Fiction Writing | Online | Creative Writing Classes in NYC and Online with Professional Writing Instructors

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Fiction is perhaps the purest form of storytelling. With only words and the reader's imagination, a work of fiction can sail across the world, pursuing a whale, or zeroing in on a few minutes in line at the local bank, luring the reader into a story that reads true.

To do it well, however, requires skill. In our courses, you will learn how to support your words with such craft elements as character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, setting, pacing, voice, and theme. You will also learn how and where to market your work.

Whether you seek to write short stories or novels, traditional or experimental, comic or tragic, we'll show you how to turn your ideas into stories that people will be eager to read.

Note: If you are working on genre fiction — Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, or Mystery — you may find one of our genre courses a better fit.

You might also consider Gotham's premium Zoetrope Fiction Writing class.

Select a class: Level I, Advanced, Master Class
See also: Fiction Writing in NYC, Letters from Gotham Students

Level I
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

Write one or two short stories or begin work on a novel
Lectures on fundamental concepts
Writing exercises
Present work for critique

In a clear, accessible manner, the course presents the fundamentals of plot, structure, voice, description, character development, point of view, and dialogue. Lectures and writing exercises are used to illustrate these concepts. You will also have the opportunity to present your work and receive feedback from your instructor and classmates. The goal is to write two short stories or to begin a novel and to acquire a firm understanding of all the basics of fiction writing.

Fiction I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Beginners who wish to write novels should take Fiction I before Advanced Novel Writing.

View a course syllabus.

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $399, Returning Students $369. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 16 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jun 18	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class	CLASS FULL
Jun 25	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Jul 9	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Jul 16	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Aug 6	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Aug 20	Tuesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class

Advanced
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

Write or refine one or two short stories
Lectures that expand on fundamental concepts
Writing exercises
Present work for in-depth critique

The course focuses on the presentation and critique of your work and is designed to help you sharpen your skills. Emphasis is placed on honing each story’s structure, characterization, narrative, description, and style with the aim of creating publishable work.

Advanced Fiction Writing is for writers who have completed Level I or those with fiction-writing experience who are prepared to discuss all of the fundamental concepts of the craft. Writers often repeat Advanced Fiction Writing as they continue to develop projects.

We offer Advanced Fiction for writers working on short stories and Novel Writing II for writers working on novels. You are, however, welcome to work on material in Advanced Fiction that would eventually end up in a novel.

Prerequisite: Fiction Writing I or the equivalent.

View a course syllabus.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $399, Returning Students $369. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jul 10	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Jul 10	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Aug 7	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class
Aug 7	Wednesdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class

Master Class
Fiction Writing | 10-week Workshop

The Fiction Master Class focuses on workshopping short stories. All students are veterans in the workshop process, and each story is read and discussed in detail over a two-week period, giving the writers a plenitude of helpful feedback. In addition to the workshopping, each week the instructor leads students through a discussion of some tantalizing new topic. Writers often repeat Fiction Writing Master Classes to continue their projects.

Prerequisite: Two terms of a GWW Fiction II or Novel II class.

Which level is right for you? How to Choose a Level

(3.0 CEU)

Online Classes

Tuition: $399, Returning Students $369. Registration Fee $25.

Each class strictly limited to 14 students, ages 18 and up.

Starts	New Lecture	Location	Time	Special	Enroll
Jul 18	Thursdays	Online	24 hrs. a day	Sample Class