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Fiction Writing Level 1

Unlock your imagination and learn the art of crafting captivating fictional tales in this immersive workshop. Discover the secrets of character development, plot creation, dialogue, setting, and other storytelling techniques, while gaining valuable insights into the world of publishing. Ignite your storytelling potential and bring your words to life at Gotham Writers Workshop.

  • Beginner
  • 18 and older
  • $490
  • 555 8th Ave, New York, NY
  • 30 hours over 10 sessions
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Start Dates (3)

  • $490
  • 555 8th Ave. @ 555 8th Ave 14th Flr. Ste 1402, New York, NY 10018
  • 30 hours over 10 sessions
  • Price includes Registration fee of $25, paid once per term
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  • Thu, Apr 11 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, Apr 18 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, Apr 25 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, May 02 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, May 09 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, May 16 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, May 23 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, May 30 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, Jun 06 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Thu, Jun 13 at 6:30pm - 9:30pm
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  • Wed, Apr 17 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Apr 24 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, May 01 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, May 08 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, May 15 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, May 22 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, May 29 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 05 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 12 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 19 at 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Notes Price includes Registration fee of $25, paid once per term
6 seats left
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Show all 10 sessions
  • Wed, Apr 17 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, Apr 24 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, May 01 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, May 08 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, May 15 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, May 22 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, May 29 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 05 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 12 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Wed, Jun 19 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Notes Price includes Registration fee of $25, paid once per term
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Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this creative writing class:

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.

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.

Syllabus:

Introduction to Fiction: The different types and forms of fiction. Where to find inspiration and ideas. The importance of craft.

Character: Where to find characters. Making characters dimensional through desire and contrasts. Creating character profiles. Showing vs. Telling. Methods for showing characters.

Plot: Finding a major dramatic question. Shaping a beginning, middle, and end. The difference between short story and novel plots. Pros and cons of outlining.

Point of View: POV defined. Exploration of the many types of POV.

Description: Using the senses. Specificity. Techniques for creativity. Finding the right words. Merging description with point of view.

Dialogue: The importance of scene. Dialogue's illusion of reality. Quotation marks and tags. Stage directions. Summarized dialogue. Characterization through dialogue. Subtext. Dialect.

Setting/Pacing: Time. Place. Weather. Description of setting. Merging character and setting. How to manipulate time through pacing. Flashbacks.

Voice: Voice defined. Exploration of the various types of voice. Tips for finding your voice. Understanding style—syntax, diction, and paragraph length.

Theme: Theme defined. Types of theme. Weaving theme into a story.

Revision: Exploration of the various stages of revision.

The Business: Proper format for manuscripts. How to target publishing houses, literary magazines, and agents. Query letters.

Note: Content may vary among individual classes.

Refund Policy

All Classes (except One-day and Zoom Intensives and Write-Ins):

  • For a refund or credit, contact us three business days or more before your class starts. You can either choose to hold a full credit with us good for one year on other Gotham classes OR you can opt for a refund less a $25 administrative fee and your $25 registration fee ($50 total).
  • If you need to withdraw after your class has started (or two business days before it starts), you won’t receive a refund, but you’re welcome to a Gotham credit less the price of Week 1 and your $25 registration fee, but we need to hear from you three business days or more before Week 2 meets for that to happen. After that point, no credits are available.

One-day and Zoom Intensives:

  • You may reschedule a One-day or Zoom Intensive one time, if you notify us two business days before the class begins. After that first reschedule, there is a $25 rescheduling fee.
  • If you notify us three business days or more before your class begins, rescheduling is free. If you notify us less than three business days before your class begins, there is a $25 rescheduling fee. If you don’t notify us until after your class begins, we cannot reschedule you.
  • You may get a refund (minus a $50 fee) if you notify us three business days or more before your class begins.

Write-Ins:

  • If you withdraw 1 business day or more before it begins, you’re welcome to a full credit good for one year toward another Write-In. No refunds are available.
  • If you simply don’t show up and don’t notify us in advance, you forfeit your money.

A few more things:

  • Credits are valid for one year and cannot be changed into refunds down the road.
  • Simply not attending class or notifying the instructor does not mean you've officially withdrawn.
  • Some exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for medical emergencies with a doctor's note.
  • Refunds take up to six weeks to process.

Please understand, we can't issue a refund after classes have started, even if you miss your first class. Similarly, we can't offer you a credit one day before your second class or after that. We understand that other obligations get in the way of attending class, but these policies allow us to get other interested writers into class early enough to have a good experience, and this allows us to offer our classes at a reasonable price.

Important Notes:

  • Students are allowed to join a class in the second week.
  • Only those who pay the tuition in full can be guaranteed a place in class.
  • Class dates and times may be subject to change. A substitute may be assigned or make-up classes added to the end of the term.
  • Auditing and the recording of classes are not allowed.
  • For all classes, students receive a record of payment and registration.
  • Gotham reserves the right to remove any student at our discretion.
  • Gotham does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or marital status.
  • Our courses are not intended to provide instruction that will result in the student's acquisition of occupational skills.

In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Reviews of Classes at Gotham Writers Workshop (745)

(4.4-star rating across 745 reviews)
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Ezequiel M. on 9/11/2019
    Shamar Hill is an excellent teacher. Period. End paragraph. He was attentive to each of his students’ individual skill level and goal; not an easy thing to do. He was inspiring and encourage. What more can you ask for in a teacher.
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Anonymous review on 3/21/2019
    I learned a lot from this class! I recommend it to anyone who is starting out, but does not know where to begin. Our Instructor, Joe, was very informative and encouraging through out the whole process. He helped create a safe environment were we could share ideas, try new things, and grow from our mistakes.
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Candice G. on 6/25/2017
    As any class I've taken, it was great to kearn from other writers of different backgrounds and levels of skills. But I enjoyed the lectures and the in-class exercises really helped my writing.
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Anonymous review on 12/9/2016
    Great class. Excellent instruction!
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Anonymous review on 12/19/2015
    Loved it!
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Anonymous review on 3/23/2015
    The class was great, although I would have preferred a different instructor.
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Bernard S. on 9/19/2019
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Anonymous review on 3/28/2019
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Shira L. on 12/8/2016
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Agata M. on 6/15/2015
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Brittney E. on 3/23/2015
  • Fiction Writing Level 1

    Reviewed by Amy S. on 3/17/2015
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

Students who took Fiction Writing Level 1: 10 Week Workshop had positive feedback about the class. They praised the teacher, Shamar Hill, for being attentive to their individual skill levels and goals. Students found him inspiring and encouraging throughout the whole process. They learned a lot from the class and recommended it for beginners who are unsure of where to start in their writing journey. The class provided a safe environment for sharing ideas and trying new things, allowing students to grow from their mistakes. They also appreciated learning from other writers with different backgrounds and skill levels. Overall, students found the class to be great and the instruction to be excellent.

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Questions & Answers (1)

Get quick answers from CourseHorse and past students.

Question from Anonymous
I won’t be able to attend the start date on the 15th for this 10-week course. Does anyone else know any future start dates?
Answer from Brenda L. CourseHorse StaffCourseHorse Staff
Hi there! We don't have the upcoming dates yet, but you can save this class to your wish list so you will be notified when we add new dates. Thank you.
Answer Show answer
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Gotham Writers Workshop

Gotham Writers Workshop is a creative home in New
York City and Online where writers develop their craft and come together in the
spirit of discovery and fellowship. We’ve been teaching creative writing to
students since 1993.




We believe that everyone has a story to tell.
Indeed, many stories. Keep your...

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Gotham Writers Workshop

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