creative writing classes in philadelphia

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We Are All Storytellers

Fun, structured writing workshops in person, via zoom, and online. private editing and coaching services., in the writing workshops, beginners, avid writers, and published authors:.

• Devote time to writing
• Overcome writer’s block
• Receive helpful feedback
• Join the writers’ community

Write fiction, poetry, nonfiction, memoirs, essays, plays, and screenplays.

Gift certificates for birthdays and holidays.

Show your loved one how much you support their dreams and endeavors by gifting them a workshop, private editing, or coaching.

If you struggle to make writing a habit, this program gives you the accountability we all need. Write to a prompt you receive via email for fifteen minutes and return your writing to your partner. You and your partner provide each other with basic, encouraging feedback. It’s simple and it works.

The Winter 2024 Zoom Tuesday Night Workshop

A fun, structured environment designed to help you tame your inner critic and develop your unique voice. Write during the workshop, and if you choose, submit up to 5,000 words for constructive discussion. A small Zoom workshop appropriate for writers of all levels who write in any form or genre.

The Spring 2024 Tuesday Night Writing Workshop in Flourtown

A fun, structured environment designed to help you tame your inner critic and develop your unique voice. Write during the workshop, and if you choose, submit up to 5,000 words for constructive discussion. An in-person workshop appropriate for writers of all levels who write in any form.

Editing and Coaching for Writers

Private coaching nurtures writers through the highs and lows of creative productivity. private editing guides you through the phases of preparing your project for publication..

Working one-on-one with Rachel Kobin, the Founder and Director of The Philadelphia Writers’ Workshop may be the best way to forward your project.

Choose up to 6 Wednesday nights of all writing via Zoom with author Danette Laver.

Wednesdays in January and February 2024 via Zoom from 7-9:30 PM. This writing workshop lets you write in the company of others from the comfort of your home. Danette Laver has been a writer in The Tuesday Night Writing Workshop for years and recently released her first novel.

The Manuscript Workshop

The Manuscript Workshop via video conference and in person , which meets on three Thursday evenings of every month, is designed to support writers who have made significant headway toward completing a full-length book.

Currently seeking participants for fall 2024.

Writers Review the Workshops

Read participants’ own words about their experiences in the workshops.

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10 Best Creative Writing Classes in Philadelphia

Showing 10 courses that match your search.

Storyweaving: Adding Subplots to Your Novel

Rosemont Writers' Studio

Take your story to the next level by learning how to enhance theme, increase characterization, and flesh out the journey with subplots. We will look at general plotting and subplotting techniques, analyze structure of popular subplots, and weave these subplots into your hero's journey.

Website: https://www.rosemont.edu/academics/graduate/creative-writ...

Categories: Fiction and Book

Start date:

April, 2024

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Self-Publishing 101

This course will guide you in a step-by-step fashion how to take a manuscript and turn it into a book. We will cover all the bases from editing to formatting to self-marketing.

Categories: Fiction, Publishing, Book, and Nonfiction

Tarot & Writing: The Cups

A Novel Idea

In this two-hour session, participants will learn about the suit of the Cups. Focused on relationships, dreams, and emotional wellness, this suit offers important lessons for storytelling and self-care. The workshop leader will go through each of the fourteen Cups cards, offering writing prompts along the way.

Website: https://anovelideaphilly.com/classes/

Categories: Book and Fiction

Open all year round

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

Corporeal Translations: Poetic Possibilities in the Body

This workshop is for anyone who wants to practice active embodied writing, for writers who crave a deeper relationship to their body in motion but struggle with direction, and also movement artists who struggle to write about their practice or struggle to write in general.

Website: https://www.bluestoop.org/classes/angel-edwards-corporeal...

Categories: Poetry

Rethinking Narrative Structure

In “Rethinking Narrative Structure” we will analyze the concept of narrative structure as well as its paradigms as a way to develop your own narrative structures, honing and amplifying your narrative voice.

Website: https://www.bluestoop.org/classes/ashley-bach-rethinking-...

Categories: Fiction

Flashy Fictions: Short-Short Forms That Pack a Punch

This class will explore the varied traditions, practices, and inner-workings of multiple short-short fiction forms (including flash, sudden, micro, sequenced vignettes, etc.) through assigned craft readings, a wide range of published stories, in-class and at-home generative exercises, and in-depth peer workshops.

Website: https://www.bluestoop.org/classes/robert-powers-flash-fic...

Part of Rosemont College, this studio offers a variety of non-credit writing and publishing workshops. These include diverse topics such as manuscript preparation, writing feminist fairy tales, understanding dialogue in fiction, and exploring political issues in poetry. Courses are taught by experienced authors and educators, making them suitable for writers of all levels seeking focused skill development​​.

Weekly Wordshop

Greater Philadelphia Wordshop Studio

These workshops, held in Center City and Main Line/Delaware County, meet weekly on Tuesday and Monday evenings, respectively. Limited to 12 participants per group, they follow a 10-week format with a registration fee of $440. These workshops are based on the writing method developed by Pat Schneider, founder of Amherst Writers & Artists, and incorporate techniques and suggestions from Schneider's book, "Writing Alone and with Others."

Website: https://www.philawordshop.com/wordshop.html

Categories: Fiction, Essay, Poetry, Nonfiction, Short Story, and Book

Writers Room Experience

Writers Room

This experiential studio class, led by instructor Lauren Lowe, focuses on developing an understanding of the self in relation to the world. It emphasizes building community and working towards a more equitable world through writing and sharing stories​​.

Website: https://www.writersroomdrexel.org/courses

Categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Free

Green Street Poetry

This workshop offers a space for poets to share, edit, and discuss their work in a collaborative and supportive environment. Participants read their poems aloud, receive group feedback, and engage in discussions about their work. The workshop is designed to help poets of all levels achieve their writing goals, whether they seek intensive criticism or a friendly space to share their poetry. Attendees are encouraged to bring 10 copies of their poem for workshopping, a pen or pencil for editing, and some cash for food and drinks.

Website: https://www.greenstreetpoetry.com/workshop

Categories: Poetry and Free

Prerequisites: 10 copies of the poem you want workshopped.

So you’re looking for creative writing classes in Philadelphia

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth the reading, or do things worth the writing”—or so once said one of Philadelphia’s favorite sons, Benjamin Franklin. If you’re looking to accomplish the former and “write things worth the reading,” then you may be considering to take a creative writing class in Philadelphia.

This directory of the best writing courses in Philadelphia is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• How far away is the writing course in Philadelphia? Is there a remote alternative?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class in Philadelphia for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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Literary Philly

Writing Workshops

• Alison Hicks’ Greater Philadelphia Wordshop Studio (Delaware County/Center City)
• Blue Stoop (8 week classes, 6-12 students, fiction, poetry, essays, memoir, novel, YA, food writing)
• Brooklyn School Social Practice in Philadelphia (literature/philosophy classes)
• Cooper Street Writing Workshops (4 week classes & one day intensives in fiction & poetry taught by Rutgers-Camden MFA grads & local instructors)
• Drexel Writers Room (interactive writing workshops no preparation necessary, free & open to all)
• Drexel Storylab (8 week fiction & nonfiction classes for adults)
• Green Street Poetry (monthly poetry workshop group in Fairmount)
• Helen Mallon’s True Courage Workshops (Chestnut Hill)
• Janet Benton’s The Word Studio (offers small workshops and private manuscript consultations)
• Leonard Gontarek (poetry, email [email protected] )
• Lisa Grunberger’s Writing & Yoga Classes (generative courses combining yoga & creativity)
• Liz Moore’s Palumbo Park Writing Workshops (5 week courses in fiction & nonfiction at area bookstores)
• Mount Airy Learning Tree (short classes for beginners)
• The Open Book Writing Classes (4 week memoir classes at the Elkins Park bookstore)
• Philadelphia Stories Master Classes (3 week online classes)
• Philadelphia Writers Workshop (Flourtown, PA)
• Rittenhouse Writers Workshop (8 week fiction workshops, contact James Rahn, [email protected])
• River Heron Review Classes (online & on-site Lahaska, PA)
• River Valley Writers (Stockton, NJ; email Maria Casale at  [email protected] )
• Rosemont Writers Studio (6 week classes, Rosemont, PA)
• Susan Weidener’s Women’s Writing Circle (workshops, retreats, editing services, professional critique)
• University of the Arts Continuing Education : (5 or 10 week skill development classes)
• University of Pennsylvania noncredit classes (3 free sessions on topic open to public)
• Woodland Writers (Cherry Hill, NJ)
• Write Nites @ The Art Department (group writing exercises & write sessions sponsored by The Head & The Hand)

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• College Catalog
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• Workforce Development

Creative Writing Academic Certificate

Description:.

The certificate program in Creative Writing is a 33-credit program designed to help students grow as writers and readers. Guided by our accomplished faculty, students will take a sequence of literature and creative writing courses, have opportunities to interact with visiting writers, and attend readings, workshops, festivals and other special events. The program culminates in a capstone course, Portfolio Development, designed to help students prepare to apply to four-year writing programs and develop manuscripts for publication. Students earning the certificate in Creative Writing may elect to continue their education at the College by earning the A.A. degree in Liberal Arts by completing 28 additional credits.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• Examine literature as a model for their original work.
• Understand and use techniques necessary for the mastery of the craft of creative writing.
• Improve their creative writing skills through feedback and continued revision.
• Gain insight into local and national resources for writers and the publication process.
• Complete a portfolio of original work for publication or submission to other creative writing programs.

Program Entry Requirements:

This program is open to all interested students. Students identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as part of their certificate program.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:

Receipt of the academic certificate is based on completion of a minimum of 33 credits of required courses, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average).

Course Sequence:

Minimum credits needed to graduate:.

* Some colleges and universities require a mathematics course above FNMT 118. In that case:

• Students who are FNMT 118 ready may take MATH 137 or MATH 150 instead of FNMT 101 or FNMT 118.
• Students who are FNMT 118 ready who intend to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118, which is the prerequisite for MATH 161.
• Students with a math placement score above FNMT 118 should take MATH 161 or a higher-level math course.
• Please visit the transfer agreements web page for more information and consult with an advisor when selecting a quantitative reasoning course.

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the  MyCCP portal , and in the  Student  tab, under  Electronic Forms , click on the  Records and Registration Forms  link, then choose  Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement  link. A  more detailed explanation  of the College's general education requirements is also available.

For More Information, Contact:

The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.

Gainful Employment:

Gainful employment information is intended to provide students with better information about the effectiveness of college programs in preparing students for careers. Information provided includes estimated program costs and time needed to complete the program, financing options and related careers.

Writing workshops led by Alison Hicks, MFA, following the Amherst Writers & Artists™ method Private Consultation/Coaching also available—contact Alison to discuss your project and needs

Stay in the loop! Alison Hicks has created an e-newsletter with occasional reflections on writing and the publishing process, as well as up-to-date information on readings, events, and publications news. To subscribe, please use the following link:

Http://eepurl.com/ccd1tn.

Beginning and experienced writers welcome: whether you are publishing, have been writing for a while, or are newly exploring possibilities, we offer encouragement and a supportive yet rigorous approach to developing your writing Two Convenient Locations: Delaware County/Main Line Mondays, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Center City, Philadelphia Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Stories

Philadelphia Stories: Publishing Local Writers & Artists

Greater Philadelphia Wordshop Studio with Alison Hicks (Delaware County/Main Line; Center City)

Philadelphia Writers’ Workshop with Rachel Kobin (Flourtown, PA)

Main Line School Night

Rosemont Writer’s Studio  for non-credit courses

Backyard Writers Workshop  (Philadelphia)

Writer’s Retreats

Rosemont International Writer’s Retreat

Rosemont Summer Writer’s Retreat

Writers Groups and Meetups

Philadephia Writers Meetup : Attend a Writers Meetup to review work, trade literary tips, make friends and have fun! All writers and should-be writers are welcome.

Main Line Writer’s Coffeehouse: New Leaf Club , Third Sunday of the Month

Willow Grove Writer’s Coffeehouse: Willow Grove Barnes & Noble , Last Sunday of the Month

Mighty Writers: free writing programs help students (ages 7-17) that develop reading and writing skills.

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Division
• College of Liberal and Professional Studies

Penn Creative Writing

Welcome to the Creative Writing Program at Penn. We are home to a faculty of award-winning writers who teach more than sixty workshops each year in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, playwriting, screenwriting, and writing for children and young adults, as well as innovative workshops in cross-genre, experimental, and hybrid writing, including writing that engages with community organizing, multimedia and visual arts, and performance. Our program hosts for-credit apprenticeships and programs in independent study, a number of student honors and awards, and events throughout the year that are open to the public.

The undergraduate Creative Writing Program is part of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing , which is home to Penn’s writing programs, platforms, and projects. The cluster of programs at CPCW, which includes the  Kelly Writers House ,  PennSound ,  ModPo , and  Jacket2 , provides opportunities to emerging writers in and out of the classroom, including readings, webcasts, podcasts, lectures, performances, and archives that all promote the living textures of contemporary writing. 

With more than thirty creative writing courses each semester in a wide range of genres, our program accommodates students who are majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, pursuing a creative writing or journalistic writing minor, or taking courses as electives. Senior creative writing concentrators and minors are encouraged to apply for our creative writing honors program, through which students complete a capstone project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Through  RealArts@Penn , creative writing students have the opportunity to engage with alumni in writing-related careers and to apply for paid summer internships across the country. Our students are consistently able to launch successful careers as writers and in other creative fields. 

Our faculty, all actively publishing practitioners in their fields, have garnered awards that range from the Pulitzer Prize to the National Book Critics Circle Award, the National Magazine Award, the Whiting Award, the Pew Fellowship in the Arts, and other honors. Many have received distinguished teaching awards at Penn, and all have mentored alumni who have gone on to publish their work, start careers at top publishing houses or news outlets, or simply cultivate an ongoing writing practice, no matter what their professional path. 

Penn Creative Writing is devoted to the idea that good readers make good writers: our courses are rigorous studies in the history of writing as much as they are collaborative, hands-on workshops in craft. Our courses align with core principles of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences, including active learning, local and global engagement, and collaboration with the full range of campus arts and culture centers that includes galleries and museums, civic engagement hubs, performing arts venues, and centers in research. For English majors, we offer a concentration in creative writing. For any student at Penn, we offer minors in creative writing and in journalistic writing. Finally, any Penn student can take any of our courses as an elective. Our honors thesis program, spring writing prizes, and calendar of public events at Kelly Writers House and elsewhere offer student writers multiple opportunities to deepen their study, work closely with contemporary writers, and hone their craft.  

For prospective students

We care a great deal about working with promising high-school writers who are considering applying to Penn. Prospective students are encouraged to contact our associate director for recruitment, Jamie-Lee Josselyn , to arrange class visits and on-campus meetings to learn more about writing-related opportunities in the Creative Writing Program and at  Kelly Writers House .

If you are a high-school student with a passion for writing, please visit our page for prospective students  to learn more about our efforts to bring writers to Penn. We also encourage current high-school sophomores and juniors to consider applying to the  Summer Workshop for Young Writers at the Kelly Writers House , a small, ten-day residential program held in July. The application for this program typically goes live in early February and closes in early March. Visit the Kelly Writers House site for full details, and read more about the program in this  Daily Pennsylvanian  article.

Creative Writing at Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies

Creative writing at penn’s college of liberal and professional studies.

Become a Penn-made writer—your way. Designed with working adults and nontraditional students in mind, Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) offers a range of opportunities to study the craft of creative writing with expert faculty and a community of like-minded peers. As a Penn student, you have access to world-class resources including Penn Libraries and Kelly Writers House, as well as personalized advising to help you make the most of your Penn experience. 

What’s your story?

Whether you are an experienced writer hoping to focus and polish your work or a beginner exploring the arts of creative expression, Penn LPS workshops, and writing-intensive Proseminars offer inspiration, technique, and constructive feedback. Wherever you are, whatever level of education you’ve achieved, there’s a program for you at Penn.

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences >

Master of Liberal Arts >

Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts >

Certificate in Creative Writing >

Penn LPS Online courses >

Post-Baccalaureate Studies >

Beginning or completing a bachelor’s degree?

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree is an accredited degree program that offers an Ivy League liberal arts education—fully online.

• Earn a bachelor’s degree, with the option to complete related certificates at the same time
• Complete 30 courses (or less, if eligible for credit transfer) through full-time study or a part-time flexible pace
• Take immersive, fully online courses from anywhere in the world; does not require residence in Philadelphia
• Tailor your studies with a degree concentration such as Creative Studies , Individualized Studies , or Literature, Culture, and Tradition
• Apply through the standard admissions process, or “prove your way in” by demonstrating academic ability
• Apply for a fall, spring, or summer start

Learn more about BAAS >

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Looking for a graduate degree that isn’t terminal?

The Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) program allows you to design your own curriculum by choosing courses across the University and combining different disciplines to tackle the question or project that motivates you. Anchored by writing-intensive Proseminar courses, the MLA is ideal for students who wish to draw from different disciplines to approach a creative project or research query.

Designed for students who already have a master’s degree and want a short, focused degree program to extend their studies, the Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) program balances all the benefits of the MLA with the independence of self-directed study.

• Earn a graduate degree with the option to complete a graduate certificate in creative writing at the same time
• Complete coursework and a capstone project in one year of full-time study or at a part-time flexible pace
• Take daytime or evening courses on campus, and online courses when available
• A bachelor’s degree in any field is required to apply, and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional

Learn more about MLA >

Learn more about MPhil >

Just want to write—without committing to a degree program?

Unlock your creativity from anywhere in the world through accelerated online courses. The Certificate in Creative Writing allows you to choose four courses from a variety of collaborative workshops—including genres such as poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction—to earn a certificate, or a total of six courses to qualify for an advanced certificate. Want to test the waters first? Enroll in individual courses in creative writing without committing to a program of study, enjoying the flexibility and expertise offered by Penn LPS Online to suit your schedule and interests.

• Earn academic credit with each course, with the option to complete a certificate
• Complete the certificate program in less than one year, or take courses at your own pace
• Fully online and asynchronous; does not require residency in Philadelphia
• No application or prerequisites required; you are eligible if you have attained a high school diploma
• Enroll any time for a fall, spring, or summer start

Learn more about Penn LPS Online certificates >

Learn more about Penn LPS Online courses >

If you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, the Post-Baccalaureate Studies (or post-bacc) program is a unique opportunity to hand-pick courses from more than 50 academic departments—including creative writing, literature, and related studies.

• Earn academic credit with each course
• Complete coursework through full-time study or a part-time flexible pace
• A bachelor’s degree in any field is required to apply

Learn more about Post-Baccalaureate Studies >

Already enrolled in a degree program?

If you’ve committed to a degree program at Penn or another institution, you may still have an opportunity to practice writing at Penn.

• Anyone with a high school diploma can enroll as a visiting student during Penn Summer Sessions —no application needed
• Undergraduates can enroll as a Domestic Guest Student to spend a term at Penn
• Penn graduate students can enroll in writing-focused MLA courses as electives

Request Info

See all LPS events >

Request information >

Apply now >

While LPS values creating a community of diverse lived experiences, in considering your application for admissions, LPS has not in the past and will not in the future consider racial or ethnic identity as a factor in the admissions decision. We are in the process of revising our application language. Applicants are not required to respond to any questions regarding race or ethnicity.

The lifelong learning division of Penn Arts & Sciences

3440 Market Street, Suite 100 Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335

(215) 898-7326 [email protected]

We Are Mighty Writers

Each year at Mighty Writers we teach more than 4,500 kids to think clearly and write with clarity so they can achieve success. We host writing workshops in Philadelphia, in Chester County, PA, and in Camden, Atlantic City and Newark, NJ. Since the start of the pandemic, we've been distributing groceries, diapers and other essentials to families in our communities.

Mighty Writers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 2009.

All of our programs are free to the children and families we serve.

Need to reach us? Click here for our staff directory.

Become a Mighty Writer

We offer many different programs in English and in Spanish for kids 3 to 17. We teach them to think clearly so they can write with clarity. 

If you love to write and want to share that love with young people, become a Mighty volunteer. Little is more satisfying.

Help us make more kids, families and communities Mighty. There many ways to help!

Watch what happens at Mighty Writers!

At Mighty Writers, we teach kids to think clearly and write with clarity. All our programs are free to the communities we serve.

Click HERE to learn more about our mission

Pivoting to serve our communities.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, we retooled our mission, and in addition to teaching kids how to write with clarity, we began distributing groceries, diapers, masks, disinfectant wipes and other essentials (including books, of course) to our Mighty communities.

Today, we are still distributing groceries and essential needs at many Mighty sites , while offering a roster of virtual writing classes and in-person classes.

Everything we do is free to the families and kids we serve.

Please help us maintain our Mightiness. Donate today.

Mighty Writers is a class 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2009. One hundred percent of the programs we offer are free. We serve communities in and around Philadelphia, PA, as well as in Camden, Newark and Atlantic City, NJ. We also run writing workshops in Washington Heights, NYC.

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