“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
– Ernest Hemingway
Whether you’re a beginner, pro, or somewhere in between, we have the class for you.
Got Questions?
- Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Shaping Our Personal StoriesIn Creative Nonfiction Workshop, students will share drafts of their own personal stories and workshop them through an inquiry-based approach that emphasizes exploration and discovery...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
July 17 - August 216 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Writing Through the Canvas: Sparking Creativity with Visual ArtIn this half-day class, we’ll play with three different approaches to writing—narrative, lyric, and dramatic—to connect with visual art in fresh and interesting ways...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
July 191 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Summer Round Robin Writing GroupRunning concurrently with the Daily Write Round Robin, the Round Robin Writing Group will respond to your specific writing needs and interests, connect you with like-minded writers, and provide insights into process and craft...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
July 20 - August 246 Sundays, (Pacific Time)1:00pm - 2:00pm
Online - Feral Poetry: Risk-Taking on the PageIn this 3-week class, we’ll look at poems by risk-taking poets like Diane Seuss, Danez Smith, and Chen Chen, among others. We’ll use these poems as jumping-off points for our work, doing prompt-driven writing inspired by what we find there...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
July 22 - August 053 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Creative Writing Workshop: The Process Is EverythingThis online creative writing workshop will enable class members to deepen reflection on their own work, receive focused feedback from classmates and instructor, and inspire development toward class members’ finest hopes for their writing projects...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
July 27 - September 076 WeeksAll Day
Online - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
August 021 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
Berkeley, CA - The Five Whys: Uncovering What Drives Your WritingWhether you’re struggling with a story idea, debating a craft pursuit, or stuck in a project, this class will invite you to dig deep into the motivations, questions, and memories at the heart of your creative work...more
Instructor: Ray Hsu
August 12 - September 095 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Creative Nonfiction 101: Shape Stories from Your Own LifeIn this class, through weekly, prompt-driven writing exercises, we’ll sift through our memories, everyday experiences, and preoccupations with a sense of adventure and curiosity. To make our stories vivid and captivating, we’ll learn about essential craft elements and practice applying them to our own lives...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
August 13 - September 105 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Intro to Fiction: Laying the FoundationIn this remote class, you’ll develop concrete skills and narrative techniques through fun writing exercises designed to help you master your craft. At the end of five weeks, you’ll have a better grip on how to use these techniques (for developing character, setting, and plot) as tools for building your story...more
Instructor: Junse Kim
August 13 - September 105 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Earning Dramatic EmotionIn this 5-week process class we will dissect the intricate concepts of how emotions are developed in fiction and creative nonfiction, and master how to recognize and apply narrative craft that develop dramatic emotions in ways that can move our readers...more
Instructor: Junse Kim
August 14 - September 115 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Modes of Discovery: Where Poetic Traditions Meet Creative Play“Poetic modes, such as letter and persona poems, allow us to participate in specific traditions, with focused themes, subjects, and techniques, while allowing our singular imaginations room to play,” says instructor Brian Tierney...more
Instructor: Brian Tierney
August 14 - September 115 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
August 161 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Write That Novel!Writing a novel can be a lonely business! If you want to start a novel or you’ve got a novel in progress, this class provides guidance, inspiration, and support...more
Instructor: Elaine Beale
August 19 - September 165 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - Short and Sweet: Prose Poems, Flash Fiction and Mini-MemoirsIn this online class we’ll look at examples of short pieces from practitioners such as Lydia Davis and Russell Edson, and we’ll explore how to incorporate techniques like free association and juxtaposition into our work. Then we’ll write, share, and write some more...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
August 20 - September 033 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Daily Write September Round RobinJane Underwood had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements—partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
August 31 - September 213 WeeksAll Day
Online - Story MappingGot an idea for a novel, a movie or a TV series? “That’s great!” says instructor Kate Montgomery. “Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and organize it into a layered, well-structured story that’s engaging from start to finish...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
September 03 - September 102 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Submit, Repeat, Publish: Landing Your Work in Literary Journals and Small PressesFor beginning through more experienced writers, this class aims to demystify the sometimes confusing process of getting published while offering real-world insights and inspiration for success...more
Instructor: Jennifer Lewis
September 071 Sunday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Online - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
September 131 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - From Memories to Memoirs: The Moments That Make Your StoryIn this 3-hour class, through writing prompts carefully chosen by David, you’ll pinpoint the memories that drive you to the page, ones that thrill, haunt, and comfort you. You’ll write, reflect, and write some more...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
September 201 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Fall Zoom MeetupOccurring on a seasonal basis, Writing Salon Zoom meetups are designed to provide an intentional and facilitated space to help you keep a finger on your own creative pulse. At the same time, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with a community of other like-minded writers...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
September 201 Saturday, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 3:30pm
Online - Creative Writing 101: Awakening the Muse“Writing begins in curiosity, an impulse toward discovery, a feeling that something wants to be expressed,” instructor Jennifer Lewis says. “This class will give you the inspiration and encouragement you need to follow that impulse and to discover the stories that are already within you...more
Instructor: Jennifer Lewis
September 21 - October 195 Sundays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
Online - Short Story Revision: Hone Your Story’s Plot and DramaThis 5-week class will dive deep into revising short stories and empower you with personalized strategies. You’ll explore how to identify and shape your characters’ dramatic journeys, how to fine-tune plot structures, and how to achieve endings that resonate with your readers...more
Instructor: Junse Kim
September 22 - October 205 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Your Story, Your Life: Memoir & Personal Essays“By writing memoir and personal essays, we give form to our histories and make something of meaning and beauty that is uniquely ours,” says instructor Katharine Harer. “I love this genre because you can be yourself, complete with your idiosyncrasies, strong opinions, flashes of wisdom and crazy moments...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
September 23 - October 215 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Writing from the Core: Finding the Emotional Truth in Nonfiction“Great nonfiction isn’t just about conveying facts—it’s about making readers feel,” says instructor Ray Hsu. In this 5-week class, you’ll uncover and amplify the emotional heart of your stories, learning how to shape personal narratives that resonate for readers...more
Instructor: Ray Hsu
September 23 - October 215 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - Launch Your Writing ProjectDo you think you’re ready to hone in on a writing project such as a novel, memoir, collection of stories or essays? Launch Your Writing Project will help you develop a long-form project in an environment that offers support, accountability and feedback appropriate to this mid-stage of the writing process...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
September 24 - November 199 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Fiction 101: Telling Stories, Inventing WorldsIn this 5-week class, we’ll learn how to build engaging fictional worlds, whether we’re aiming for the fantasy of JRR Tolkien or the “reality” of Jhumpa Lahiri...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
September 25 - October 235 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - Adventures in Prose Poetry“Instead of boxing you in, prose poetry opens doors you didn’t even know existed,” says instructor John Sibley Williams. “Not flash fiction, not pure poetry, and definitely not your typical memoir or short story—the prose poem breaks all the rules with flair and freedom...more
Instructor: John Sibley Williams
September 27 - October 113 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
Online - Creating a Writing Practice“In my years as a writer and teacher but especially as director of The Writing Salon, I’ve wondered how other writers build and sustain their writing practice,” says Ben Jackson. “While there’s no one magic formula that works for everyone, I’ve found there are particular components that lead to ongoing passion, productivity, and purpose...more
Instructor: Ben Jackson
September 27 - October 042 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Daily Write Fall Round RobinJane Underwood had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements—partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
September 28 - November 238 WeeksAll Day
Online - Poetry Mentorship with Brian TierneyThis remote poetry “class” offers a unique opportunity for personal and intimate poetry instruction. Students will work with Brian Tierney one-on-one, via written correspondence over two months, during which students will compile and send three “packets”...more
Instructor: Brian Tierney
September 29 - December 019 WeeksAll Day
Online - Fall Round Robin Writing GroupRunning concurrently with the Daily Write Round Robin, the Round Robin Writing Group will respond to your specific writing needs and interests, connect you with like-minded writers, and provide insights into process and craft...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
October 05 - November 238 Sundays, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 11:00am
Online - Jumpstart Your NovelWhat does it take to write a novel? Maybe you have an idea but don’t know what to write, or maybe you’ve written dozens of pages but suddenly feel stuck. What do you need in order to keep showing up to the page...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
October 06 - November 035 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - The Art of Writing About Place“Every story takes place somewhere,” says instructor Katharine Harer. “Images in poetry and stories often root us in distinct places. When we write about a place, and weave together our memories and observations, we create meaning beyond a road sign or a pin on a google map...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
October 11 - October 253 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
October 111 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Creative Writing Workshop: The Process Is EverythingThis online creative writing workshop will enable class members to deepen reflection on their own work, receive focused feedback from classmates and instructor, and inspire development toward class members’ finest hopes for their writing projects...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
October 12 - November 236 WeeksAll Day
Online - Poetry Mentorship with Erin RodoniIn this 9-week mentorship experience, Erin Rodoni will engage with you as a unique poet. In addition to providing detailed critical feedback on your creative work, she will also take into account the arc and scope of your poems, examining the ways in which they are speaking to and building on each other...more
Instructor: Erin Rodoni
October 13 - December 159 WeeksAll Day
Online - Screenwriting and Storytelling Mentorship with Kate Montgomery“You can read all the how-to books and ask your friends and family for feedback. But if you’re serious about getting produced or published, you will ultimately need professional guidance,” says instructor Kate Montgomery...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
October 13 - December 159 WeeksAll Day
Online - Write from Real Life: Personal Essays and MemoirsIn this remote class you will plunge into the personal themes that make your real life stories uniquely yours. In the first half of this class, instructor Alison Luterman will give you writing exercises carefully designed to elicit the undertones and overtones that elevate events and anecdotes into the realm of art...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
October 16 - December 189 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Feral Poetry: Risk-Taking on the PageIn this 3-week class, we’ll look at poems by risk-taking poets like Diane Seuss, Danez Smith, and Chen Chen, among others. We’ll use these poems as jumping-off points for our work, doing prompt-driven writing inspired by what we find there...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
October 20 - November 033 Mondays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Body Narratives“Some of our most defining stories are about the things that have happened to our bodies,” says instructor Jennifer Lewis. “Whether adolescence, childbirth, aging or gender transitioning, each of us has experienced transformations that have shaped our character...more
Instructor: Jennifer Lewis
October 26 - November 235 Sundays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
Online - Earning Dramatic EmotionIn this 5-week process class we will dissect the intricate concepts of how emotions are developed in fiction and creative nonfiction, and master how to recognize and apply narrative craft that develop dramatic emotions in ways that can move our readers...more
Instructor: Junse Kim
October 27 - December 015 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Screenwriting Boot Camp“The best way to learn anything is to DO it,” says instructor Kate Montgomery. “In this fun, informative boot camp, you’ll get into the process right away. With an interactive mix of lecture, discussion, screenings, and group and individual writing exercises, you’ll learn and apply the basics of professional screenwriting...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
October 28 - November 113 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Fiction Focus: Dive into Story Craft“Instinct alone will only take us so far as writers,” says instructor Amy G. Latham. “Learning craft techniques will help us to create the lively characters who will drive our plots...more
Instructor: Amy G. Latham
October 29 - December 035 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - The Poem Kit: Playing with Process“In this class, rather than learning how one makes a poem,” says instructor Erin Rodoni, “we will approach craft by asking ‘How do I make this poem?’ Over the course of three weeks, we will follow the process of poem-making from first spark to fully formed vision...more
Instructor: Erin Rodoni
November 02 - November 163 Sundays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Shape Your True Story“Have you started drafting a nonfiction story and now crave fresh insight?” asks instructor Ann Guy. “In this supportive workshop, thoughtful feedback will help you clarify your intentions, refine your drafts, and bring your true story to life...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
November 03 - December 156 Mondays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - Fiction Workshop: Enrich Your Drafts“If you’re craving some constructive, insightful feedback from a supportive group of fellow writers, it’s time to dip your toe into the workshop,” says instructor Steve Mitchel...more
Instructor: Steve Mitchel
November 04 - December 166 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
San Francisco, CA - Turn Your Fragments into Finished WorksIf you’ve been writing for a while, especially if you’ve participated in Round Robin classes, you’ve likely amassed bits of stories, essays, and poems, promising pieces that you haven’t developed further or don’t quite know how to expand. In this 6-week class, we’ll build from those starts, fragments, and sketches to create more fully realized works of art...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
November 06 - December 186 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Writing as Discovery: From Feelings to Words“How do we write about moments that defy easy explanation, like waking from a vivid dream that quickly fades or unexpectedly meeting a long-lost friend on a crowded street?” asks instructor Lauren Krauze. “In this class, we’ll dive into memories and experiences that may elude us, treating them as rich sources for creative exploration...more
Instructor: Lauren Krauze
November 06 - November 203 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
November 081 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Daily Write Holiday Round RobinJane Underwood had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements—partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
November 30 - December 213 WeeksAll Day
Online - Short and Sweet: Prose Poems, Flash Fiction and Mini-MemoirsIn this online class we’ll look at examples of short pieces from practitioners such as Lydia Davis and Russell Edson, and we’ll explore how to incorporate techniques like free association and juxtaposition into our work. Then we’ll write, share, and write some more...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
December 03 - December 173 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Writing Plot: Finding Your Story’s Driving ForceIn this 3-week intensive, we’ll move beyond surface thrills to uncover what truly drives engaging narratives in both fiction and nonfiction. Through craft lessons, writing prompts, and group discussions, we’ll discover how to create plots that resonate with readers and keep them invested in a story...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
December 03 - December 173 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Comedy Writing 101“Comedy is fragile,” says instructor Kate Montgomery. “One extra word can ruin a laugh. But the truth is, just about anyone can be funny, once they know how it’s done...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
December 06 - December 132 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Online - Step-by-Step to Getting Published: Landing an AgentDo you dream of seeing your work in print but don’t know where to start or how to break into today’s competitive market? Do you want a step-by-step roadmap for how to do just that? This 3-hour class will provide a nuts-and-bolts guide from finished manuscript to landing an agent...more
Instructor: Lisa Moore Ramée
December 061 Saturday, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 5:00pm
Online - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
December 131 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Your Singular Life“Writing memoir is like being a miner, shining a light into the nooks and crannies of our lives,” says instructor Katharine Harer. “We think we know what we’ll find, but we’re often surprised by the depth and complexity we uncover...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
December 141 Sunday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Online