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. Virtual writing workshops and in person classes at our Bronxville, NY campus are available.
All writers welcome!
Questions about which class is best for you? Contact the Writing Institute at writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu. We're here to help.
Upcoming Classes

Applying to Writing Residencies
There's no gift quite like the gift of time and space to write. Writing residencies provide writers with community, studio space, lodging, meals and other support, but how do you get there? Join Samantha Steiner for this in depth seminar on writing residencies, how to find them, how to apply and how to make the most of a residency experience.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
10:00am to 12:30pm EST on Zoom

Tap The Senses, Write the Scene
On Zoom! Kathy Curto returns with this beloved generative writing workshop, perfect to writers looking to jumpstart something new. It’s the smell of Play-Doh for some of us. For others, the feel of velvet or the sound of Sinatra, Miles Davis or Nirvana. In this class, using timed writing exercises and short readings, we’ll honor the senses by opening our writing lives up to what they can offer. Sold out!
February 13 to March 20, 2023 (No class Feb. 20th)
Mondays, 10:00am to 12:00pm EST On Zoom

Craft Seminar Series: Taking Shape - The Revision Process
Introducing our new craft seminar series! Join bestselling author Malinda Lo for this webinar on novel revision, including tips-and-tricks to help you manage your revision and examples of how to develop authority on a sentence level through multiple drafts. This seminar includes writing exercises and a Q&A with the author. Limited scholarships available.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
6:00pm to 8:30pm EST on Zoom

Intermediate 2.0: Novel & Memoir Workshop
There is an “in between” stage for most book writers. You’re not quite done, but you know your book—its heart, its plot, and what you think its ending will be. In Intermediate 2.0, join novelist Barbara Josselsohn to take a leap forward, finishing the course with an in-depth critique of your book plan and synopsis, as well as feedback on 50 full pages of your book. Sold out!
Thursdays, February 16 to April 20, 2023
10:00am to 12:00pm EST on Zoom

Motherhood in Memoir
March 30 to April 27, 2023
Thursdays, 11:00am to 1:00pm EST on Zoom

Writing from Observation, Looking at Art
Saturday, April 23 & Sunday, April 24, 2023
10:00am to 1:00pm EST, in Manhattan and On Campus
Spring Session One: January and February
Registration closes one week before start date. Please see safety guidelines for on campus classes on class registration page. Spring 2023 class registration is on our new registration platform: please create a profile in order to register. Questions? Email writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu or call 914 323 6170.
- Applying to Writing Residencies with Samantha Steiner
February 11th, 2023
Saturday, 10:00am to 1:00pm EST on Zoom - Novel Writing Master Class (Session One) with Caitlin Alexander
February 13th to March 17th, 2023
Wednesdays, 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST on Zoom - Tap the Senses with Kathy Curto
February 13th to March 20th, 2023 (No class Feb. 20th)
Mondays, 10:00am to 12:00pm EST on Campus (Sold out!) - Intermediate 2.0: Novel and Memoir Workshop with Barbara Josselsohn
February 16th to April 20th, 2023
Thursdays, 10:00am to 12:00pm EST on Zoom (Sold out!) - Life Stories: A Writing Workshop for Ages 50+ (Session One)with Cindy Beer-Fouhy
February 15th to March 15th, 2023
Wednesdays, 12:00pm to 3:00pm EST on Zoom (Sold out!) - Creative Nonfiction Workshop with Vanessa Friedman
February 15th to April 19th, 2023
Wednesdays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST on Zoom (Sold out!) - Stories that Stick: Writing Your Fiction or Memoir
February 16th to April 20th, 2023
Thursdays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST on Zoom (Two spots left!)
Spring Session Two: March through April
Registration closes one week before start date. Please see safety guidelines for on campus classes on class registration page. Spring 2023 class registration is on our new registration platform: please create a profile in order to register. Questions? Email writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu or call 914 323 6170.- Comedy and Care with Andrew Del Vecchio
March 18th to March 25th, 2023
10:00am to 1:00pm EST on Campus - Learn How to Link Your Short Stories or Memoirs into a Collection with Tessa Smith McGovern
March 18th, 2023
Saturday 11:00am to 3:00pm EST on Zoom - Novel Writing Master Class (Session Two) with Caitlin Alexander
March 27th to April 25th, 2023
Online Asynchronous, Live Zoom Session Wednesdays, 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST - Magical Realism & Surrealism in Fiction with Serrana Gay
March 27th to April 24th, 2023
Mondays, 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST on Zoom - Poetry: Reading with a Pen, Writing from Observation with Elaine Sexton
March 27th to April 24th, 2023
Mondays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST on Zoom (4 spots left!) - Start Writing Your Novel Now with Ines Rodrigues
March 28th to April 25th, 2023
Tuesdays, 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST on Zoom - Instant Feedback with Vanessa Friedman
March 28th to April 25th, 2023
Tuesdays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm EST on Zoom - Sharpen Your Funny Bone with Janine Annett
March 29th to April 26th, 2023
Wednesdays, 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST on Zoom - Motherhood in Memoir with Terri Linton
March 30th to April 27th, 2023
Thursdays, 11:00am to 1:00pm EST on Zoom - Life Stories: A Writing Workshop for Ages 50+ (Session Two) with Cindy Beer-Fouhy
March 30th to April 27th, 2023
Thursdays, 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST on Zoom - Bringing Feeling to the Page: Generative Workshop for Poets with Tyler Mills
April 1st, 2023
Saturday, 1:00pm to 3:30pm EST on Zoom - Craft Seminar Series: Taking Shape: The Revision Process with Malinda Lo
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
6:00pm to 8:30pm EST on Zoom - Travel Writing: The Places We Go with Ines Rodrigues
April 15th, 2023
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:30pm on Campus - Writing from Observation, Looking at Art: An Experiental Workshop with Elaine Sexton
April 22nd to April 23rd, 2023
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am to 1:00pm, In Person - Poetic Hunger with Molly Davidson
April 29 & April 30th, 2023
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am to 1:00pm EST on Zoom - Writing the Hybrid Memoir with Jeanna Kadlec
Saturday, May 6, 2023
10:00am to 12:30pm EST on Zoom
Upcoming Readings & Events
- Join us on February 23rd at 5:00pm EST on Zoom for our first Community Reading of the year! RSVP here to come cheer on your fellow writers and hear featured reader Tyler Mills. All are welcome!
- Seattle, here we come! The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College will be at AWP 2023 from March 8 to March 11 in Seattle, WA. Come say hello at Table 640 at the Bookfair.
To keep up to date on what's happening at The Writing Institute, sign up for our newsletter and watch this space for more information.
What Are Asynchronous Classes?
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?
Please read carefully to review our refund and course voucher policies.
Canceling a registration before a course starts:
Students who withdraw from a course 14 days prior to the start of class will receive a full course voucher; if a credit card refund is preferred please email writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu. There is a $50 administrative fee for refunds. Please note that there are no refunds or vouchers for one day intensives, yearlong classes or Advanced classes where space is limited.
Students who drop out of a course 72 hours or more prior to the first class will receive a course voucher minus the $50 administrative fee. towards a future course of the same tuition. No refunds are available 72 hours or less before a class begins.
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. Requests for partial refunds must be received in writing at writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu.
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.