“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.
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Rethinking Setting: Writing from the Inside and the Outside of a Place“Writers often think of setting as simply the place and time in which events occur,” says instructor Lori Ostlund. “But in this class we will focus on setting as a way to shape and reveal a character,” says co-instructor Anne Raeff...more
Instructor: Anne Raeff, Lori Ostlund
February 011 Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
The Alchemy of Sonnets“Combining observation and contemplation, inner and outer worlds, wit and heart, a compelling sonnet shines like a tiny jewel,” says instructor Kathleen McClung...more
Instructor: Kathleen McClung
February 011 Saturday10:00am - 1:00pm
Berkeley, CA -
Get Unblocked!In this three-hour session, Steve will introduce you to a variety of writing exercises and prompts that you can use and reuse whenever you find yourself blocked...more
Instructor: Steve Mitchel
February 081 Saturday10:00am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
Tiny Kingdoms: Writing and Publishing the VERY Short StoryBig things can come in small packages—their own perfect beauty tied to their size. The short short story is literary proof that great fiction can come in a small package...more
Instructor: Andy Touhy
February 081 Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
Berkeley, CA -
Your Singular Life: An Introduction to Memoir Writing“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
February 081 Saturday2:00pm - 5:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
Creative Writing Boot CampDon’t have the time to commit to a multi-week class but want to develop essential creative writing skills in one inspiring and productive session? This is the class for you. This one-day intensive boot camp will help you sharpen your writing skills in a fun and encouraging environment...more
Instructor: Heather June Gibbons
February 151 Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
The Craft of Creating Picture Books: Where Text and Image MeetPicture books provide one of the most exciting and innovative spaces for play in the book world today. Genres collide, stories become graphic novels, and nonfiction dances from the page in lyrical twists and twirls...more
Instructor: Laura Atkins
February 151 Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
Berkeley, CA -
Secondary Characters: Adding Depth, Conflict & Surprise to ScenesIn this class, we will talk about ways to build more interesting secondary characters, study common relationship types, and do exercises aimed at creating more dynamic interactions between characters by thinking from the perspective of the secondary character...more
Instructor: Lori Ostlund
February 16 - March 155 Sundays10:30am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
Intro to Creative Writing“Each of us has a story to tell, but finding the words and voice for that story is an art and craft specific to each individual,” says instructor Kathy Garlick. “This class is designed for writers who may be uncovering and sharing that story for the first time...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
February 16 - March 155 Sundays2:00pm - 4:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
The Screenwriter’s Workshop: Spotlight on the Process“As screenwriters, we tend to work alone for protracted amounts of time in silence, but when we’re hard at work on a script, it’s invaluable to hear how our words hit the air,” says instructor Kerry Muir...more
Instructor: Kerry Muir
February 16 - March 155 Sundays7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
Raw Writing: A Class for Generating New Material“So many of us think we should be able to sit down and write perfectly crafted sentences, paragraphs and stories without writing those raw first drafts,” says instructor Elaine Beale. “But the fact is that our ‘raw writing’ is not only necessary, it’s actually a lot of fun...more
Instructor: Elaine Beale
February 17 - March 165 Mondays7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
Intro to Fiction: Laying the FoundationIn this 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
February 18 - March 175 Tuesdays7:00pm - 9:30pm
San Francisco, CA -
Fiction Workshop: Build & Refine Your Storytelling SkillsWhen we read good stories they tend to endure in our hearts as touchstones that enrich our understanding of the world. We’ve all had the experience of reading something we like and wondering how the author developed such a breathtaking idea, with such compelling characters, and brought it to fruition...more
Instructor: Cary Groner
February 19 - March 256 Wednesdays7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
The Revolving Door Poetry WorkshopThis class will focus on creating a community space for writers to reimagine their own material, to read contemporary and classic poems, to discuss elements of poetic craft, and most importantly to generate “new” work by way of revision...more
Instructor: Brian Tierney
February 19 - March 255 Wednesdays7:00pm - 9:30pm
San Francisco, CA -
From Idea to Essay: Writing Short Creative NonfictionIn this 5-week course we’ll start with your own ideas, sourcing material for what will become a compelling, layered personal essay or short memoir piece...more
Instructor: Rob Williams
February 20 - March 195 Thursdays7:00pm - 9:30pm
San Francisco, CA -
Memoir as Love Letter“Who would you communicate with if you could reach across time and space?” asks instructor Kerry Muir. “A child yet to be born, a beloved friend, a parent now gone? Our prose takes on a strikingly intimate quality when we write with a specific recipient in mind...more
Instructor: Kerry Muir
February 22 - March 215 Saturdays10:30am - 1:00pm
Berkeley, CA -
Writing the Big ThemesLove. Loss. Transformation. These themes are so integral to the human experience that writers have returned to them again and again for centuries. In this workshop we’ll explore a different theme each week...more
Instructor: Erin Rodoni
February 22 - March 215 Saturdays10:30am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA -
Creative Writing 101“Have you wanted to test the waters of creative writing but don’t know where to begin, or how?” asks instructor Kathy Garlick. “Have you waded into those waters before, but it’s been a while?” In this class, you will be guided surely and safely into the writing experience...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
February 22 - March 215 Saturdays2:00pm - 4:30pm
San Francisco, CA -
The Practice of Craft: Intro to FictionYou have a story to tell—maybe you’ve ventured to write it down. But something falls short and you don’t yet feel confident enough about technique to make it sing. In this five-week course, we’ll dive into the elements of fiction craft...more
Instructor: Andy Touhy
February 22 - March 215 Saturdays2:00pm - 4:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
Writing from the Edge: Accessing Our Own Hard-to-Tell Tales“Vivid writing takes its power from the author’s inner conflict, particularly when it comes to describing difficult material,” says instructor Allison Landa. “This class will give you the tools you need to share your own hard-to-tell tales....more
Instructor: Allison Landa
February 27 - March 265 Thursdays7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA -
Daily Write 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
April 05 - May 176 WeeksAll Day
Online -
Daily Write June 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
June 07 - June 283 WeeksAll Day
Online