Writing Workshops

The Author’s Workshop for Beginners with Kate Milliken

$645

10 sessions

Out of stock

Once a week Tuesdays, 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT September 30 to December 9, 2025

Online via Zoom

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This ten-week course will teach you how to read like a writer and write like an author by learning from some of the best contemporary writers of short fiction, as well as the classics.

In the first five sessions, we’ll read and generate new pages, getting either a short story or a new novel chapter ready to be workshopped. Each participant will identify their intentions for their works-in-progress and have the chance to ask questions of their peers to prioritize creating the story they want to write—not the story we think we want to read.

This course will be particularly beneficial to those new to workshopping their writing as well as those looking to start a fiction writing practice in a fully supportive environment. Expect a process of discovery and empowerment! From our time together, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what you specifically have to offer your readers, and leave more confident about how to achieve your storytelling goals. The Author’s Workshop will not only improve your story draft but, more importantly, your understanding of yourself as an author.

Course Outline:

Weeks 1-5: We will read the work of contemporary writers and a few classic short stories, both for sheer pleasure as well as for analysis of craft alone. From our discussions of these stories and related craft exercises, you will generate new work during and outside of class, leaning into character development to find the story you need to tell. Participants should expect to read at least forty pages of fiction per week (both published works and the work of their peers) and dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to their own writing.
Weeks 6-10: We will workshop one another’s work in an author-centered way, prioritizing the writer’s intentions for their draft and considering their creative process to help you discover the best approach for their next draft. Neither you nor your work will be criticized, but instead your vision and needs will be supported, as we—your peers—address your concerns and questions, leading you to a deeper clarity about your story’s potential.

This course is held online via Zoom. Please note that this course will not meet on November 25th.

Led by

Kate Milliken

Kate Milliken

Kate Milliken is the author of the novel Kept Animals, which was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize in 2020, and the story collection If I’d Known You Were Coming, winner of the 2013 John Simmons Award. Her work has been supported by fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center, Ragdale, Tin House, and Sewanee Writers’ Conference, among others. When she’s not teaching or working on novel number two, Kate is a freelance editor and writing coach.

About this series

Writing Workshops

We strive to make our classes the most inviting and rewarding available, offering an intimate environment to study with award-winning, world-class writers. Each class is specially designed by the instructor, so whether you’re a fledgling writer or an MFA graduate polishing your novel, you’ll find a perfect fit here.

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