“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
– Ernest Hemingway
Whether you’re a beginner, pro, or somewhere in between, we have the class for you.
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- Daily Write Round RobinJane Underwood had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements—partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
January 05 - March 028 WeeksAll Day
Online - Winter Zoom MeetupOccurring on a seasonal basis, Writing Salon Zoom meetups are designed to provide an intentional and facilitated space to help you keep a finger on your own creative pulse. At the same time, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with a community of other like-minded writers...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
January 051 Saturday, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 3:30pm
Online - The Poems Only You Can Write: Identifying and Embracing What Sets Your Work ApartThis one-session remote class is designed to help you explore the topical, structural, and stylistic aspects that make your work your own...more
Instructor: Lisa Gluskin Stonestreet
January 111 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Online - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Ben Jackson
January 111 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Round Robin Writing GroupRunning concurrently with the Daily Write Round Robin, the Round Robin Writing Group will respond to your specific writing needs and interests, connect you with like-minded writers, and provide insights into process and craft...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
January 12 - March 028 Sundays, (Pacific Time)1:00pm - 2:00pm
Online - Short Story 1-2-3: Writing Fiction That Packs a Punch“Ever since I began writing, I’ve been fascinated by the short story form,” Jennifer Lewis says. “You can read a short story from beginning to end in one sitting. I love the immediacy and resolve, the feeling of completion with an economy of words...more
Instructor: Jennifer Lewis
January 12 - February 166 Sundays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Creative Nonfiction Writing GroupThe Creative Nonfiction Writing Group is designed to foster creative growth where writers can hold each other accountable, give and receive feedback, and ultimately form relationships with other writers that will encourage them to commit to the page the stories they feel most called to tell...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
January 12 - March 166 Sundays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 8:30pm
San Francisco, CA - Poetry Mentorship with Brian TierneyThis remote poetry “class” offers a unique opportunity for personal and intimate poetry instruction. Students will work with Brian Tierney one-on-one, via written correspondence over two months, during which students will compile and send three “packets”...more
Instructor: Brian Tierney
January 13 - March 179 WeeksAll Day
Online - Poetry Workshop: Rekindling WonderThis 5-week workshop will offer a congenial space where you can listen to and learn from a range of helpful voices and try out new approaches to writing and revision. Over the length of the class you’ll receive oral feedback from your classmates and Katharine on at least 2-3 of your poems...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
January 14 - February 115 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Write from Real Life: Personal Essays and MemoirsIn this remote class you will plunge into the personal themes that make your real life stories uniquely yours. In the first half of this class, instructor Alison Luterman will give you writing exercises carefully designed to elicit the undertones and overtones that elevate events and anecdotes into the realm of art...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
January 14 - March 119 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Intro to Creative Writing: Fun with the FundamentalsIn this introductory class, instructor Elaine Beale will lead a series of sessions designed to teach participants about the key elements of creative writing craft. She will touch on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and memoir so you get a chance to explore all these genres in one class...more
Instructor: Elaine Beale
January 14 - February 115 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
Berkeley, CA - Craft Memorable CharactersWhat makes a character like Harry Potter or Katniss Everdeen or Walter White so memorable? “Their predicament may be foreign to us and we may not approve of all their choices,” says instructor Kate Montgomery, “but we connect with them on a visceral level. They make us care...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
January 15 - January 222 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Novel Writing GroupThe Novel Writing Group is designed for writers who have made some progress on their novel (from a complete first draft, to a few chapters, to a detailed outline). The group will provide new novelists with practical tools to help them make progress with various aspects of novel-writing...more
Instructor: Elaine Beale
January 16 - March 276 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 8:30pm
Online - Write That Script!No matter what you want to work on—a short film, feature, or TV pilot—or how much progress you’ve made on your script, this class will offer an upbeat, playful environment to get you writing and connecting with fellow writers...more
Instructor: Kuang Lee
January 16 - February 135 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Creative Writing Workshop: The Process Is EverythingThis online creative writing workshop will enable class members to deepen reflection on their own work, receive focused feedback from classmates and instructor, and inspire development toward class members’ finest hopes for their writing projects...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
January 19 - March 026 WeeksAll Day
Online - Keep Them Guessing: The Art of Mystery and Thriller WritingIf you want to try your hand at a mystery or thriller, or have already started but aren’t sure how to pull it all together, this online class will get you going and give you tips for how to stay on track....more
Instructor: Elaine Beale
January 22 - January 292 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Sweet Talk: The Joy of Writing Dialogue“Whether you write fiction, memoir or nonfiction, the same rule applies: when your dialogue clicks, your story springs to life,” says instructor Kerry Muir...more
Instructor: Kerry Muir
January 22 - January 292 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Getting Your Toes Wet: An Introduction to Memoir WritingDo you feel you have a story inside you, but you’re a little leery of getting thrown in the deep end? In this class, you’ll gently wade into the vast sea of memories and experiences you’ve been carrying around for your whole life...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
January 23 - February 205 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Your Singular Life“Writing memoir is like being a miner, shining a light into the nooks and crannies of our lives,” says instructor Katharine Harer. “We think we know what we’ll find, but we’re often surprised by the depth and complexity we uncover...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
January 251 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Online - Step-by-Step to Getting Published: Landing an AgentDo you dream of seeing your work in print but don’t know where to start or how to break into today’s competitive market? Do you want a step-by-step roadmap for how to do just that? This 3-hour class will provide a nuts-and-bolts guide from finished manuscript to landing an agent...more
Instructor: Lisa Moore Ramée
January 251 Saturday, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 5:00pm
Online - From Loss to Healing: Writing Your Own TransformationAbsence of any kind can often overwhelm us, rendering us silent. But as writers, we have tools at our disposal with which we can approach these empty spaces—and the empty page...more
Instructor: Kerry Muir
January 27 - February 245 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Intro to Fiction: To Begin at the Beginning“Big Secret Number One to writing fiction is that you have to make a mess. Many messes,” says instructor Steve Mitchel. “You have to throw truckloads of words down onto the page knowing full well that most of them will end up in the compost...more
Instructor: Steve Mitchel
January 27 - February 245 Mondays, (Pacific Time)7:00pm - 9:30pm
San Francisco, CA - Creating a Writing Practice“In my years as a writer and teacher but especially as director of The Writing Salon, I’ve wondered how other writers build and sustain their writing practice,” says Ben Jackson. “While there’s no one magic formula that works for everyone, I’ve found there are particular components that lead to ongoing passion, productivity, and purpose...more
Instructor: Ben Jackson
February 011 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
Berkeley, CA - “Cc Me!” Writing Letter Poems“Writing can be a lonely act, and it often seems no one’s listening,” says instructor Cate Lycurgus. “In this class we’ll explore the letter poem and its potential for connection, discovery, and catharsis...more
Instructor: Cate Lycurgus
February 01 - February 153 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
San Francisco, CA - Creative Nonfiction 101: Shape Stories from Your Own LifeIn this class, through weekly, prompt-driven writing exercises, we’ll sift through our memories, everyday experiences, and preoccupations with a sense of adventure and curiosity. To make our stories vivid and captivating, we’ll learn about essential craft elements and practice applying them to our own lives...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
February 05 - March 125 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Raw WritingIn this 3-week version of The Writing Salon’s Raw Writing series, David will lead you through prompts and exercises that indulge your senses, tickle your intellect, and mine your memory. You’ll engage in writing exercises using your favorite pieces of literature, music, and other art forms...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
February 06 - February 203 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: Katharine Harer
February 081 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Fiction Workshop: Building Our StoriesThis class is a hybrid take on the traditional workshop model, and while the workshop will be a major component of every class, writers will also have space to generate new material in class...more
Instructor: Shelby Hinte
February 10 - March 176 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Short and Sweet: Prose Poems, Flash Fiction and Mini-MemoirsIn this online class we’ll look at examples of short pieces from practitioners such as Lydia Davis and Russell Edson, and we’ll explore how to incorporate techniques like free association and juxtaposition into our work. Then we’ll write, share, and write some more...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
February 12 - February 263 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Intro to Creative Writing: Getting Our Stories onto the Page“Each of us has a story to tell, but finding the words and voice for that story is an art and craft specific to each individual,” says instructor Kathy Garlick. “This class is designed for writers who may be uncovering and sharing that story for the first time...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
February 18 - March 185 Tuesdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Writing for Wellness: A Path to Creativity, Insight, and Peace of Mind“Expressive writing practices—like journaling, working with images, and composing letters and lists—can be highly effective tools for self-awareness, emotional resilience, and enhancing creativity,” says instructor Kimberly Lee. “This class is ideal for those seeking to tune into their powerful inner voice and improve their health and well-being...more
Instructor: Kimberly Lee
February 20 - March 063 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Online - Self-Publishing 101: A Roadmap for Beginners“Traditional publishing is not for everyone,” says instructor David Jacobson. “For many of the rest of us, self-publishing is a quicker path leading to greater satisfaction. It allows a writer to retain primary control of how, when, and to whom their work is distributed. What might that mean for you?”...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
February 221 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Tiny Kingdoms: Writing the VERY Short StoryHow short can a story be? Consider Ernest Hemingway’s six-word classic: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” A tale told quickly can offer untold riches, which swell inside a reader long after the telling...more
Instructor: Andy Touhy
February 221 Saturday, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 5:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Body Narratives“Some of our most defining stories are about the things that have happened to our bodies,” says instructor Jennifer Lewis. “Whether adolescence, childbirth, aging or gender transitioning, each of us has experienced transformations that have shaped our character...more
Instructor: Jennifer Lewis
February 23 - March 235 Sundays, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 1:00pm
Online - Screenwriting Boot Camp“The best way to learn anything is to DO it,” says instructor Kate Montgomery. “In this fun, informative boot camp, you’ll get into the process right away. With an interactive mix of lecture, discussion, screenings, and group and individual writing exercises, you’ll learn and apply the basics of professional screenwriting...more
Instructor: Kate Montgomery
March 05 - March 193 Wednesdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Feral Poetry: Risk-Taking on the PageIn this 3-week class, we’ll look at poems by risk-taking poets like Diane Seuss, Danez Smith, and Chen Chen, among others. We’ll use these poems as jumping-off points for our work, doing prompt-driven writing inspired by what we find there...more
Instructor: Alison Luterman
March 06 - March 203 Thursdays, (Pacific Time)2:00pm - 4:30pm
Online - Write Now!: Salon SaturdaysFor 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration...more
Instructor: David Jacobson
March 081 Saturday, (Pacific Time)10:30am - 12:00pm
San Francisco, CA - Daily Write March Round RobinJane Underwood had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements—partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade...more
Instructor: Kathy Garlick
March 09 - March 303 WeeksAll Day
Online - Collage Writing Lab: Kickstart Your Creative ProjectIn this 3-week class, you’ll pull from pieces you’ve already written and brand-new writing you generate in class to create a collage. Prompt-driven writing, optional sharing of work, discussions about the collage form, and light feedback sessions will provide direction and encouragement...more
Instructor: Ann Guy
March 10 - March 243 Mondays, (Pacific Time)6:30pm - 9:00pm
Berkeley, CA - Master Your Beginnings and Endings: A Poetry Craft SeriesThe Writing Salon’s Craft Series offers writers an up-close opportunity to learn from and engage with an acclaimed author about the art and craft of writing. In our winter installment of the Craft Series, Brian Tierney will delve into various approaches to creating dynamic and surprising openings to poems and to developing closings that leave us with a sense of arrival, wonder, even awe...more
Instructor: Brian Tierney
March 15 - March 222 Saturdays, (Pacific Time)10:00am - 1:00pm
San Francisco, CA