Upcoming Classes

In Person

6 Weeks, 6 Stories

Class offered through Grub Street Center for Creative Writing.

This class is a creative laboratory where you can experiment with new forms and share fresh work in a supportive environment. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or new to fiction, this fun, intensive course invites you to take on a generative writing sprint, crafting a new story draft each week (ranging from 300 to 1,500 words). You’ll have the opportunity to be workshopped by your peers at least three times, receiving thoughtful, constructive feedback to help your stories grow.

Through our workshop sessions and discussions of contemporary published stories by authors such as Avitus B. Carle, Kathy Fish, and Donald Barthelme, we’ll build a collaborative craft toolbox to inform and inspire your own writing.

By the end of the course, you’ll leave with six new story drafts, fresh ideas and inspiration, useful writing prompts to carry you forward, and a solid grasp of the essential elements of short fiction—plot, form, character, dialogue, setting, and voice.

Mondays, Sept 15 - Oct 27 (skips 10/13) | 6:00 – 9:00pm ET |  Grub Street, Boston Seaport | $425 ($410 members) | Register at: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/6-weeks-6-stories-shoen-fa25

Jumpstart Your Writing

Class offered through Grub Street Center for Creative Writing.

Whether you’ve never written creatively before or you’re a more experienced writer looking for a recharge, your mission in this course is simple: devote three hours a week to your writing. Through a series of engaging exercises, we’ll mine memory and imagination to bring ideas to life—building characters and settings, crafting dialogue, selecting point of view,, and exploring the nuances of voice across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Each session includes time to discuss the writing process and share work aloud for supportive, on-the-spot feedback. With an emphasis on curiosity and craft, we’ll also read and discuss short pieces of published writing by authors including Margaret Atwood, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Mary Oliver to spark ideas and fuel your own work.

At the end of six weeks, you’ll leave class with a fresh set of drafts, new ideas to keep you writing, meaningful connections with fellow writers, and a stronger sense of your own voice on the page.

Wednesdays, Sept 17 - Oct 29 (skips 10/15) | 6:00 – 9:00pm ET |  Grub Street, Boston Seaport |  $395 ($380 members) | Register at: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/jumpstart-your-writing-shoen-fa25

Flash Fiction for Fun and Creativity

Class offered through Arlington Community Education.

Looking for a fun way to jumpstart your writing? Whether you’re interested in getting published or just playing with words, flash fiction offers a low-pressure, high-reward outlet for creativity. These ultra-short stories range from aphoristic 6-word stories to jewel-like 4-pagers. Together, we’ll read exemplars of the form and write a slew of our own – with friendly group discussions of student work along the way. Experts and newbies alike are welcome!

Thursdays, Sept 18 - Nov 6 (skips 10/2 and 10/16) | 7:00 – 9:00pm ET |  In person, Arlington, MA |   Registration opens August 1: https://www.arlingtoncommunityed.org/

Jumpstart Your Writing

Class offered through Grub Street Center for Creative Writing.

Whether you’ve never written creatively before or you’re a more experienced writer looking for a recharge, your mission in this course is simple: devote three hours a week to your writing. Through a series of engaging exercises, we’ll mine memory and imagination to bring ideas to life—building characters and settings, crafting dialogue, selecting point of view,, and exploring the nuances of voice across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Each session includes time to discuss the writing process and share work aloud for supportive, on-the-spot feedback. With an emphasis on curiosity and craft, we’ll also read and discuss short pieces of published writing by authors including Margaret Atwood, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Mary Oliver to spark ideas and fuel your own work.

At the end of six weeks, you’ll leave class with a fresh set of drafts, new ideas to keep you writing, meaningful connections with fellow writers, and a stronger sense of your own voice on the page.

Mondays, Nov 3 - Dec 15 (skips 11/17) | 6:00 – 9:00pm ET |  Grub Street, Boston Seaport | $395 ($380 members) | Register at: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/jumpstart-your-writing-shoen-fa25-2