weeks
with Jeanne De Vita
In this comprehensive class, you'll learn the ropes of romance writing and finish a first draft of your romance novel.
Secrets & Confessions: Writing Deeply Personal Nonfiction
with Margo Steines
In this fully anonymous class, we will write and share the secrets we hold closest to our chests, and turn those secrets into compelling creative nonfiction.
Creative Nonfiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Personal Essay
Simple Summer Writing Circles and Poems
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoSail through the summer and survive the heat with these chill writing circles, where you'll laugh, vent, and honor the season in poetry.
Simple Winter Sanity-Saving Writing Circles
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoWrite your way to the finish line of 2023: let go of and say goodbye to a momentous year, honor the changes in yourself and the world, and set your intentions for a new chapter.
Sing the Body Electric: Poetry of the Body
with Andrea Jurjević
The human body is a continuous source of inspiration for poetry. Embody the poetic in this electric workshop.
Story Lab: Story Structure 101
with Jeff Lyons
Structure is essential to great storytelling. Learn how to roadmap any story in this comprehensive story structure class.
Telling Truth: A Poetry Workshop
with Ollie Schminkey
Learn how to tell your story and write a mini chapbook of poems in this truth-driven poetry workshop.
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
with Elisa Bonnin
Create fantastical worlds with mythical beings in this comprehensive introduction to fantasy and science fiction.
The Heart Remembers: Writing About Loss
with Charlotte Maya
How can we organize grief and loss into language? Honor your feelings and write moving essays in this heart-centered creative nonfiction class.
The Magic of Flash Nonfiction
with Tamara Dean
Tell your stories quickly and stylishly in this short form creative nonfiction workshop, where you'll come away honing the magic of flash nonfiction.
Tiny and True: Creating Flash Essays with Mindfulness
with Susan Barr-Toman
How do you tell the full truth in under 1,000 words? Learn the art of flash essays and write nuggets of wisdom in this tiny essay class.
Untie the Tropes: Write In-Depth YA Protagonists
with Elisa Bonnin
Do you want to write YA, but you're terrified of teenagers? Learn how to write authentic teen characters without tropes in this generative YA course.
Using Bullet Journaling to Achieve Writing Goals
with Rudri Patel
Looking to keep your writing goals organized? Make it happen in our bullet journaling course. Learn the art of the BuJo with Rudri Patel!
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Poetry
What to Do When Your Characters Fall in Love: Writing Romance in Any Genre
with Briana Una McGuckin
Relationships are an important feature of fiction—and not just romances! If your non-romance work has love involved, learn the ropes in this 5 week course, open to writers of all genres.
Write Your Memoir in 12 Weeks
with Blaise Allysen Kearsley
Writing a full memoir takes energy, momentum, and moral support. Find all three in this memoir writing intensive.
Write Your Novel Draft!
with Aatif Rashid
Move far ahead in your novel draft, while learning the craft of novel writing and developing a stronger writing practice.
Write Your Novel: The Art of the Outline
with Aatif Rashid
Structure and start your novel in this comprehensive class. You'll come away with a skeleton for your story and at least 20 pages written.
Write Your World: Express Your Creativity through Article Writing, Blogging, and Essays
with Rudri Patel
Want to write your world, your way? Join us for this six-week program on article writing, blogging, and essays.
Writing About Family
with Rudri Patel
Family is complicated, and so is writing about it. Navigate the complexities of writing about real relationships in this generative essay class.
Writing Circle Workshop: A Focus on Eight Contemporary Poets (Section 2)
with Susan Vespoli
By studying the poems of Billy Collins, Ellen Bass, Natalie Diaz, and more, write stunning poetry in this generative writing circle workshop.
Writing Circle Workshop: A Focus on Nine Contemporary Poets
with Susan Vespoli
Write freely and expressively in this 8-week poetry workshop. Along the way, we'll explore the transformative work of 9 contemporary poets.
Writing Circle Workshop: A Focus on Six Contemporary Poets –Mon./Fri.
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoBy studying the poems of Maya Stein, Sharon Olds, Alberto Rios, and more, write stunning poetry in this generative writing circle workshop.
Writing Circle Workshop: A Focus on Six Contemporary Poets –Tues./Sat.
with Susan Vespoli
Only 1 seat left!
Text and Live VideoBy studying the poems of Maya Stein, Sharon Olds, Alberto Rios, and more, write stunning poetry in this generative writing circle workshop.
Writing Circle Workshop: Finding Community and Creativity in a Challenging Time
with Susan Vespoli
Write out the storm: Join supportive, friendly faces in twice-weekly virtual community writing circles.
Writing Circle Workshop: Writing for Happiness, Healing, and Health (Monday/Friday)
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoExpressive writing can be a powerful elixir for what ails you. Learn and practice tools for writing expressively, including two virtual writing circles each week, turn raw writing into poetry or prose, and come away with a better understanding of how writing can lead toward wellness.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
Writing Circle Workshop: Writing for Happiness, Healing, and Health (Tuesday/Saturday)
with Susan Vespoli
Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.
Text and Live VideoExpressive writing can be a powerful elixir for what ails you. Learn and practice tools for writing expressively, including two virtual writing circles each week, turn raw writing into poetry or prose, and come away with a better understanding of how writing can lead toward wellness.
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Lifestyle and Wellness, Memoir, Personal Essay, Poetry, Short Story
Writing Circles & Exercises to Spark New Poems (Mondays and Fridays)
with Susan Vespoli
Looking for inspiration? Write, vent, laugh, and honor your writing practice in these generative writing circle workshops.
Writing Circles & Exercises to Spark New Poems (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
with Susan Vespoli
Looking for inspiration? Write, vent, laugh, and honor your writing practice in these generative writing circle workshops.
Writing Circles: Finding Community, Clarity, Poetry, and Prose
with Susan Vespoli
Join our writing circle to form a writing community, find clarity in your words, and turn your untamed free-writes into poetry and/or prose.
Writing Place in Creative Nonfiction
with Tess Fahlgren
In Creative Nonfiction, place is a character in itself. Deeply explore a narrative and a place of your choosing, and make weekly progress on your essay or memoir.
Writing Short Stories with the Empathic Approach
with Troy Wilderson
Great fiction brings deeper understanding. Foster a greater sense of connection and supercharge your stories in this empathy-driven fiction class.
Writing the (Modern) Love Essay
with Paz Pardo
How do you distill the complexity of (modern) love into language? Learn how in this workshop, where you'll transform your lived experience of romance into an essay.
