You can find all of our upcoming courses right here and listed via the navigation menu. You can enroll in a course directly from the individual class webpage. After your payment has been received, you will receive a welcome email. All detailed course information—including the syllabus and course schedule—will be emailed to you prior to the start of your class. If a class is listed as sold out, you can join the waitlist.
I have never taken a writing class before. Can I still take a Writing Workshops class?
You don’t need to have any prior workshop experience to take one of our classes! We offer courses at a variety of levels, for beginners as well as writers with plentiful workshop experience. The class's course description will share what level of writer the class is appropriate for, but if you have additional questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Yes, we are an official education partner of Electric Literature and could not be more proud to partner with them to bring you great creative writing classes!
Where are classes held?
With the exception of our destination workshops (Paris, Dublin, Hawaii, Iceland, Tuscany, Santa Fe, Vermont, etc.), all of our classes are online. We use Zoom for classes with a live weekly component and Wet Ink for asynchronous classes.
I am in Middle School or High School. Can I enroll in one of your classes? Do you have any classes for younger writers?
Unfortunately, all of our classes are for adult writers 18 years of age and older.
How many students are in a class?
Most of our workshops are capped between 8-15 writers for multi-week classes. Our one-time seminars on the craft or business of writing will often have more students. We do keep our classes intentionally small to ensure each writer and his/her work receive the attention they deserve.
During the session, how many times will I have a chance to submit for critique?
In most multi-week workshops, students are workshopped at least twice. All possibilities for feedback and opportunities for workshop will be explicitly stated in the class's course description
What does my workshop tuition pay for?
The opportunity to have work critiqued in class and thorough typed feedback from the instructor and all your classmates. A private conference with the instructor to discuss your workshop feedback, your goals for your writing, or other writing-related topics such as applying to MFA programs, creating a reading list to develop your understanding of craft, and more. Your tuition also allows each class to have dedicated online meeting space each week.
How often are new classes offered? How can I know when new classes are offered?
We update our course offerings on a rolling basis, so if you miss one session a new one will start relatively soon. To know about new classes as soon as they’re announced, sign up for our newsletter.
If a spot is still available, can I enter a class after it’s begun?
Some of our instructors will allow a student to enroll in a course no later than week two of the course. If a course has already started use the Contact Page to get in touch. We also offer Individual Consultations with our faculty if you don't want to wait until the next term starts.
I see you offer a range of online classes. Do you offer in-person classes?
While most of our classes are online, we do offer select destination retreats to places like Paris, Dublin, Iceland, Tuscany, Vermont, Santa Fe, NYC, Hawaii, and more, throughout the year. You can see all upcoming destination retreats here.
What are your online classes like?
Most of our workshop courses use Zoom for live meetings, though larger seminars and some workshops use our asynchronous platform on Wet Ink. For more information about how a particular online meeting takes place (live vs. asynchronous), check the course description. We have classes that meet live via Zoom as well as asynchronous courses through Wet Ink, which are ideal for any schedule. We’ve replicated the in-person workshop experience by partnering with Wet Ink, the only online platform designed exclusively for writing workshops. Led by world-class writers, we keep our class sizes intentionally small so that each writer can get the time and attention their work deserves. Our classes meet in a dedicated online classroom where you can interact with your classmates and instructor. Craft materials, lectures, reading assignments, and writing prompts are all available through the online classroom. Students also post stories and provide and receive feedback within the online classroom environment. No matter where you live in the world, there is a seat for you in one of our online classes!
Do I need any special technology to take an online class?
No, though our system will work best using a computer or laptop and the most recent version of Google Chrome. For video chat classes, we use Zoom accessed through our private classroom account page. While you can use Zoom from your browser, we recommend downloading the desktop client so you have access to all platform features.
Who do I contact if I have to miss a class?
If you have to miss a class, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. Note that for online classes that take place over Zoom, you will not be able to view a recording of your class unless your individual instructor allows class recordings (in most cases, video recordings are available).
I want to take a class but I don’t know which is right for me. Does Writing Workshops offer advising or can I talk to someone about what course is right for me?
We’d love to help you choose a class. You can use our Contact Us Form or use the chat feature on the bottom left-hand side of your screen, and we can help you determine which class would be the best fit.
The class I'd like to take requires a writing sample. How long should it be?
In general, writing samples should be approximately 2,000 - 5,000 words, unless stated otherwise.
I applied to an online class or destination retreat. When will I hear back?
Depending on the competitiveness of the online class, your wait may vary. Our workshops are filled on a rolling basis, so as soon as we receive your application, we send it to the instructor. They get back to us after reading each application thoroughly, and then we’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted. Generally, you’ll hear back between a couple weeks of submitting your application and a couple weeks before the class is set to begin. For destination retreats, the wait could be longer due to the volume of applications we receive for each trip.
When will I be put in touch with my instructor?
After you’ve enrolled in a course, we will send an enrollment confirmation email. We’ll put you in touch with your instructor and workshop cohort about a week prior to the first class. At that point, they will tell what, if anything, you’re expected to prepare for your first day.
Could my class ever be cancelled or rescheduled? What happens if it is?
If your workshop doesn’t reach minimum enrollment or your instructor has a scheduling conflict, we may reschedule or cancel up to the day class is set to begin. We feel peer engagement is a vital part of the classroom experience and want our students to feel their investment—of time, energy, and money—is worth it. If we reschedule or cancel, we will always give students the opportunity for a full refund, or we can help you transfer to a new class. If class is rescheduled, you are welcome to remain enrolled if the new dates work for you.
Can I ask Writing Workshops faculty and staff to write me a letter of recommendation for grad school/residencies/etc?
Feel free to ask your instructor if you’d like them to write you a letter of recommendation. They can speak to your writing and class behavior more than we can! Please note, however, that your instructor is not under any obligation to write you a letter of recommendation.
Yes! Please Contact Us.
If I’m applying for an MFA Program, can you help me prepare my application materials?
We would love to help as you prepare to apply for MFA programs! Our students have gotten into MFA programs at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, The Michener Center for Writers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, UC-Irvine, Brooklyn College, Alabama, Indiana, The New School, and many others. Check out our MFA APPLICATION services for more information!
What are your payment plan options?
You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both of these options are available at checkout. Payment options through Affirm are subject to eligibility, may not be available in all states, and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. CA residents: Loans by Affirm Loan Services, LLC are made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. Rates from 0% APR or 10-36% APR. Payment options through Shop Pay Installments are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. State notices to consumers affirm.com/licenses.
What is your privacy policy?
We will never sell or rent your mailing address, email address, or any other data that can personally identify you in any way to an outside group. We do not store your information, and we will never share it with a third party. Your email address will only be shared with the course instructor once you've enrolled.
How can I teach at Writing Workshops?
We always like hearing from interested candidates. Submit a New Course Proposal Here. Be sure to tell us about yourself and your publications, where you have taught before, and what classes you are interested in teaching for Writing Workshops. Also include a link to your website and your Twitter handle if applicable. We are always excited to learn that someone wants to teach with Writing Workshops! Our team reads each query and keeps the information on file. If you seem like a good fit for our program needs at any time, our Executive Director will follow up.
What’s your refund policy?
You can find our Refund Policy Here.
Wait, you didn’t answer the ONE burning question I really, really wanted to ask!
If we didn’t answer your questions above, please Contact Us.