Replay: Writing and Reading
Discover these great classes on writing, reading, and craft – available on demand, anytime.
Explore these great classes on writing, reading, 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 way that great poems work to surprise us, transcend time, and take us to unexpected places.
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 award-winning poet, novelist, teacher, and scholar Kaveh Akbar, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Kaveh’s class, and discover the Five Things he’s learned about the ways antiquity’s spiritual verse can help us to better understand ourselves – and to sit more comfortably in our own uncertain times.
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 90-minute class from writer, producer, and mother Julianna Baggott, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Julianna’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the good, beautiful, weirdly-efficient blur that can streamline your life and transform your writing.
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 90-minute class from acclaimed teacher, scholar and public historian David W. Blight, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of David’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the ways that biography can help us better learn about thinking, writing, and living well.
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 90-minute class from award-winning author and professor Nicholas Buccola, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Nicholas’ class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the meaning and value of freedom by studying the life and writing Frederick Douglass.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from award-winning author and professor Nicholas Buccola, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Nicholas’ class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the meaning of love from the life and thought of James Baldwin.
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 two-hour class from award-winning cartoonist Liza Donnelly, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Liza’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned from a lifetime of drawing and writing, and from the fulfillment that comes with looking inward and observing of the world around you.
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 writer, editor, and educator , right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Sarah’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about what it means to write our stories of illness, injury, and recovery.
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 best-selling author, essayist, public speaker, lyricist and libretto writer Adam Gopnik, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Adam’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about the mystery of mastery – and about the ways that our humanity is immeasurably enriched in even the simplest things we set out to master.
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 writer, scholar, and teacher Timothy Hampton, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Timothy’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned from a lifetime of listening to the greatest songwriter of our time: How some of Bob Dylan’s most famous songs work, and why he remains as urgent and important as ever.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour conversation between best-selling writer Daniel Handler and Matthew Zapruder, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Daniel’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about Creativity – or the five things he had thought he’d learned, until life and experience suggested otherwise.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from culture journalist, author and teacher Will Hermes, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Will’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about how to articulate and share the emotional impact of songs you love — how to illuminate their meaning, amplify their power, and deepen the listening experience for yourself and your readers.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from from award-winning poet, essayist, and translator Jane Hirshfield, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Jane’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the ways that poems’ original seeing can be invited, recognized, and worked with to open new depth, openness, and possibility – in words and in lives.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from from award-winning author and teacher Ann Hood, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Ann’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how to bring the characters, conflicts, and plot points that keep you up at night from your heart to the page.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from from award-winning author and teacher Ann Hood, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Ann’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how to bring focus to a singular slice of your life in ways that produce the story that you want to read – and write.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from award-winning documentary filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Lisa’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about documenting and sharing the lives of some of the transforming figures in art, culture, and fashion.
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 the issue she’s found most connected to almost early every problem on the page – and why improving the ability to see through someone else’s eyes is essential to being a good writer and a decent human being.
View the first five minutes of this 90-minute class from writer, author, and professor Roosevelt Montás, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Roosevelt’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about the transforming power of the Great Books—and why the ideas and passions within these ancient sources still possess the power to make and remake our lives today.
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 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 while writing her forthcoming memoir, and about the approaches sure to be of help as you share your own personal history.
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 writer, editor and performer Joe Randazzo, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Joe’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about cultivating creativity and collaboration – and about all it takes to consistently turn good ideas into great ones.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour conversation between writer Ingrid Rojas Contreras and Matthew Zapruder, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Ingrid’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about writing and creativity – and about the artistic necessity to write from the emotional landscape of crisis.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from writer and teacher Maurice Carlos Ruffin, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Maurice’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about how to make the most of your one opportunity to announce yourself to the world – and to set the tone for the writing life you wish to have.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from Michael Ruhlman – best-selling writer of more than 30 books of non-fiction, fiction, memoir and cookbooks –, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Michael’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about writing and living well – while writing about food, cooking, and life in a kitchen.
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 two-hour conversation between best-selling writer and poet Maggie Smith and Matthew Zapruder, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Maggie’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s learned about what it means to prioritize your creative practice in ways that allow you to stay productive and feel most like yourself – no matter what the rest of your life looks like.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from novelist, memoirist, cultural critic, and screenwriter Matthew Specktor, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Matthew’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s learned about the powerful ways that the imagination can operate in nonfiction writing – and how reality can add truth and ballast to fiction.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from writer, poet, and minister Danté Stewart, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Danté’s class, and discover the Five Things He’s Learned about storytelling’s power and magic, and all that happens when readers encounter stories that help them get safely through to the other side.
View the first five minutes of this two-hour class from writers and teachers Laurie Stone and Richard Toon, right here on substack.
Then, check out the archive of Laurie and Richard’s class, and discover the Five Things They’ve Learned about the ways that great writing delivers genuine pleasure for the reader – and the writer.
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 conversation between poet, author, actress, and director Amber Tamblyn and Matthew Zapruder, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Amber’s class, and discover the Five Things She’s Learned about how to harness our emotions into the full force of our creative work — and how to put all that we’re feeling about the state of the world to good use.
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 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 the ways in which our intimate responses to change can positively drive our most powerful urges to write and create.
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 film critic, author, and teacher Alissa Wilkinson, right here on Substack.
Then, check out the archive of Alissa’s class, and discover Five Things She’s Learned about how we develop our personal mythologies by studying and writing about Joan Didion.
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 two-hour 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 the practical and spiritual techniques that have helped him to keep the faith and to keep going as a creative artist – and how you can better how to adapt your creative practice to a busy life full of relationships and obligations.
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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