Writing Pad classes aren’t stuffy. They’re pampering, relaxing and inspiring. At each class you can expect:

  • Top-notch instructors who are experienced writers with a passion for teaching.
  • Decadent, gourmet tasting plates and/or desserts.
  • A safe, playful writing environment to help you fearlessly channel your creativity.
  • Small classes (12 students max) held in a comfy, modern space.
  • A fun, intellectual vibe infused with the spirit of a cocktail party/creativity spa.
Philosophy

A writing class shouldn’t be boring or annihilate your ego! All Writing Pad classes are flavored by the Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) method. The AWA method establishes a safe, respectful writing space and encourages spontaneous writing exercises (e.g., timed writing to a prompt). If a student decides to read what he’s written in class (reading is not mandatory), the group will only respond with what they like and remember. If a student brings in writing he’s worked on outside of class, he’ll receive balanced feedback.

This method was developed in response to the traditional writing seminar where students bring in manuscripts for harsh critique, often leaving class feeling blocked and discouraged. In contrast, the AWA method blends improvisational writing and a safe, supportive environment to produce richer, more innovative writing in students.

Class Structure

Every class has a different balance of in-class writing, craft talks, and workshopping. Classes typically run for two and a half hours and include brief social breaks accompanied by assorted teas, gourmet tasting plates, and/or dessert.

Reviews of Writing Pad

(4.5-star rating across 56 reviews)
Screenwriting 101

11/7/2022
Jaclyn G.

Attended: Screenwriting 101


Very informative and inspirational! Highly recommend.

Memoir 101

2/8/2022
Joanne M.

Attended: Memoir 101


It was good to have exercises and not just consist of lectures from the instructor. I would've enjoyed more participants sharing their writing.

TV 101: TV Writing Fundamentals Seminar

12/13/2021
Jennifer s.

Attended: TV 101: TV Writing Fundamentals Seminar


This was my first zoom experience but will not be my last. I am already looking into which class to take next. I learned quite a bit and he gave steps to take now if someone wanted to be a tv writer.

TV Drama I: TV Drama Pilot Workshop

7/19/2021
Aneta M.

Attended: TV Drama I: TV Drama Pilot Workshop


This was THE BEST CLASS I ever took. Ryan is an excellent teacher. His passion and dedication to what he does is extremely contagions. At the end of each class none of us wanted to leave. Ryan always stayed after class to answer all our questions. We all felt very saddened that the class ended and suggested that he should also teach TV Drama II.

Story Structure

3/16/2021
Lisa M.

Attended: Story Structure


Excellent instructor, well-formatted, learned so much in 3 hours! Highly recommend.

Literary Novel 101

1/17/2021
Anonymous

Attended: Literary Novel 101


Excellent for someone who had no background and is curious about writing a novel. Great class dynamic.

Book Proposal I: An Online Book Proposal

12/16/2020
Doug C.

Attended: Book Proposal I: An Online Book Proposal


Nicky was an absolutely fantastic instructor! The course was everything I had hoped for and more.

Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop

3/22/2020
Anonymous

Attended: Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop


This course was a gift from my family for which I am very grateful. By profession, a prolific writer of policy analysis, media releases, political speeches, and legislative presentations, I had never attempted memoir writing. Our instructor is an accomplished, published author of two memoirs as well as a stage and television actor. She clearly grasps her craft. Her teaching style, though sometimes brusque - even a bit Socratic - communicates her criticisms cogently. Still, class/instructor give and take was often truncated by her cutting it off mid-sentence - almost as if she was expecting a taxi to show up any minute. The bottom line is that I am a better writer thanks to her and my classmates.

Podcasting 1: Start Your Podcast

9/14/2019
Jennifer W.

Attended: Podcasting 1: Start Your Podcast


It was very informative and Anna Scott was a great instructor. I learned a ton and can't wait to start my podcast.

Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop

8/3/2019
Anonymous

Attended: Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop


Love it! Learned so much!

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Questions about this school?

Upcoming Classes at Writing Pad

Novel II: Intermediate Novel Writing Workshop
Novel II: Intermediate Novel Writing Workshop
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 2:30–5:30pm Pacific Time

NY Times Worthy Personal Essay
NY Times Worthy Personal Essay
Next start date:

Monday Oct 9th, 5–8pm Pacific Time

Screenwriting I: Intro to Screenwriting
Screenwriting I: Intro to Screenwriting
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 10:30am–1:30pm Pacific Time

Short Story 101
Short Story 101
Next start date:

Sunday Nov 12th, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

Screenwriting 101
Screenwriting 101
Next start date:

Saturday Dec 2nd, 10:30am–1:30pm Pacific Time

Novel 101
Novel 101
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 1st, 10:30am–1:30pm Pacific Time

TV Structure for Pilot Writing
TV Structure for Pilot Writing
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 22nd, 10am–2pm Pacific Time

Short Story 1: Short Story Writing Workshop
Short Story 1: Short Story Writing Workshop
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 15th, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

Novel I: Intro to Novel Writing Workshop
Novel I: Intro to Novel Writing Workshop
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 15th, 10:30am–1:30pm Pacific Time

TV II: TV Draft Writing
TV II: TV Draft Writing
Next start date:

Monday Oct 30th, 5–8:30pm Pacific Time

TV III
TV III
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 22nd, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

TV I: TV Pilot Writing Workshop
TV I: TV Pilot Writing Workshop
Next start date:

Wednesday Oct 4th, 5–8pm Pacific Time

TV Comedy 1: Pilot Writing Workshop
TV Comedy 1: Pilot Writing Workshop
Next start date:

Thursday Oct 12th, 5–8pm Pacific Time

Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop
Memoir 1: Memorable Memoir Workshop
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

Humor Writing 101
Humor Writing 101
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

Reported Essay
Reported Essay
Next start date:

Thursday Oct 19th, 5–8pm Pacific Time

Humor Writing
Humor Writing
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 21st, 10am–1pm Pacific Time

TV Drama II
TV Drama II
Next start date:

Wednesday Oct 25th, 6–9pm Pacific Time

Book Proposal I: An Online Book Proposal
Book Proposal I: An Online Book Proposal
Next start date:

Wednesday Nov 8th, 5–7pm Pacific Time

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Teachers at Writing Pad

A. Nicole Kelly Abigail Ulman Ali Kinney Alice Payne Alicia Carroll Alison Flierl Alison Flierl Amber Sparks Amber Benson Amelia Gray Andi Fisher Anna Scott Annabelle Gurwitch Anthony King Antonio Sacre Ashley Skidmore Autumn Stephens Ava Tramer Ava Tramer and Daniel McLellan Ben Loory Berkley Johnson BJ Robbins Bob Carlson Breannah Gibson Brett Paesel Brian Ashburn Brian Finkelstein Bronwyn Garrity Cami Delavigne Candice Philpot Catherine Girardeau Cathryn Humphris Cecil Castellucci Chad Snopek Charlie Nicholson Chas Gillespie Chris Reed Chris Wu Christianne Hedtke Christopher Reed Christopher Noxon Cindy Caponera Clare Almand Cole Kazdin Corey Rosen Craig Gerard Curtis Gwinn D.J. MacHale Dailyn Rodriguez Daisy Eagan Dan Hofstadter Dan Hofstadter Dan Gregor Dana Kitchens Daniel McLellan Daniel Robinson Daniel Wolfberg and Natalie Gergely Dara Resnick Creasey Dave Ross Dave Walsh David Boyer David Weinberg David Iserson David Babcock Davy Rothbart DC Pierson Debbie Weiss Debbie Weiss Dedi Felman Derek Taylor Kent Devanshi Patel Diana Spechler Dominica Phetteplace Don Diego Elise Capron Elizabeth Gassman Elna Baker Emmylou Diaz Eric Ziobrowski Eric Beetner Eric Hiss Erika Schickel Erin Conley Erin Aubry Kaplan Evan Bellantone Evelyn Yves Everett Oliver Everett Oliver Everett Oliver Farhan Arshad Flynn Larsen Francesca Lia Block Geoff Silverman Geraldine Inoa Grace Krilanovich Gretchen McNeil Heather Sundell Heather Anne Campbell Iris Bahr Isaac Aptaker J Ryan Stradal Jack Moore Jack Kukoda James Scott Bell Janine Salinas Jason Grote Jenia Fridlyand & Guest Artists Jenn Fujikawa Jennifer Brody Jessica Watterson Jessie Rosen Jessie Rosen & Kalliope Panagiotakos Jim Gavin John Skipp John Fecile John Herrera John Herrera and Nina Fiore John Herrera & Nina Fiore Joshua Corey Joyce Castellanos Kalle Mattila Karen Kirkland Karen Hall Katherine Taylor Katya Apekina Kristine Huntley Krystal Banzon Laura Lacamara Laura Cathcart Robbins Lauren Gussis Lauren Weedman Lauren Strasnick Laurenne Sala Liana Aghajanian Lilla Zuckerman Lisa Jakub Liza Palmer Lou Perez Louisa Levy Louisa Hill Luis Godoy M Dickson Marc Cooper Marcos Gonzalez Marcos Gonzalez Margaret Wappler Margot Leitman Maria Mileaf Mathieu Cailler Matt Zinman Matt Zinman Matt Sumell Matteson Perry Matteson Perry & Melanie Marnich Matteson Perry & Todd Waldman Matteson Perry & Stacy Traub Matthew Specktor Maureen McHugh Maxwell Vivian Melissa Chadburn Michael Saltzman Michael Cinquemani Michelle Nam Fischer Miguel Ian Raya Miguel Ian Raya Mike Ellis Mike Benner Miki Johnson Molly Schreiber Monica Holloway Natalie Gergely Natalie Gergely & Nathan Varni Natasha Vargas Cooper Nathan Varni Neil Katcher David Nadelberg Nicky Guerriero Nicole Pajer Nikki Levy Nikki Levy Nina Fiore Pam Murphy Paola Limon Pat Charles Patricia Carr Pemi Aguda Peter Iliff Philip Stark Rachel Bloom Rebecca Saltzman Rebecca Parks Fernandez Reyna Grande Rich Monahan Rico Gagliano Rob Luchow Rob Fresco Rob Gokee Robbie Fox Robia Rashid Ron Koertge Ron Milbauer Royal Young Ryan O'Nan Ryan McIlvain Sabrina Deana-Roga Sam Campos Sam Ernst Samir Mehta Sana Krasikov Sara Eckel Sara Benincasa Sarah Cho Sarah Tomlinson Sarah Maizes Sean Russell Shaina Shealy Smith Henderson Sophia Ortega Sophia Kercher Speed Weed Stacy Traub Steph Cha Stephanie Kornick Steven Peros Summer Block Kumar Suzanne Rivecca Swan Huntley Tammy Delatorre Tara Ellison Taylor Martindale Terri Cheney Tessa Scott Thao Le Thea Diklich-Newell Thomas Fenton Tim Grierson Tiphanie Yanique Todd Waldman Todd Waldman Trish Daly Tyler Dinucci Victor Levin W. Peter Iliff Wayne Powers Wendy Lawless William Rabkin Windy City Harvest coordinator Zach Ayers Zoë Archer ​Tanya Rey
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