2026 Workshop On Campus
The Art of the Opening: Mastering the First Ten Pages
The first five to ten pages often determine whether an agent, editor, or reader wants to see more of your work. Whether you are just beginning a project or revising the manuscript for the fifth time, chances are your first ten pages could still use revision at the sentence and content level. We will look at openings of published novels and memoirs and discuss and apply revision strategies for the beginning of your work. Taught by LaTanya McQueen
Flash Prose that Packs a Punch
The rules of good writing apply no matter the length of a manuscript. Moby Dick and short stories rely on the same craft elements. In this workshop, writers will learn to concentrate the craft of a longer work into a few pages—fact or fiction. Through lively exercises, feedback, and drafting new work, you’ll weigh every word to create prose that resonates. This nimble, high-energy workshop celebrates the thrill of the flash form. Curiosity required. Taught by Jotham Burrello
From Imagination to Implementation: A Poetry Workshop
In this workshop, poets of all levels are welcome to experiment, play and challenge themselves with new forms of poetry, musicality, resonance, and finding their own unique voice. Workshop members will review works by published poets and produce a set of publishable poems themselves. This workshop will be warm, constructive and collaborative and focused on improving what makes you tick. You will also explore avenues for publishing your own poetry. Taught by Jennifer Maritza McCauley
Narrative Craft of the Novel
This workshop will cover some of the fundamental tools of narrative craft: description, setting and atmosphere, characterization, emotions, voice and point of view, and plot and structure. Writers working on novel-length projects are encouraged to apply. Taught by Rebecca Kuang
Prompts and Sprints: A Generative Writing Class
For when you just want to write, but need permission, prompts, and a little push. Open to writers of all levels and genres, this generative class includes exercises designed to get you out of your head and into your creative work. You’ll produce lots of pages -- promise. Whether you’re looking to find inspiration, get unblocked, or further develop a work-in-progress, this will be a fun and welcoming way to connect with your creativity. Taught by Amy Shearn
The Shape of What’s Possible: Form and Function in Contemporary Fiction
For this workshop, you may submit a range of fiction forms—traditional short stories or novel chapters, stories toward a novel-in-stories, interconnected flash fictions, flash fictions that stand alone, even fragmented or braided narratives. You will leave eager to get back to work on your revisions, able to apply knowledge and skills developed at Yale to your future writing projects, and with a clearer understanding of the functional relationship between form and content. Taught by Molly Gaudry
True Lies: The Fiction of Nonfiction
We understand fiction to be made-up and nonfiction to be true. But any linear narrative is a human construction, as life explodes constantly in all directions. Any first-person narrative is a distorted, imperfect retelling from one limited perspective. How can anyone tell “true” stories? This workshop will locate the emotional heart of your narrative, then amplify the truth that spills from it. We’ll be aided by readings across genre, songs, jokes, and other real-life texts. Taught by Mishka Shubaly
Writing Stories that Resonate
Craft stories that stick (and get published!). You know how to write. But what magic takes your story to the next level? Whether it be finding the telling details, developing scene and dialogue, or shaping the ARC, this workshop will start where you are in the development of your story and go from there. Discover how authors have created beautiful—sometimes heartbreaking—ineffable moments and focus on making your own work truly sing. Taught by Christina Chiu