Non-Credit Courses for Adults

The Writing Institute offers adults the opportunity to improve their skills and become part of a community of writers. Classes are small (14 or fewer students) and employ the workshop method. Through interaction with a skilled and sensitive faculty and with other adults for whom the art of writing well is important, participants become more proficient at thinking precisely, hearing language clearly and expressing themselves effectively.

The Writing Institute offers classes in two 11-week terms, one in the fall and one in the spring. Workshops meet weekly in two-hour sessions, which are held during day and evening hours and on Saturdays. Occasionally, readings and special programs related to publishing or other topics of interest to writers are offered.

Every term at the Writing Institute includes workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir writing, and children's literature. In addition to these, the Writing Institute offers, on a less regular basis, workshops on topics like screenwriting, magazine writing, editing and the personal essay.

The Gurfein Writing Fellowship

All students at the Writing Institute are eligible to be nominated by their instructors for The Gurfein Writing Fellowship at Sarah Lawrence, an award designed to provide a "leg up" into the world of publishing. Originally established in 2005 by Kathryn Gurfein, the Fellowship provides a year of private, one-on-one conferencing with an outstanding, published member of the Sarah Lawrence writing faculty. The mentor/tutor will wear the additional hat of personal editor and work with the recipient on a writing project of his or her choice. Call The Writing Institute at (914) 395-2205 for more information. Read more about The Gurfein Writing Fellowship»