Fiction Writing | Online | Creative Writing Classes in NYC and Online with Professional Writing Instructors

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"A perfect teacher. He was witty, and genuine, and smart, and brought odd things to his lectures to delight and challenge, to expand our sense of the possible in fiction."

- Rhonda Shary
Adjunct Professor of English

"The course gave me the push I needed to write again. I feel like I've gained a lot in writing skill and the reading has exposed me to a lot of writers I didn't know existed. I can't think of an easier or quicker way to access feedback from other writers. I can't wait for the next course…. I enjoyed the chat room specifically when our instructor and then a member of Zoetrope publishing joined it. The information I got from those two sessions was priceless."

- Suzanne Hamby
Student

"This course was exactly what I needed. Now I feel so inspired and motivated to keep writing, hopefully to the point where I'll eventually complete my first book. The instructor's down-to-earth, informative, and very encouraging style of teaching made all the difference. Was well worth it. Can't wait to do it again!"

- Franca DiMaso
Sales Coordinator

More Student Quotes Here

Browse Faculty Bios

Fiction is perhaps the purest form of storytelling. A tale is told with only words and the reader’s imagination. From these things, a work of fiction can sail across the world in pursuit of a whale or zero-in on a few minutes in line at the local bank, luring the reader into a story that reads true.

To do it well, however, requires skill. In our courses, you will learn how to support your words with such craft elements as character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, setting, pacing, voice, and theme. You will also learn how and where to market your work.

Whether you seek to write short stories or novels, traditional or experimental, comic or tragic, we'll show you how to turn your ideas into stories that people will be eager to read.

Note: Our Fiction courses focus on short stories while our Novel classes focus on novels. If you are a beginning student, you should take Fiction I and work on short stories before moving on to Novel II. You may, however, work on material that will eventually end up in a novel in a Fiction class.

Note: If you are working on genre fiction—science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery—then your work will fit more comfortably into the appropriate genre course, as opposed to a Fiction course.

Select a class: Level I, Advanced, Master Class
See also: Fiction Writing in NYC

Level I
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

Using a balance of lecture, exercise, and feedback on work from the instructor and classmates, this course gives students a firm grounding in all the basics of fiction writing. Everything is presented in a clear, accessible manner.

Write one/two short stories
Lectures on basics of fiction craft
Writing exercises
Present work for critique (two times)

Fiction I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Beginners who wish to write novels should take Fiction I before Novel II.

View a course syllabus

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 16 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Mar 6	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Mar 13	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Mar 20	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Apr 3	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Apr 17	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
May 1	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class

Advanced
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

Focusing on developing projects and receiving feedback from the instructor and classmates, this course helps students sharpen their skills and work toward completion of publishable work. Writers often repeat Fiction Writing II to continue their projects.

Write or refine one/two short stories
Lectures that expand on basics of fiction craft
Writing exercises
Present work for in-depth critique (two times)

Prerequisite: Fiction I or the equivalent.

View a course syllabus.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Feb 15*	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Mar 14	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Apr 11	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Apr 11	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
May 9	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
May 9	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class

* You can still enroll in this class!

Master Class
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

The Fiction Master Class focuses on workshopping short stories. All students are veterans in the workshop process, and each story is read and discussed in detail over a two-week period, giving the writers a plenitude of helpful feedback. In addition to the workshopping, each week the instructor leads students through a discussion of some tantalizing new topic. Writers often repeat Fiction Writing Master Classes to continue their projects.

Prerequisite: Two terms of a GWW Fiction II or Novel II class.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $395, Returning Students $365. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Apr 19	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class