10 Best Creative Writing Classes in Philadelphia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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​​.

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."

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​​.

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.