Sarah Lawrence College

Writing Workshops & Courses

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Institutes & Centers The Writing Institute
Writing Workshops & Courses Frequently Asked Questions
Writing Institute Institute for Genomics Early Childhood Center

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. Join us on campus in Bronxville, New York or online. Questions about which class is best for you? Email The Writing Institute at writinginstitute@sarahlawrence.edu. We're here to help.

On a whim, I took a writing course… within minutes, I knew I had found something I needed to go forth with. Suddenly, my stored experiences and hidden feelings had new meaning, and possibility, which was life-changing.

Carla Carlson Author of Love and Oranges
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Courses starting in July (5 courses)

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Speculative Fiction & Horror

Mon, Jul 13 2026 — Mon, Aug 17 2026

Molly McGhee

On Zoom

In this six-week workshop, we will learn how to use techniques across the genre-spectrum to inform our conception of what "storytelling" can be in speculative fiction and horror.
Register

  • Mon, Jul 13 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Jul 20 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Jul 27 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Aug 3 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Aug 10 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Aug 17 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

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Start Writing Your Memoir

Wed, Jul 15 2026 — Wed, Aug 12 2026

Amelia Possanza

On Zoom

Dive into memoir writing in this supportive workshop for beginner and intermediate writers alike.
Register

  • Wed, Jul 15 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Jul 22 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Jul 29 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Aug 5 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Aug 12 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

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Fiction Techniques for Memoirists

Thu, Jul 16 2026 — Thu, Aug 13 2026

Jocelyn Jane Cox

On Campus

We have ALL lived fascinating lives in our own ways. In this class, writers sharing their version of the truth through actual events can take inspiration from fiction.
Register

  • Thu, Jul 16 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Jul 23 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Jul 30 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Aug 6 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Aug 13 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

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Writing The Family

Wed, Jul 22 2026 — Wed, Aug 12 2026

Jenessa Abrams

On Zoom

Writing The Family is designed for writers at all stages of their careers to engage in the intimate, sometimes messy, very often meaningful, act of writing about family through fiction and creative nonfiction.
Register

  • Wed, Jul 22 2026, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Jul 29 2026, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Aug 5 2026, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Aug 12 2026, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm EDT

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The Chapbook: From First Poem to First Book

Sat, Jul 25 2026

Elaine Sexton

On Campus

In this in-person workshop we will focus on how to gather your poems and find them a home in the shape of a book.
Register

  • Sat, Jul 25 2026, 10:00 am–2:00 pm EDT

Courses starting in August (2 courses)

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Writing the Hybrid Memoir

Tue, Aug 11 2026 — Tue, Sep 15 2026

Margo Steines

On Zoom

In your hybrid memoir, you might engage with science writing, literature, pop culture, history, digital media—really any cultural product or phenomenon that you want to explore in the same frame as your personal narrative.
Register

  • Tue, Aug 11 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Aug 18 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Aug 25 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 1 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 8 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 15 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

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Jumping Right In: The First Page

Tue, Aug 11 2026 — Tue, Aug 18 2026

Tsahai Makeda

On Zoom

The first page of your novel or short story is absolutely crucial in determining whether your reader commits or quits. This is where you’ll hook them to make them want more. But what does it entail?
Register

  • Tue, Aug 11 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Aug 18 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

Courses starting in September (12 courses)

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Writing Place, Writing the Self

Tue, Sep 15 2026 — Tue, Oct 13 2026

Tyler Mills

On Zoom

In this nonfiction workshop, you'll be invited to write about places you lived, worked, and travelled. Whether you are working on a memoir or essay collection, this class will inspire you to write about yourself through place.
Register

  • Tue, Sep 15 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 22 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 29 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 6 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 13 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

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Advanced Novel & Memoir Workshop

Wed, Sep 16 2026 — Wed, Nov 18 2026

Marcia Bradley

On Zoom

A 10-week fiction workshop for more experienced writers in the process of completing and/or revising a manuscript or first draft of a full book of fiction, linked short stories, nonfiction, or memoir.
Register

  • Wed, Sep 16 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Sep 23 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Sep 30 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Oct 7 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Oct 14 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Oct 21 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Oct 28 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Nov 4 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Wed, Nov 11 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Wed, Nov 18 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

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First Word to First Draft

Wed, Sep 16 2026 — Wed, Oct 7 2026

Kathy Curto

On Campus

In this generative, four-week class for writers of all levels, we will use one-word prompts to take us onto our own blank pages, into something new.
Register

  • Wed, Sep 16 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Sep 23 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Sep 30 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Oct 7 2026, 10:00 pm–12:00 am EDT

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Writing Your Life Like Fiction

Sat, Sep 19 2026 — Sat, Oct 24 2026

Tsahai Makeda

On Zoom

In this generative course, we will explore how to take a turbulent and traumatic moment or experience from our life and turn it into triumph…on the page.
Register

  • Sat, Sep 19 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Sep 26 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 3 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 10 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 17 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 24 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

Two people stand in front of a bookstore, one in a floral dress and the other in a black top, with posters visible in the window behind them.

Momentum: A Productivity Lab

Tue, Sep 22 2026 — Tue, Oct 13 2026

Ava Robinson & Caroline Shifke

On Zoom

A four-week class to jumpstart your writing practice and build long-lasting tools to keep you going.
Register

  • Tue, Sep 22 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 29 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 6 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 13 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

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Memoir Generator: Love & Loss

Tue, Sep 22 2026 — Tue, Nov 24 2026

Terri Linton

On Zoom

Much our lives are marked by living through love and loss. But how do we truthfully write about love and loss without wholly martyrizing ourselves or villainizing others?
Register

  • Tue, Sep 22 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Sep 29 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 6 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 13 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 20 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 27 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Nov 3 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 10 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 17 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 24 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

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Intermediate Novel Workshop

Thu, Sep 24 2026 — Thu, Dec 10 2026

Barbara Josselsohn

On Zoom

Many writers start out with a great idea, and often they know how they want the story to eventually wrap up. But it's the middle of the novel where things get tricky.
Register

  • Thu, Sep 24 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 1 2026, 10:00 pm–12:00 am EDT

    Thu, Oct 8 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 22 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 29 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Nov 5 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Thu, Nov 12 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Thu, Nov 19 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Thu, Dec 3 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Thu, Dec 10 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

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Beginner Memoir Generator

Thu, Sep 24 2026 — Thu, Oct 22 2026

Janet Pfeffer

On Campus

Have you ever thought someday I'll write a book? Do you have a story about your life waiting to unfold on the page? In this five-week in-person memoir workshop, you will discover what it takes to begin.
Register

  • Thu, Sep 24 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 1 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 8 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 15 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 22 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

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Reporter, Sleuth, Storyteller, Spy: Investigating Like a Pro

Sat, Sep 26 2026

Amelia Possanza

On Zoom

Whether you’re working on a deep-dive history, a memoir that involves copious research or an investigative article, this 90-minute class will help you build out an investigative reporting tool kit that can be applied to any writing project.
Register

  • Sat, Sep 26 2026, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm EDT

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Beginner Novel Generator

Mon, Sep 28 2026 — Mon, Dec 7 2026

Ines Rodrigues

On Zoom

Ines Rodrigues's ten-week course helps you start your novel with a well-balanced mix of workshop, craft lessons, and lots of encouragement.
Register

  • Mon, Sep 28 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 5 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 19 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 26 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Nov 2 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Mon, Nov 9 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Mon, Nov 16 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Mon, Nov 23 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Mon, Nov 30 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Mon, Dec 7 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

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Fiction Workshop

Mon, Sep 28 2026 — Mon, Nov 9 2026

August Thompson

On Zoom

The purpose of this course is straightforward: it’s here to get you writing. Whether you’re an old pro or brand new to writing fiction, this class is designed to help you find inspiration, harness it, and build your writing practice.
Register

  • Mon, Sep 28 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 5 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 19 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 26 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Nov 2 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Mon, Nov 9 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

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Magical Realism & Surrealism in Fiction

Tue, Sep 29 2026 — Tue, Oct 27 2026

Serrana Gay

On Zoom

Join our generative craft class to explore truth-telling through the lens of surrealism and magical realism in fiction.
Register

  • Tue, Sep 29 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 6 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 13 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 20 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Oct 27 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

Courses starting in October (9 courses)

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Manuscript Essentials: What Your Book Needs Before Completion

Fri, Oct 2 2026 — Fri, Oct 9 2026

Stacey H. Rubin

On Zoom

Are you uncertain if the book you are writing is on-track? The purpose of this two-session interactive workshop is to focus on your book’s inherent strengths while targeting your book’s potential for final improvements.
Register

  • Fri, Oct 2 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Fri, Oct 9 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

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Kickstart Your Romance Novel

Sat, Oct 3 2026 — Sat, Oct 24 2026

Thien-Kim Lam

On Zoom

In this remote 4-week series, we'll study the craft of romances and work with generative writing prompts that will help you create the road map of your romance novel.
Register

  • Sat, Oct 3 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 10 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 17 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Sat, Oct 24 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

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Reading to Write: Short Fiction

Mon, Oct 5 2026 — Mon, Oct 26 2026

Myla Goldberg

On Zoom

In this remote 4-week series, we'll climb inside stories to examine their inner workings and use what we find to create new writing of our own.
Register

  • Mon, Oct 5 2026, 7:00 pm–9:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 12 2026, 7:00 pm–9:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 19 2026, 7:00 pm–9:00 pm EDT

    Mon, Oct 26 2026, 7:00 pm–9:00 pm EDT

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Top Tips for Humor Writing

Sat, Oct 10 2026

Janine Annett

On Zoom

Whether you want to write a laugh-out-loud satire or inject moments of levity into a serious topic, adding humor to your writing can help you express yourself and leave a lasting impression.
Register

  • Sat, Oct 10 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

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Short Story Workshop

Thu, Oct 22 2026 — Thu, Dec 3 2026

Maeve Barry

On Zoom

In this generative workshop, we’ll focus on the art of the short story, studying and honing the voice, arc, form and tone of a piece, exploring all that the short story is capable of as a form.
Register

  • Thu, Oct 22 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Oct 29 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Thu, Nov 5 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Thu, Nov 12 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Thu, Nov 19 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Thu, Dec 3 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

Person smiling, wearing glasses, silver earrings, and a black top with ruffled sleeves, standing against a white backdrop with folded arms.

Envision Your Memoir

Tue, Oct 27 2026 — Tue, Nov 17 2026

Jocelyn Jane Cox

On Campus

Writing about our personal experiences can be freeing. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t some unique hurdles to jump over. In this class, we’ll explore some techniques to get unstuck, get inspired (or re-inspired), and proceed with abandon.
Register

  • Tue, Oct 27 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Nov 3 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 10 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 17 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm EST

Person with long hair, resting face on hand, looking at the camera. Wearing a dark jacket. Black and white photo.

Writing the Hybrid Memoir

Tue, Oct 27 2026 — Tue, Dec 1 2026

Margo Steines

On Zoom

In your hybrid memoir, you might engage with science writing, literature, pop culture, history, digital media—really any cultural product or phenomenon that you want to explore in the same frame as your personal narrative.
Register

  • Tue, Oct 27 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Nov 3 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 10 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 17 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 24 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

    Tue, Dec 1 2026, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm EST

A person with short hair and glasses smiles outdoors, wearing a green shirt and jacket, with green foliage in the background.

Mining Family Stories for Narrative Gold

Tue, Oct 27 2026 — Tue, Nov 24 2026

Joanne Furio

On Zoom

Every family has stories that contain sketchy details, secrets no one wants to discuss or tales that have been elevated to lore. Learn the craft of how to tell your family story to create a narrative that engages readers on a deeper level.
Register

  • Tue, Oct 27 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EDT

    Tue, Nov 3 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 10 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 17 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

    Tue, Nov 24 2026, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm EST

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The Road Taken: Writing Stories That Celebrate Our Life Choices for Ages 60+

Wed, Oct 28 2026 — Wed, Dec 9 2026

Cindy Beer-Fouhy

On Zoom

The Road Taken is a writing workshop for people over 60 that explores and celebrates where we are now in our lives and how we got here. (A.K.A. No Regrets!)
Register

  • Wed, Oct 28 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EDT

    Wed, Nov 4 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

    Wed, Nov 11 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

    Wed, Nov 18 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

    Wed, Dec 2 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

    Wed, Dec 9 2026, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm EST

Asynchronous Courses

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Submitting to Literary Journals

Samantha Steiner

Async

Learn how to start submitting your writing in this asynchronous class! We’ll cover finding venues, managing rejections, and crafting compelling cover letters.
Register

Writing by its very nature is solitary, but every writer reaches a point when it becomes critically important to share one’s work. [The Writing Institute] gave me exactly the structure, close reading, and support I needed to see my book through to completion.

Liane Carter Author of Ketchup is My Favorite Vegetable: A Family Grows Up With Autism
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