Writing and Reading
Discover more great classes on writing and craft – available on demand, anytime.
Explore great classes from our past seasons focused on writing and craft. Learn more by viewing the personal video introduction to each session.
Then, get a ticket – or purchase our money-saving Multi Pass – and start learning right away.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from poet, fiction writer, and essayist Kim Addonizio, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Kim’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the opportunities that personal writing offers writers and readers – and about the strategies and approaches you can use right away to tell the stories you need to tell about your own life.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from acclaimed writer Rabih Alameddine, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Rabih’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about the elasticity of identity and imagination.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from Isabel Allende, one of the most widely read and acclaimed authors in the world, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Isabel’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about writing fiction, discovering your voice, and writing the work you were born to create.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from bestselling writer and teacher Steve Almond, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Steve’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s Learned about the powerful emotions that serve as the engines of our storytelling – and about the ways that these emotions show up in literature, shape our writing, and inform our lives.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from bestselling writer and teacher Steve Almond, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Steve’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s Learned about the powerful emotions that serve as the engines of our storytelling – and about the ways that these emotions show up in literature, shape our writing, and inform our lives.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from grief expert and author Claire Bidwell Smith, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Claire’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about reconciling the anxiety and loss that accompanies grief – and about the writing process that can bring hope, transformation, and healing when we lose someone we love.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cara Black, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Cara’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that a strong sense of place anchors readers and draws them into the story.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from bestselling author, editor, and teacher Sari Botton, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Sari’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about getting older by inviting people to share their own personal experiences of aging.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from celebrated President and Publisher of the HarperOne Group, Judith Curr, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Judith’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the power of storytelling and the joys of publishing – plus the behind-the-scenes lessons she’s collected throughout her career that will help you get your own story out into the world.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from award-winning writer and teacher Andre Dubus III, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Andre’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about why writing happens best when we summon the faith and the nerve to get out of our own way – and free-fall instead into our psyche and imagination.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from award-winning writer and teacher Andre Dubus III, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Andre’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the fluid, subjective nature of memory – and about the ways writers can genuinely share and illuminate themselves in their writing.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from celebrated poet, writer, editor, and scholar Camille Dungy, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Camille’s class, and discover the Five Things she’s learned about the ways that creativity arises from the soil of our most fundamental relationships – with the land, with our family history, with motherhood, and with our children.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from poet, novelist, songwriter, and teacher Joseph Fasano, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Joseph’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about how poetry helps us all become better listeners to the world around us, to the voices of others, and to the voice within.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from writer and Executive Director of National Writing Month Grant Faulkner, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Grant’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about what happens when you apply the principles and aesthetic of brevity to your writing.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from writer and Executive Director of National Writing Month Grant Faulkner, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Grant’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about what happens when writers share the most difficult parts of their story in service of truths that would otherwise go untold.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and Brooke Warner, Publisher of She Writes Press, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Grant and Brooke’s class, and discover the Five Things They’ve Learned about the essential mindsets that will help you get your book finished.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Elizabeth’s class, and discover how the Five Things She’s Learned about self-editing can help you to recognize what works in your own writing – and to fix what doesn’t.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from the author of How to Be a Travel Writer, Lonely Planet’s best-selling guide to travel writing, Don George, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Don’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about what makes a great travel story — and how to maximize your chances for publishing success.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from multi-award winning journalist and author Janine di Giovanni, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Janine’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about writing — and appreciating — narrative non-fiction and memoir.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from acclaimed writers and interviewers Pico Iyer and Michael Shapiro, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Pico and Micheal’s class, and discover the Five Things They’ve Learned from experience about the Art of the Interview.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from acclaimed writers and interviewers Pico Iyer and Michael Shapiro, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Pico and Micheal’s class, and discover the Five Things They’ve Learned from their own experience — and from the experience of the many creative figures they’ve met — about cultivating and deepening the creative flow.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from best-selling author Steven Johnson, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Steven’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the critical tools innovative thinkers use to nurture their creative practice – and the five key questions consistently innovative people ask themselves most often.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from acclaimed historian and writer Catherine Grace Katz, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Catherine’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how to uncover and share the stories that challenge our ideas of history.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from best-selling writer Laurie R. King, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Laurie’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the essential elements of a great mystery, and the rewards they make possible for readers and writers.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from best-selling writer Laurie R. King, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Laurie’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about creating memorable characters who come to life for her readers.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from U.S. Marine Corps veteran, writer, and teacher Phil Klay, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Phil’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about American citizenship – what it means, the obligations it places upon us, and the uglier way our shared ideals sometimes work in practice.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from riter and speaker Stephanie Land, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Stephanie’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about writing that breaks down walls and encourages empathy toward others – and about how you can claim and share your personal expertise in your own writing.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from New York Times bestselling author and Omega Institute co-founder Elizabeth Lesser, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Elizabeth’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about what happens when women trust their instincts, dignify their values, and speak their truths — and redefine what it means to be a hero.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from acclaimed author and editor Phillip Lopate — the celebrated central figure in the revival of the American essay —, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Phillip’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the powerful legacy and continuing pleasure of this engaging, versatile art form.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from best-selling novelist and teacher Rebecca Makkai, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Rebecca’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about breaking free of the ideas, fears, and ambitions that can block creativity – and about how artists of all kinds can get back on track and back to work.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from singer/songwriter, producer, and author Allison Moorer, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Allison’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about sharing her family’s stories in prose and in song – and about all that taking ownership of our most personal stories makes possible.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from award winning writer and journalist Susan Orlean, right here on substack,
Then, check out the archive of Susan’s class, and discover the Five things she’s learned about the ways that writers and readers can look at the world – and at stories – in new and inspiring ways.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from celebrated novelist, essayist, short-story writer, and professor Peter Orner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Peter’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about how great writers create remarkable movement and energy within a single paragraph – and how you can craft equally powerful building blocks within your own writing.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from celebrated novelist, essayist, short-story writer, and professor Peter Orner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Peter’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about how worrying less, chilling out, and reveling (a little) in not writing makes all the difference and connects him to where stories really come from.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from celebrated novelist, essayist, short-story writer, and professor Peter Orner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Peter’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the joys of returning to his favorite stories and short-story writers. We’ll look again at the works of three great masters, and at the ways that re-experiencing a familiar story shapes both the art we encounter and the art we create.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from best-selling writer and teacher Richard Panek, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Richard’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about the spirit of discovery and exploration – and the process by which great writing begins with something new and unknown.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from novelist and host of “The Page One Podcast” Holly Payne, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Holly’s class, and discover the Five Things she’s learned about about a book’s critical first page – and about how you can ensure your opening paragraphs do all they can to hook readers and keep them reading.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from writer, editor, and teacher Maya C. Popa, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Maya’s class, and discover the Five Things she’s learned about how poetic form both organizes and conveys our essential emotions and insights.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from New York Times bestselling writer Russell Shorto, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Russell’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about diving into your past and bringing the story you find there to life.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from Adobe Research Lab veteran Matt Strain, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Matt’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about the ways artificial intelligence is helping writers find new ways to develop their ideas and cultivate their creativity.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from New York Times best-selling author Cheryl Strayed, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Cheryl’s class, and discover the Five Things she’s learned about how to honor your desire to create and see your projects through – even when life’s demands make doing so feel impossible.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from journalist and author James Surowiecki, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of James’ class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about how to write about ideas – how to take complicated concepts and make them accessible; and how, in the process, to enlighten and entertain.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from editor and publisher Brooke Warner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Brooke’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about what agents, editors, and publishers look at when considering a new manuscript – and all they’re really looking for.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from editor and publisher Brooke Warner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Brooke’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned during her nearly two decades of leading and championing women-only publishing about the ways that women writers work, collaborate, and succeed.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from editor and publisher Brooke Warner, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Brooke’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that women can move past the self-limiting assumptions, conditioning, and habits that can keep them from living full creative lives.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from celebrated writer and raconteur Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman and The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Simon’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the history, art, and heart of dictionary-making.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from New York Times–bestselling author Meg Wolitzer, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Meg’s class, and discover Five Things She’s Learned about the differences between real life families and the ones we invent – and how a writer might take experiences from life and transform them into fiction.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from celebrated poet, writer, and professor Matthew Zapruder, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Matthew’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about honoring family as a source of creative inspiration – about being truthful in the service of mercy and merciful in the pursuit of truth.
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