Fiction Writing
Fiction is a wonderful conjuring act. With only words and the reader’s imagination, a work of fiction can sail across the world in pursuit of a whale, or time-travel to another dimension, or zero in on a few minutes in line at the local bank, enveloping the reader in a made-up story that feels real.
To pull off this feat requires a balance of craftsmanship, daring, and insight into human nature. Here you will learn the time-tested elements of fiction craft and how to market your work.
Whether you seek to write short stories or novels, mainstream or literary, comic or tragic, we’ll show you how to spin your thoughts into believable and spellbinding tales.
Notes
Fiction I encompasses short stories and novels. After Level I, students have a choice of Fiction II/III (focusing on short stories), or Novel II/III (focusing on novels).
If you are working on “genre” fiction, you may take either a Fiction/Novel course or one of our genre courses: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, Mystery.
If you are working on a YA novel, you may take a Fiction/Novel or “genre” course, or you may take a Children’s Book course, where the full spectrum of children’s books will be covered.
Fiction Writing | Level I
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
- Online: not real-time, week-long sessions info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - Zoom: real-time videoconference info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - NYC: in-person info
tuition: $445 (returning students: $415)
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of fiction craft and gets you writing a short story (or two) or a novel. Course components:
- Lectures
- Writing exercises
- Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
Fiction I is for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Students must be 18 years or older.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
Tour an Online Class
Explore One-on-One Options
Program Certificate
Fiction Writing | Level II
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
- Online: not real-time, week-long sessions info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - Zoom: real-time videoconference info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - NYC: in-person info
tuition: $445 (returning students: $415)
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course helps you sharpen your skills at fiction craft and work toward completion of one or two short stories. Writers often repeat Fiction II to continue their projects. Course components:
- Lectures
- Writing exercises
- Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
Prerequisite: Fiction Writing I (10-week), or the equivalent. Students must be 18 years or older.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
Tour an Online Class
Explore One-on-One Options
Program Certificate
Fiction Writing | Level III
10-week Workshop
Place & Price
- Online: not real-time, week-long sessions info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - Zoom: real-time videoconference info
tuition: $419 (returning students: $389) - NYC: in-person info
tuition: $445 (returning students: $415)
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $1795 Request consultation
This course focuses on detailed workshopping of student short stories, among veterans of the workshop process. Writers often repeat Fiction III to continue their projects. Course components:
- Discussions
- Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
Prerequisite: Two terms of a Level II Gotham fiction-related course. Students must be 18 years or older.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
Tour an Online Class
Explore One-on-One Options
Program Certificate
Intensives are fun, fast crash courses.
Fiction Writing
Two-day Zoom Intensive
Place & Price
- Zoom: real-time videoconference info
tuition: $165
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The Zoom Intensives are taught via the Zoom videoconference platform.
Fiction Intensive topics include: character, plot, point of view, description, getting published.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a Zoom Intensive one time.
Fiction Writing
One-day Intensive
Place & Price
- NYC: in-person info
tuition: $165
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $350 Request consultation
The NYC One-day Intensives are taught in-person.
Fiction Intensive topics include: character, plot, point of view, description, getting published.
Course components: lectures, writing exercises
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a One-day Intensive one time.
To ensure everyone’s good health, students and teachers in NYC classes must show proof of full vaccination—your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. You must bring this proof to your first class session; we will contact you with a reminder before your class begins. You may also be asked for proof of identity with an official government photo ID. Face masks may also be required, pending the current situation.
