Classes

THINGS THAT GO BUMP, POOF AND SPARKLE IN THE NIGHT: WRITING FANTASY, SCIENCE FICTION AND HORROR With acclaimed teacher and writer Nina Kiriki Hoffman Common wisdom says write what you know. We say, write what you want to find out about or explore. Write what you can invent! Through a series of conversations on…

This workshop happens LIVE on Zoom. Under the tutelage of our amazing writer and instructor, the Stoker- and Nebula-Award winner Nina Kiriki Hoffman, writers in this fun and interactive workshop will move forward with a piece of science fiction, fantasy, or horror, and generate new work. Get feedback on your writing from Nina and…

Writing a novel involves creating a world populated by compelling characters while making sure every moment brings the story to its fullest potential. We’ll develop the skills to make that happen. Approaches to plotting will receive special attention. Other topics include voice, point of view, dialogue and more. Perhaps you’ve already sketched out some characters or…

NOTE: Live on Zoom. In-person for the FULLY VACCINATED! Are you a writer for children who would like to move forward with your work? This workshop is for experienced writers who have learned the basics and want to sharpen their skills and polish their work. We’ll discuss higher-level techniques for plotting, characterization, description, scene…

NOTE: Live on Zoom. In-person for the FULLY VACCINATED! You should write the story of you. Everybody tells you so. Or maybe it’s just that voice in your head, telling you what you already know: You have a meaningful story to tell and it’s high time you got it on the page. But with…

Living through a series of transformational events can be hard enough; oftentimes, writing about them can seem equally challenging. How do you do it? Here, with bestselling author, editor, teacher and memoir ghostwriter Jacqueline Burt Cote. In this workshop, you will learn how to give shape and structure to your story, so that you…

NOTE: Live on Zoom. (Optional: In-person for the FULLY VACCINATED! This craft workshop explores the key elements of strong writing and storytelling, whether fiction or non-fiction, regardless of genre. Each week, we explore different aspects of creative writing, including developing compelling protagonists, exploring different points of view, experimenting with different writing forms, creating compelling…

NOTE: Live on Zoom. In-person for the FULLY VACCINATED! Do you want to write for children and/or teens? Maybe you have an idea you’d like to develop. Perhaps you’ve even written part of a story, picture book or chapter book—but you aren’t sure what to do next. Writing for young readers offers special rewards. An author’s…

Writing is hard, no matter who you are. But for LGBTQ+ writers, the work is often made harder by having to do it in writing communities that find their difference threatening, exotic, or unwelcome. In this 7-week workshop, all are welcome to sharpen their prose in an inclusive setting geared toward nurturing and challenging writers to…

NOTE: Live on Zoom. In-person for the FULLY VACCINATED! Examine, refine and execute the elements of memoir writing in this workshop. You will take your work to the next level, learning how to best present, revise and strengthen your personal story. We will address all elements of personal non-fiction, with an emphasis on shorter…

NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP WILL TAKE PLACE LIVE ON ZOOM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE This workshop focuses on developing stories for readers ages 8-18. As workshop members move from idea to completed manuscript, they learn what goes into a meaningful, dramatic plot, how to create realistic characters readers will care about, and ways to move a…

WRITING ABOUT YOUR LIFE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE Everyday life offers us unlimited opportunities for reflection and for making sense of the world around us. Join us to explore the fascinating material generated by our own lives and, at the same time, develop the writing techniques to make the writing more engaging, interesting, and…

If you’d like writing inspiration but don’t want the hassle of homework or the curtain of critique, our new Tuesday evening Wine & Write-In might be the perfect thing for you. Swing by after work or before dinner for inspiring and motivating writing prompts served up with wine and cheese in an ultra-relaxed atmosphere. This is…

Whether you are a published writer or you last wrote in your childhood diary, this workshop will help you write your personal story, whether it’s an essay or a longer form of memoir. Instructor Patty Dann, who is a bestselling writer and the author of THE BUTTERFLY HOURS: Transforming Memories into Memoir, will guide…

Do you have a story you want – or need – to tell? Do ideas for poems or short stories or other works of fiction or non-fiction dance in your head? Have you started stories you’d like to bring to fruition? Do you like the idea of writing but you don’t know where to…