Help me write right in NYC.

October 23, 2008 12:06 PM

I'm not a very good writer, but I would like to change that. Can anyone recommend a writing course in NYC? A course in fiction or non-fiction creative writing or a general composition course would fit the bill. I'm definitely a beginner. Thanks!
posted by defreckled to education (6 comments total)

I don't have a class recommendation, but the book, On Writing Well by Zinsser, made the biggest impact on my non-fiction writing -- more than any class, personally.
posted by nitsuj at 12:12 PM on October 23, 2008

Gotham Writer's Workshops are generally well-thought of and well-respected.
posted by micawber at 1:03 PM on October 23, 2008

I was going to suggest the same book. On Writing Well is more of an example of excellent writing to learn from than an instructional book.
posted by mealy-mouthed at 1:05 PM on October 23, 2008

Ian Frazier wrote an article for the New Yorker about his free writing workshop in a Chelsea soup kitchen that sounded amazing. I know, I know: soup kitchen. But Ian Frazier! The article doesn't appear to be online, but there's a podcast here.
posted by roger ackroyd at 1:34 PM on October 23, 2008

Books are great, but I think you'll get a lot out of a writing class as well. In a typical writing class, you'll get feedback from other students on your work, and you'll have to read and critique others' writing as well--which is usually just as instructive! And depending on the class, you may also get exercises that will help spark new ideas and reading assignments (because an important part of learning to write is reading a lot of different stuff).

I second Gotham Writer's Workshop; I know several people who have taken classes there as well as someone who teaches there, and it seems to be a well-run, focused but relaxed program. You might also look at the 92nd Street Y. They're also highly regarded.
posted by Ms. Informed at 2:22 PM on October 23, 2008

Just as a comment, I keep on getting e-mails that NanoWriMo is coming up. It's not a course, it's a challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November, but there are a lot of NanoWriMo support groups out there that get together during the month, so it might be useful to you? Sure there's plenty of NaNoWriMo groups in New York!
posted by ranglin at 3:05 AM on October 24, 2008