Writer’s Studio

Past Courses

A gray-haired woman on a laptop she writes with a blue pen in an open notebook.
WRIT32278

Students will focus on further developing a particular short story they are already working on, submitting multiple drafts for peer and instructor comments. You will need to bring a draft of this...

A plaid Sherlock Holmes-style detective hat, a pipe, a magnifying glass, and a vintage book appear atop a wooden table.
WRIT31401

Start your mystery novel in a fun, supportive environment. Using the basic elements of mystery writing, students can craft the beginnings of a compelling story and use workshop feedback to nudge them...

Tension, Drama, and Stakes in Writing
WRIT52416

This course is designed for individuals who want to explore the use of tension to compel audiences and to build and maintain engagement from the very first moments of their story. The course will...

A woman smiles while jotting down a quick note on a blue Post-It.
WRIT22804

What is the story you want to tell and what are the scenes that together most compellingly constitute that story? How are those scenes best ordered and sequenced? These are the questions every writer...

Close-up of woman's hands, one with a pen, writing on a blank page in a notebook, the other on her laptop keyboard.
WRIT32804

Audiences engage with stories for the pleasure of experiencing how people just like them strive to attain heartfelt desires in the face of antagonistic forces.

Characters, just like real people, are...

Fourth Genre
WRIT51850

Nonfiction is often referred to as “the fourth genre,” but can memoir and personal essays and scientific journalism all really be classified as the same genre? When is considering the traditional...

WRIT32204

Using art and short prompts, students can draw out characters and details to grow new work or nudge open areas where they are "stuck." The class will examine how other writers have used ekphrastic...

A staircase of wooden blocks ascends from left to right; an arrow appears above it.
WRIT32407

At the heart of any compelling character throbs a dynamic arc. By analyzing successful examples (from Breaking Bad to James Baldwin's “Notes of a Native Son”), studying craft techniques, and...

WRIT51803

In this workshop we'll apply techniques to weave together thematic, plot and character elements to expand the second act of your tale, do justice to your premise, attract your audience, and tell the...

Writing and Walking in Essays and Memoir
WRIT42603

This course is designed for individuals who want to develop their essay writing skills. Over the course of eight weeks, participants will develop a walking and writing practice. Participants will...