Whether this is your first writing class or you’re finishing your next book, The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College helps writers grow and connect with a community of passionate writers.
Our classes and workshops range from generative experiences to revision focused workshops, including one day craft intensives and seminars on publishing. All writers welcome.
Explore our summer workshops in May & June and July & August!
Summer 2021 Virtual Workshops & Courses
This summer, all Writing Institute workshops and classes are being offered as virtual classes on Zoom. Much like our in-person workshops, students meet with their instructor in real time at a designated day and time each week.
In addition, we also offer a selection of asynchronous workshops held online in Canvas. Students engage in weekly online work on days and times that are convenient for them. Often there are optional opportunities to meet and chat synchronously with your instructor and fellow students.
- Novel Writing Master Class with Caitlin Alexander
May 24 through June 21
Asynchronous - What’s Real, Anyway? A Mixed Genre Workshop with Serrana Gay & KT Herr
May 24 through June 28
Mondays, 6-9 p.m. - Life Stories: A Writing Workshop for Ages 50+ with Cindy Beer-Fouhy
May 25 through June 22
Wednesdays, 12-3 p.m. - Inviting the Poetic Muse with Carla Carlson
May 25 through June 22
Tuesdays, 12-2 p.m. - Tiny & Ordinary: Summer School Style with Kathy Curto
May 25 thorugh June 22
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Mastering The Middle: A Workshop for Novelists with Barbara Josselsohn
May 26 through June 23
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Writing your Short Story, Fiction and Memoir with Rachel Aydt
May 27 through June 24
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Jump Start Your Poetry Practice: How Poems Are Made with Elaine Sexton
June 1 through June 28
Mondays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. - The Art of the Op-Ed with Mai Tran
Saturday, June 12
10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Submitting To Literary Journals with Samantha Steiner
Saturday, June 26
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Novel Writing Master Class with Caitlin Alexander
July 12 through August 13
Asynchronous - So You Want To Write A Screenplay? with Jennifer Manocherian
Saturday, July 10
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Writing The Otherworldly: A Speculative Fiction Novel-writing Course with Sara Knudson
July 12 through August 9
Asynchronous - Turning Your Memories Into Fiction with Rachel Mann
July 12 through August 9
Mondays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Experiments In Form: Learning To Write From Art with Kristine Marx
July 12 through August 9
Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - How to Color in a Story: Building Atmosphere and Texture in Fiction with Dani Bormes
July 14 through August 11
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Literary Geographies: Travel and Place Based Writing with Debra Winter
July 14 through August 11
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Introduction to Digital Magazine Writing with Dara P. Kapoor
July 15 through August 12
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Writing Young Adult & Middle Grade with Sarah LaPolla
July 15 through August 12
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Bring Your Characters To Life with Victoria Pravazza
July 15 through August 12
Thursdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. - You Are The Expert: A Craft Class on Writing Memoir with Vanessa Friedman
July 13 through August 10
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Race Matters: Writing Diverse Characters and Stories with Ginger McKnight-Chavers
Saturday, July 17
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Book Marketing Crash Course with Mindy Stockfield
Saturday, July 24
9 a.m.-12 p.m. - The Rule of Threes: Writing Endings in Nonfiction with Jessica Pavia
Sunday, July 25
12-3 p.m. - Motherhood in Memoir with Terri Linton
Saturday, August 7
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Summer 2021 Readings
Join us via Zoom for faculty and student readings throughout the summer! Upcoming dates are June 17 and August 12, with full details to follow. To keep up to date on what's happening in The Writing Institute, sign up for our newsletter and watch this space for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Writing Institute Offer One-on-One Instruction?
We do not currently offer one-on-one instruction through The Writing Institute. However, our classes are small and offer individualized attention. Please reach out to us for course recommendations based on your specific needs at writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu.
What is Your Cancellation Policy?
Canceling a registration before a course starts:
Students may drop out of a class two business days prior to the start of class and receive a refund of their tuition minus a $25 administration fee and a $25 registration fee ($50 total).
Canceling a course registration after attending the first session:
Students who drop out of a course after the first class will be refunded 50% of their tuition.
Canceling a course registration after attending two or more sessions:
There will be no refunds after the second class. There will be some inevitable exceptions to this rule based on extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the director of The Writing Institute.